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## Special font declaration commands

`\DeclareFixedFont` `{`<cmd>`}` `{`<encoding>`}` `{`<family>`}` `{`<series>`}` `{`<shape>`}` `{`<size>`}`

Declares command <cmd> to be a font switch which selects the font that is specified by the attributes <encoding>, <family>, <series>, <shape>, and <size>. The font is selected without any adjustments to baselineskip and other surrounding conditions. This example makes `{\picturechar .}` select a small dot very quickly:

       \DeclareFixedFont{\picturechar}{OT1}{cmr}{m}{n}{5}

`\DeclareTextFontCommand` `{`<cmd>`}` `{`<font-switches>`}`

Declares command <cmd> to be a font command with one argument. The current font attributes are locally modified by <font-switches> and then the argument of <cmd> is typeset in the resulting new font. Commands defined by `\DeclareTextFontCommand` automatically take care of any necessary italic correction (on either side). The following example shows how `\textrm` is defined by the kernel.

       \DeclareTextFontCommand{\textrm}{\rmfamily}

To define a command that always typeset its argument in the italic shape of the main document font you could declare:

       \DeclareTextFontCommand{\normalit}{\normalfont\itshape}

This declaration can be used to change the meaning of a command; if <cmd> is already defined, a log that it has been redefined is put in the transcript file.

`\DeclareOldFontCommand` `{`<cmd>`}` `{`<text-switch>`}` `{`<math-switch>`}`

Declares command <cmd> to be a font switch (i.e. used with the syntax `{<cmd>...}`) having the definition <text-switch> when used in text and the definition <math-switch> when used in a formula. Math alphabet commands, like `\mathit`, when used within <math-switch> should not have an argument. Their use in this argument causes their semantics to change so that they here act as a font switch, as required by the usage of the <cmd>. This declaration is useful for setting up commands like `\rm` to behave as they did in LATEX 2.09. We strongly urge you not to misuse this declaration to invent new font commands. The following example defines `\it` to produce the italic shape of the main document font if used in text and to switch to the font that would normally be produced by the math alphabet `\mathit` if used in a formula.

       \DeclareOldFontCommand{\it}{\normalfont\itshape}{\mathit}

This declaration can be used to change the meaning of a command; if <cmd> is already defined, a log that it has been redefined is put in the transcript file.

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