Why is Courier the default font for both Notepad and TextPad

insitus · Post by **insitus** » Sun Sep 14, 2003 12:48 am

I normally use Arial or Times New Roman as default fonts for Microsoft Word and other text-based programs (e.g., pagemaker). I wonder why NotePad and TextPad usd Courier as the default font. There must be a serious reasoning. Please enlighten me. James

s_reynisson · Post by **s_reynisson** » Sun Sep 14, 2003 12:51 am

I can think of two reasons:
1. Wide presence on most systems
2. It's Monospaced

Post by **bbadmin** » Sun Sep 14, 2003 4:36 pm

Plain text editors, such as TextPad and Notepad, are more frequently used for editing program source files and configuration files, rather than for presentation, which is the forte of word processors. Such files often use tabs, for alignment to particular columns, and that only works with monospaced fonts. Courier is guaranteed to be present on all versions of Windows, so that is a good default to use.

Keith MacDonald
Helios Software Solutions

Mendel Leisk · Post by **Mendel Leisk** » Tue Nov 18, 2003 2:59 pm

I leave my printer output on Courier (new?), but like to set my display font to fixedsys, which again, is monospaced. It has a nice smooth, uncluttered look.