My eyes are aging, and I'd prefer a bit larger text while working on reports. What options do I have to adjust my display?
 Since Windows handles the display and sizing of fonts based on your display settings, their actual size mainly depends on your monitor resolution settings and dpi settings in Windows, in combination with the physical size of your screen. Fortunately Windows does let you adjust the relative size of things, and 3D also has a quick option to improve comment readability.
OPTION IN YOUR 3D SOFTWARE
If you simply need to make just the narrative text comment area text larger and more readable in the 3D software, and everything else is sized OK, a quick 3D Preference option can make your inspection comments text larger:
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In the report writer, click Preferences > Preferences.
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Select the Accessibility tab.
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Enable "Use large fonts for narrative text".
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Click OK when done. The option makes the font for the report writer field contents- your inspection comments themselves- display larger. Other program items are unaffected.
Another tip: If you're using a touch screen computer or ultra mobile tablet style computer where having narrative menu items spaced a bit further apart would be easier for use with "fat fingers" or a stylus, then the other Accessibility option to "Display extra space between narratives" may also be enabled.
Using large narrative font in 3D not large enough? Or you wish to enlarge everything, not just your comment text? Windows provides other options for that.
WINDOWS LARGE FONTS
To display larger fonts for everything, all programs and items, Microsoft recommends using a larger dpi/ppi setting for the windows fonts, or "Large Fonts" feature. This option increases the size of various fonts used by Windows, without affecting the size of certain other elements. Thus program windows/items will remain about the same size, but the text within the objects will be larger.
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In Windows 7, click Start > Control Panel. Click Appearance and Personalization settings. Click Display. In the left pane there, click "Set custom text size (DPI)" Then adjust dpi scaling as desired and click OK, and Apply your changes. We recommend Normal or Medium for best results.
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In Windows Vista, click Start > Control Panel. Click Appearance and Personalization. Click Personalization. In the left pane there, click "Adjust font size (DPI)". Then in dpi scaling, choose the "Larger scale (120 DPI)- make text more readable" option and click OK, and Apply.
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In Windows XP, click Start > Control Panel. Open Display properties, Settings tab by clicking the Advanced button. Adjust the DPI setting to use Large size, and Apply your changes.
Please note: 3D is only generally optimized for Normal 96 dpi or the traditional larger 120 dpi setting (Large setting in XP/Vista, Medium setting in Windows 7). Using scaling beyond this may result in some screen labels not fitting properly in all buttons or windows.
SCREEN RESOLUTION SETTING
Higher resolution is better right? Not always. It depends on the context. If your concern is being able to fit as much information, as many windows, items, or programs on your screen at once as possible, then higher resolution allows for that. However lowering the resolution setting allows more or "larger" pixels per se to display the same items, thus making them appear much larger to the eye, although granted sometimes larger items may then not appear quite as smooth. The physical size and arrangement of the pixels in any given screen though can also effect final appearance.
You may adjust your screen resolution as well using the Windows Control Panel Personalization and Display options. A lower screen resolution results in larger and easier to see items, whereas a higher resolution makes things smaller so that more fits on the screen at once. Other Personalization settings or adjustments (like ClearType) may be used or needed to allow your preferred resolution to work better on the particular monitor you are using.
You may even be able to save money by obtaining a laptop already optimized to use a lower "native" resolution to begin with. It's rare for any computer to allow anything lower than the standard minimum 800x600 resolution (other then a handful of inexpensive specialty netbooks designed primarily for children), since programs may not function properly or allow access to all items with anything lower.
Now you can pick one or more of these handy options so you can save your eagle eyes for more important observations while actually inspecting! |
