TTF  MAPPING SYMBOLS

updated 07.09.2003

I am trying to create some kind of information center about TrueType Fonts useful in mapping, i.e. containing interesting symbols for map making. I believe that giving a simple list of such files with their sources is not a sufficient help for fellow mapmakers trying to find something of interest. 

I have developed a way to present these fonts visually with enough information to render their use easy. I am using pdf pages with embedded fonts to be installation independent for on-line viewing  To do so I have alrady been obliged to correct some limitations to embedding but these font versions are for the only purpose of preparing those pages and are not distributed.

Character set pages are also available as pdf books "A collection of TTF Mapping Symbols" downloadable as zip files. Volume 1 in its 05.09.2003 final version contains 50 character set pages. Volume 2 was started on 06.09.2003 with 13 pages, on 07.09.03 it contained 21 pages.

I have started by skimming through my own resources and on the net. I am far from having exhausted all the sources and many specific needs are not covered. I encourage every one to send me pointers to other resources as well as to contribute with their own creations. 

These fonts can all be used to display symbols as text objects. They are freely availble on the net and their installation files should be downloaded directly from one of the indicated sources. But even if the fonts are refered as "symbolic", very few can be used directly as symbols in MapInfo because they have not  been defined as "symbol" fonts in opposition to "ANSI" font.

1 - This first list contains fully documented fonts.

To speed up conssultation of these pages, do not close the Acrobat window until you hve finished; flip back and forth between this window and the other one.

Font Name	TTF file name	vol	Usable as MI Symbols	Character set page
Animals 2	ANIMALS2	2	***	Animals 2.pdf
ArborisFolium	ARBOF___	2	***	ArborisFolium.pdf
Athletes	ATHLETES	1	***	Athletes.pdf
Barnyard	Barnyrd1	2	Yes	BarnYard.pdf
BCMELP Cor Symbols	bcecor	1	***	BCMELP Cor.pdf
BCMELP EPD Symbols	bceepd	1	***	BCMELP EPD.pdf
BCMELP Fisheries Symbols	bcefsh	1	***	BCMELP Fisheries.pdf
BCMELP Trim Symbols	bcetrm	1	***	BCMELP Trim.pdf
BCMELP Water Symbols	bcewtr	1	***	BCMELP Water.pdf
BCMELP Wildlife Symbols	bcewld	1	***	BCMELP Wildlife.pdf
BugBats	Bugbats	1	Yes	Bugbats.pdf
Buildings	BUILDING	1	Yes	Buildings.pdf
Business/Industrial Regular	BUSINDUS	1	***	BusinessIndustrial.pdf
CarrArrowsOutline	carrarrowsoutline	1	***	CarrArrowsOutline.pdf
Carr Government	TT-GOVMT	2	***	Carr Government.pdf
Cityscape	CITY	1	***	Cityscape.pdf
DingDing Signs o'the Times	DDSIGNS	1	***	DingDongS.pdf
DNR Recreation Symbols	recreate	1	***	DNR_Recreation Symbols.pdf
DOGwellsymbols	Petroleum	2	Yes	DOGwellsymbols.pdf
ESRI Cartography	ESRI_1	1	***	ESRI_1.pdf
ESRI Crime Analysis	ESRI_8	1	***	ESRI_8.pdf
ESRI Environment & Icons	ESRI_2	1	***	ESRI_2.pdf
ESRI Geology	ESRI_7	1	***	ESRI_7.pdf
ESRI Geometric	ESRI_3	1	***	ESRI_3.pdf
ESRI Oil Gas & Water	ESRI_4	1	***	ESRI_4.pdf
ESRI Transportation & Municipal	ESRI_6	1	***	ESRI_6.pdf
ESRI Weather	ESRI_5	1	***	ESRI_5.pdf
ESRI IGL Font16	ESRI_216	1	***	ESRI_216.pdf
ESRI IGL Font20	ESRI_220	1	***	ESRI_220.pdf
ESRI IGL Font22	ESRI_222	1	***	ESRI_222.pdf
ESRI IGL Font23	ESRI_223	1	***	ESRI_223.pdf
ESRI IGL Font24	ESRI_224	1	***	ESRI_224.pdf
GeographicSymbols	Geograph	2	***	Geographic Symbols.pdf
Geopoetry	GEOPOE~!	1	Yes	Geopoetry.pdf
Hazard Regular	HAW_____	2	***	Hazard,pdf
Healthcare Symbols	HEALTSYM	1	***	HealthCare Symbols.pdf
International Icons A	ISASWFTE	1	***	International IconsA.pdf
International Icons B	ISBSWFTE	1	***	International IconsB.pdf
Landmarks	landmark	1	***	Landmarks.pdf
Landscape Planning	landplan	1	***	LandScape Planning.pdf
MapSymbs - WD - Map Icons2	Mapdraw2	2	***	mapdraw2.pdf
Maritime signs (?)	SY1CA___	1	***	Maritime Signs 1.pdf
Maritime signs (?)	SY2CA___	1	***	Maritime Signs 2.pdf
Mers Animals	animals	1	***	Animals.pdf
NRCS ADHOC	Nrcs-adhoc	1	***	NRCS ADHOC.pdf
NRCS Planning	NRCSP___	1	***	NRCS Planning.pdf
NRCS SSURGO	NRCSS___	1	***	NRCS SSURGO.pdf
Parksymbol	PARKRG__	2	***	Parksymbol.pdf
Pie Charts for Maps	Pie4map	1	Yes	Pie4map.pdf
Plants	plants	1	***	Plants.pdf
Pointers	Pointers	1	***	Pointers.pdf
Recycle	Recycle	1	Yes	Recycle.pdf
RoadSign Medium	ROADSIGN	2	***	RoadSign Medium.pdf
RoadWarningSign	RD_SGN_W	2	***	RoadWarningSign.pdf
Sage pictos (Water Management)	sage_bib_truetype	2	Yes	Sage pictos.pdf
SC By the Sea	SC By the Sea	2	***	SCBytheSea.pdf
Signs	signs	1	***	Signs.pdf
Sports and Hobbies	SPORTHOB	2	---	SportsHobbies.pdf
SPSS Marker Set	spssms__	2	Yes	SPSS Marker Set
Stars Splats and Arrows	Starsplt	2	Yes	StarsSplatsArrows.pdf
Trains	TRAINS	1	***	Trains.pdf
Transport MT	transport	1	Yes	Transport_MT.pdf
Transportation	alltrans	1	Yes	Transportation
Travel & Leisure	TRVSWFTE	2	Yes	Travel_Leisure.pdf
USDAFS	usdafs	2	***	USDAFS.pdf
USGS hy	usgy_hy	2	***	USGS hy.pdf
VetBats	Vetbats	1	***	VetBats.pdf
Weather	weather	1	***	Weather.pdf
Weather Regular	WEF_____	1	Yes	Weather Regular.pdf
Win Bugs	Winbugs	2	Yes	WinBugs.pdf
World	world	2	***	world.pdf

 

*** I am experimentng with the transformation of these regular fonts into symbol fonts. I have already converted those shown with  *** but I cannot make them publicly available due to possible copyright infringement. I would like to be able to check the files origin and authorship before I put them in distribution and at the same time I would like to see them tested on other installations. 

This transformation can have multiple consequences and before even considering asking me for these fonts check this warning.

Any help or advice in this area will be much appreciated. Just drop me a line mailto:jacques@paris-pc-gis.com

A procedure for converting from "normal" to "symbol" using the Font Creator program is explained in a separate document

--- This font can be used only as normal; a symbolic version must be rebuilt from scratch. 

2 - I have also identified the following potentially interesting fonts

3 - I am convinced that the community will also be interested in commercial fonts. If they could be presented in the same fashion, any user could make educated choices among the available pages and font suppliers would find there a good showcase for their products.

As I have no access to those fonts (my needs do not justify the $$$) , I wish that those who have any pertinent font would contact me so that we can find a way to "fill up font pages". If anyone decides to send me a font, I promise that I will use it exclusively for building  a character set page, not for any other purpose.

As an indication, here is what I was able to pickup on a single site (found by pure hazard, not any preference shown)