Summary and purpose

This documents the solution I finally discovered when searching for ways to get all my installed fonts to show up in fc-list, xlsfonts, and xfontsel on a Debian testing installation. I specifically did not want to have to install gnome, xfce, or another desktop environment when openbox and xterm and firefox would fulfill my needs.

Procedure

• Using the package manager and/or local installation procedures (not covered here) install your desired fonts.

• Make sure those font directories are in your xorg.conf file.

• In each directory where the fonts are installed (on my system all the True Type fonts were located under /usr/share/fonts/truetype/) run the following commands.

  # mkfontscale
  # mkfontdir
  

• Restart X.