Hello - I have downloaded and am trying to format a freeware program called Fontforge. I typically use self extracting programs that are ready to use for Windows XP, however, I have found that in this instance, I need to make the program usable in my system. Fontforge suggests in their notes to download cygwin (which I did) and then "move the package into C:\cygwin\home\<username> (which is my name that it assigns in that spot. I don't understand how to move "the package", which I assume is the Fontforge program into cygwin. I have done what I thought I was supposed to do by following the loose directions, but when I type the instructed commands in the cygwin box, It comes back that there is "no such file or directory".

The other suggestion they have is to use andLinux, but they don't give a specific file to download and I am not sure that it won't mess up my computer (if it would be compatible). Also, if Linux is compatible, I'm not sure what to do next as the author assumes that everyone knows how to go into software and move it around. I don't have a clue. Can anyone out there offer any insight for me? It would be greatly appreciated.

Did you manage to install Cygwin OK? If so then clicking on the icon should bring up the cygwin box, the command line and this should be set to your home directory: "type ls .." (without quotes). This should reply with the directory name, possibly cygwin/c/home<usrname> in full or <username>. In Windows this will probably be C:\cygwin\home\<username>. Using Windows explorer you should be able to copy (move is copy and delete from original location) the package to this location. If you need to execute the package/program type "./<packagename>", the ./ is required to point to your current directory, in this case home. Typing "ls" will list the current directory contents to verfy that you are in the same directory as the copied package.
The package does suggest that you could use mingw as this is easier to install than cygwin.
Of course, the preferred method is to forget Windoze and install Linux instead. This is more of an undertaking but you could start yourself on the road to freedom by googling "linux live cd".

Fontforge is a tool for creating and manipulating font files. It's user interface will be very weird to you, if you have never used it before - even more if you only know Windows applications. Be warned! Otherwise it is an excellent tool!

You might consider to install from http://www.geocities.jp/meir000/font...2009_10_28.zip a MingW compiled version (just in case that you feel unfamiliar with CygWin).

If you decide to use CygWin, then launch a Terminal in CygWin (a UNIX shell) a download the fontforge binaries from there by following the instructions on http://fontforge.sourceforge.net/ms-install.html.

You might be able to get this to work also in a live linux cd or usb booted system. I try not to put too much on my MS box. You know how sensitive they are.