how do you change the size of the font in the menu bar running Maverick?
On Maverick, how do you change the size of the menu bar font?
iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9)
On Maverick, how do you change the size of the menu bar font?
iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9)
It's not like the code to change menu fonts should be that daunting a task to add nor actually cost anything to implement ... it's apparently a matter of style being valued over utility.
It's actually a heck of a lot of work. Microsoft decided to create Windows 95 and later as a resolution independent desktop.
For whatever reason, Apple has never given users the option to choose any font they want for the GUI.
Unlike Windows, the Mac OS is not an active desktop. Or as some techs call it, resolution independent. When you change a system font, everything needs to make room for your changes. Meaning every single application dialogue item needs to expand, shrink, or move as necessary so the font, and font size you chose doesn't cause text to overrun the space it's supposed to fit in. The Mac OS doesn't do this, so the fonts are chosen by Apple and coded to fit a fixed space.
If you were allowed to change the system font appearance, but nothing was coded to make room for it, you would get results like this:
Normal:
Same app with a change to the system font used for the menus to Times Regular at a larger size, but in a non resolution independent app:
I didn't change everything, just enough to show the idea. But this is what would happen everywhere on the system if you could choose any font and font size you wanted, but nothing could adjust for space.
As for the Accessibility Pane, that was the second place I looked ... nothing there to simply increase the system menu font size.
Nope, there's never been anything there for that function. As stated in this topic, the only way to adjust Apple's menu is to adjust the entire screen resolution.
I agree. I just went from 24 inch Cinema Display to 27 inch Cinema. The Menu fonts are Too Small for me. Changing the Resolution is a Bad Idea because it causes everything to be jagged and out of focus.
Of course we can increase the Font Size in Web Pages by Command + or by doing it in the menu bar under VIEW (I'm using Chrome) but that does not increase Menu Fonts, just the print on the page.
If someone finds a solution for increasing MENU Fonts, please post.
Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem solved sooner.
This helped...and I share the frustration of those who feel that for the money we've spent, we should be able to read the menu bar!
This is unbelievable guys, I purchased a MBPR 13" two months ago after a few weeks reading reviews about it...strange, but never heard about this font issue...otherwise I could choosed another laptop...now I feel I paid a lot of money for a non retina MBP because I had to lower screen resoulution...;-(...APPLE DESIGNERS, ARE YOU PLANNING TO FIX THIS ISSUE?
Sent my feedback already:
Thank you for your feedback on the MacBook Pro.
We cannot respond to you personally, but please know that your message has been received and will be reviewed by the MacBook Pro Team. If we need to follow up with you on your ideas for improving the MacBook Pro, we will contact you directly.
We appreciate your assistance in making the MacBook Pro a great computer.
MacBook Pro Team
Apple
but asking the customer to degrade the screen resolution in order to fix a font size that is too small is really no solution.
How much you paid for your computer is of no concern here. The question is if the font size can be increased. Carolyn gave the correct answer as it is currently the only way to do so. She didn't say it was a great, or good way to do it. It's simply the only option users have at this time.
Wish I could rally a class-action suit over this, I think it would definitely have merit.
It most definitely would not. You would have to prove some sort of liability, safety concern, or financial loss directly related to the issue. None of those apply to, "I don't like the size of the font."
As has been mentioned, your only recourse (that doesn't involve simply changing the resolution to a lower setting) is to send feedback requesting a feature change.
Of course it is a concern if you paid for a high res screen and you can not work with with because the fixed font is incredible small...
Carolyn gave the only possible answer, well done, but it is clearly not enough for Mac users complaining about this issue...
Of course it is a concern if you paid for a high res screen and you can not work with with because the fixed font is incredible small...
"Incredibly small" would be something like 5 pixels high. I'm using a $2000 24" EIZO monitor with a native resolution of 1920 x 1200. The font size is easily readable, and nothing I would call too small.
That resolution isn't as high as some of the newer iMacs (the latest iMac 27" is 2560 x 1440), but I've worked on those also, and have no trouble reading them.
Yes, it can be considered objective, and I do agree users should have more control without having to resort to an overall increase of the screen resolution. But until Apple agrees and offers such a choice, we're all stuck with what we've got.
Still not understanding your disagree with mine (and others) complain...I already explain my ocncerns with a Macbook Pro Retina 13" (thirtheen inches)!!! and you are comparing it with an iMac 24" (twenty four inches)!!!
Honestly, not understanding...
Everything is small on a 13" monitor. Windows is no better.
Windows allows you to change font sizes in menu bars...
The free app TinkerTool allows one to change the system font which should change the menu bar also.
It's primarily a hack to system preferences so use at your own risk. I've not used it for system fonts so can't comment on its effectiveness.
OT
Yes it does. And on the 13" monitor, you'll crowd out everything else with your palettes and open file windows when you do that. I hardly see a gain there.
As Old Toad notes, you can try TinkerTool. But it will only increase the font size for menus on apps written purely in CoCoa. It will not change the top menu bar, or the menus in older apps.
Just goto View, and Zoom in
how do you change the size of the font in the menu bar running Maverick?