Enable/disable ClearType in Windows7

Question

Hi I need to enable/disable Cleartype (or "Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows > Smooth edges of screen fonts") via cmd (or any script like VBS/JS) or from registry without log off or windows restart.

May be it's possible enable ClearType only for one application

Thanks

Answer 1

The modern way of scripting under Windows is using PowerShell. The following script requires version 2.0, which is available from Windows XP SP3:

#requires -version 2.0
param([bool]$enable)

$signature = @'
[DllImport("user32.dll")]
public static extern bool SystemParametersInfo(
    uint uiAction,
    uint uiParam,
    uint pvParam,
    uint fWinIni);
'@

$SPI_SETFONTSMOOTHING      = 0x004B
$SPI_SETFONTSMOOTHINGTYPE  = 0x200B
$SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE        = 0x1
$SPIF_SENDCHANGE           = 0x2
$FE_FONTSMOOTHINGCLEARTYPE = 0x2

$winapi = Add-Type -MemberDefinition $signature -Name WinAPI -PassThru

if ($enable)
{
    [void]$winapi::SystemParametersInfo($SPI_SETFONTSMOOTHING, 1, 0, $SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE -bor $SPIF_SENDCHANGE)
    [void]$winapi::SystemParametersInfo($SPI_SETFONTSMOOTHINGTYPE, 0, $FE_FONTSMOOTHINGCLEARTYPE, $SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE -bor $SPIF_SENDCHANGE)
}
else
{
    [void]$winapi::SystemParametersInfo($SPI_SETFONTSMOOTHING, 0, 0, $SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE -bor $SPIF_SENDCHANGE)
}

If, for some reason, you can't use PowerShell, you'll need DynamicWrapperX in order to execute WinAPI functions in WSH. You will first need to register it on the target machine, then you could use this VBScript:

Set WinAPI = CreateObject("DynamicWrapperX")
WinAPI.Register "user32.dll", "SystemParametersInfo", "i=uuuu"

Const SPI_SETFONTSMOOTHING      = &H004B
Const SPI_SETFONTSMOOTHINGTYPE  = &H200B
Const SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE        = &H1
Const SPIF_SENDCHANGE           = &H2
Const FE_FONTSMOOTHINGCLEARTYPE = &H2

If WScript.Arguments(0) Then
    WinAPI.SystemParametersInfo SPI_SETFONTSMOOTHING, 1, 0, SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE Or SPIF_SENDCHANGE
    WinAPI.SystemParametersInfo SPI_SETFONTSMOOTHINGTYPE, 0, FE_FONTSMOOTHINGCLEARTYPE, SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE Or SPIF_SENDCHANGE
Else
    WinAPI.SystemParametersInfo SPI_SETFONTSMOOTHING, 0, 0, SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE Or SPIF_SENDCHANGE
End If

Both scripts accept one parameter, 0 means disable ClearType, 1 means enable. No reboot is needed.

Answer 2

Python version:

# make sure you install pywin32 
# from http://sourceforge.net/projects/pywin32/files/pywin32/Build%20218/
import win32con
import win32gui

win32gui.SystemParametersInfo(win32con.SPI_SETFONTSMOOTHING, True, 0) # enable only
win32gui.SystemParametersInfo(win32con.SPI_SETFONTSMOOTHINGTYPE,
        win32con.FE_FONTSMOOTHINGCLEARTYPE,
        win32con.SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE | win32con.SPIF_SENDCHANGE)

Answer 3

Here's a PowerShell way to do it:

Set-ItemProperty 'HKCU:\Control Panel\Desktop\' -Name FontSmoothing -Value "2"

You'll need to log off and back on for it to take effect.

NOTE: strangely the setting doesn't show up as enabled in Performance Options, even though it's clearly turned on:

Answer 4

The following works for me: Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings > Advanced > (Performance) Settings > Visual Effects > Select 'Custom' and uncheck 'Smooth edges of screen fonts'

Answer 5

Look at the stuff described in the following link:

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=491091

Calling the API might trigger the system-wide update so you do not have to logoff/logon to see the change.

Of course, this is not limited to vb.net.

Answer 6

Just to add more options, I have the C# version, adding GetFontSmoothing to it.

    [DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
    static extern bool SystemParametersInfo(uint uiAction, uint uiParam, ref int pvParam, uint fWinIni);

    const uint SPI_GETFONTSMOOTHING = 74;
    const uint SPI_SETFONTSMOOTHING = 75;
    const uint SPI_UPDATEINI = 0x1;
    const UInt32 SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE = 0x1;

    private Boolean GetFontSmoothing()
    {
        bool iResult;
        int pv = 0;
        /* Call to systemparametersinfo to get the font smoothing value. */
        iResult = SystemParametersInfo(SPI_GETFONTSMOOTHING, 0, ref pv, 0);
        if (pv > 0)
        {
            //pv > 0 means font smoothing is on.
            return true;
        }
        else
        {
            //pv == 0 means font smoothing is off.
            return false;
        }
    }

    private void DisableFontSmoothing()
    {
        bool iResult;
        int pv = 0;
        /* Call to systemparametersinfo to set the font smoothing value. */
        iResult = SystemParametersInfo(SPI_SETFONTSMOOTHING, 0, ref pv, SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE);
        Console.WriteLine("Disabled: {0}", iResult);
    }

    private void EnableFontSmoothing()
    {
        bool iResult;
        int pv = 0;
        /* Call to systemparametersinfo to set the font smoothing value. */
        iResult = SystemParametersInfo(SPI_SETFONTSMOOTHING, 1, ref pv, SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE);
        Console.WriteLine("Enabled: {0}", iResult);
    }