#### 30.6.3 Including or excluding font tags

Older versions of Internet Explorer contain a defect in how <font> tags are handled. If your HTML output includes a <font> tag, and the specified font does not include the glyph, Internet Explorer changes the glyph to another that does occur in that font, and does a poor job of selection. Firefox simply ignores the <font> tag and shows the correct character, in compliance with the W3 specification.

By default, when you use CSS, DITA2Go does not include <font> tags in HTML output. However, you might need additional <font> tags in some circumstances. For example:

- If you use an OpenType or TrueType font, some browsers require <font> tags to correctly display content in these fonts; see §30.6.5 Accommodating browser font-rendering differences.
- If you are producing JavaHelp or Oracle Help, you might need <font> tags to get around viewer deficiencies; see §20.3.8 Coping with JavaHelp / Oracle Help viewer limitations.

To turn on <font> tags in HTML output:

    [HTMLOptions]
    ; NoFonts = Yes (default, prohibit <font ...> tags except for symbol
    ;  fonts) or No (use <font...> tags, default if UseCSS=No)
    NoFonts = No

If you turn off CSS, DITA2Go turns on <font> tags by default; see §31.5 Understanding how CSS affects other options. If you do use CSS, you can create <span> tags instead, with a single setting for each character format; see §31.7.3 Mapping character formats to tags or span classes.

If you do not use CSS, and you are not using <font> tags either, you will get whatever fonts a browser specifies as defaults.

Previous Topic: 30.6.2 Mapping font sizes

Next Topic: 30.6.4 Excluding face and size attributes from font tags

Parent Topic: 30.6 Mapping fonts

Sibling Topics:

30.6.1 Specifying a default font and size

30.6.2 Mapping font sizes

30.6.4 Excluding face and size attributes from font tags

30.6.5 Accommodating browser font-rendering differences