SBL Greek Font Released (BibleWorks 8)

We just posted a BibleWorks 8 font update containing the new SBL Unicode Greek font ("SBL Greek"). A new version of the BibleWorks executable has also been posted. The new version uses the SBL Greek as the default Unicode Greek font, but unless you change the font in Setup, this doesn't occur until you initialize the BibleWorks INI file.

When you get the patch the font file (SBL_Grk.ttf) will be placed in your BibleWorks root folder. You must manually install the font using the Windows Control Panel Fonts Applet.

This is an advance copy of the font. The official release on the SBL Web site is imminent.

Enjoy!

Mike

I know this is a really naive question, but if Unicode is supposed to be able to have more space for more characters, why does SBL need a separate Hebrew Unicode font? Shouldn't a single font file have both the Unicode Hebrew and the Unicode Greek in one? Or will they be combining the two once they have all the bugs worked out in the Unicode Greek?

In any event, thanks for the integration. Hopefully this helps make things more standardized in the future.

According to John Hudson who designed the SBL fonts, once both fonts have stable versions, there will be a combined font called SBLBibLit.

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Originally Posted by MGVH

According to John Hudson who designed the SBL fonts, once both fonts have stable versions, there will be a combined font called SBLBibLit.

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[unnecessary political jibe]Wow, keep these people away from government jobs.[/unneccessary political jibe] It seems like they know what they're doing then. Great!

How exactly do yo install it using the font applet?

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Originally Posted by EricH

How exactly do yo install it using the font applet?

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Download and install the patch. The font will automatically install next time you reboot. It's either in the patch description itself or in that dialogue box of the patch itself, once it's unpacked and stating you need to restart BW, that this info is presented.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SCSaunders

Download and install the patch. The font will automatically install next time you reboot. It's either in the patch description itself or in that dialogue box of the patch itself, once it's unpacked and stating you need to restart BW, that this info is presented.

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I don't think the automatic install on reboot is in the program any more. To install the new font do this:

1. Installed the latest font update.
2. This will place the sbl_grk.ttf font in your BW base folder.
3. Open the Control Panel in WIndows (use the classic view in Vista)
4. Double click on the "Fonts" icon
5. Click on the "File" menu option "Add new Font"
6. Navigate to the BW folder and select the sbl_grk.ttf font

That's it.
Mike

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MBushell

I don't think the automatic install on reboot is in the program any more. To install the new font do this:

1. Installed the latest font update.
2. This will place the sbl_grk.ttf font in your BW base folder.
3. Open the Control Panel in WIndows (use the classic view in Vista)
4. Double click on the "Fonts" icon
5. Click on the "File" menu option "Add new Font"
6. Navigate to the BW folder and select the sbl_grk.ttf font

That's it.
Mike

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Worked like a charm. Thanks Mike!

I'll take a closer look at that "reboot windows" comment next time a font gets added. Once again, it's the carpenter and not the tools.

Here are some screenshots of the new SBL Greek font:

http://www.oldinthenew.org/wp-conten...sbl_greek1.png

Here's a comparison against a few other Unicode Greek fonts (Gentium, Palatino Linotype, Vusillus Old Type, and Arial Unicode MS):

http://www.oldinthenew.org/wp-conten..._comarison.png

And finally a shot of the font embedded in some Times New Roman text:

http://www.oldinthenew.org/wp-conten...k_embedded.png

I'm having trouble using the new font. Here's what I've done:

1 - Patched up to 8.0.007q.1 (A) which includes the new executable and fonts. When I go to get new updates, it now says "no new updates".
2 - Open the control panel, browse to the BW8 folder and install the fonts. What is interesting is that before I install the fonts, I can click on each of the other fonts and see a sample of what they look like. Each of the BW*.ttf fonts show Greek or Hebrew samples, but the SBL_grk.ttf looks like plain old Times New Roman.
3 - After installing the font, I have tried both Word and BW8 editor to use the font, and it never actually shows Greek. It's as though the SBL_greek font wasn't even a Greek font.

The first time I went through this, I did reboot, though I tried this again by deleting the fonts, reapplying the patch, and reinstalling the fonts. Same thing.

Anyone have any suggestions?