Ask Techie: How Do I Change the Font in My Web Browser?

Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly Q&A column, where a panel of experts answers your questions about using technology in your law practice.

This month, we answer readers’ questions about how to change the font in your web browser and how to organize all the notes scattered across your matter folders and research folders.

Q: How Do I Change the Font in My Web Browser?

I am having trouble reading the screen. How do I change the font in my web browser?

A: Changing the font in your web browser can enhance readability and tailor your browsing experience to your preferences. Here’s how to do it for the most popular browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Apple Safari.

Chrome

• Click the three dots (“Customize and control Google Chrome”) in the upper-right corner and select “Settings.”
• Scroll to the “Appearance” section.
• Click “Customize fonts.” Here, you can adjust font type, size, and minimum size. Changes apply immediately.

Firefox

• Click the three horizontal lines (“Open applications menu”) in the upper-right corner and select “Settings.”
• Go to the “General” panel and scroll down to the “Language and Appearance” section.
• Click “Fonts.” Adjust the default, serif, sans-serif, and monospace fonts, and set your preferred size.

Edge

• Click the three dots (“Settings and more”) in the upper-right corner and select “Settings.”
• Click on “Appearance” in the sidebar.
• Scroll down and click “Customize fonts.” Adjust the standard, serif, sans-serif, and fixed-width fonts, along with font size.

Safari

• Click “Safari” in the top menu bar and select “Preferences.”
• Go to the “Appearance” tab.
• Choose your desired standard and fixed-width fonts, as well as the preferred size.

Bonus Tips

• Browser extensions: If the built-in options aren’t sufficient, consider using browser extensions to override fonts on all websites.
• Accessibility: All browsers offer zoom features or accessibility options that can further help in making text more readable.
• Quick fix: For a quick, temporary fix, you can hold down the “CTRL” key and move the middle wheel of your mouse to adjust the font size.

Changing the font in your web browser is a straightforward process that can significantly improve your web experience, making it more comfortable and aligned with your personal preferences. Each browser has slightly different steps, but they all allow you to customize how text appears on web pages.

Techie: Ashley Hallene, JD, GPSolo eReport Editor-in-Chief ([email protected]).

Q: How Can I Organize All the Notes Scattered Across My Matter Folders and Research Folders?

A: A free, open-source program called Obsidian might be just what you need.

Obsidian takes an efficient approach to linking notes to each other, among many other functions.

You might use one note as a main outline of legal topics. Under each topic, you can put links to related research notes. Because a note can cover several topics, a single note can be linked to multiple topics in the outline.

You can have any number of interconnected outlines or maps of contents (MOCs) covering different areas of the law.

At the heart of Obsidian are links created simply by using [[double square brackets]] to enclose a word or phrase. Obsidian automatically treats that as a link to another note with that name. When you click on a newly created link, Obsidian either creates a new note named for the link or links to an existing note that has that name.

Obsidian works on Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android, and Linux. All files are saved in plain text format so that your information is not trapped within the Obsidian program.

What might dissuade you from adopting Obsidian as your go-to notetaker is its use of markdown syntax for formatting text. I find markdown easy to learn, but I understand that it’s not for everyone.

A number of YouTube experts have published detailed videos on how to use Obsidian in various ways:

• Nick Milo: Obsidian for Beginners: Start HERE — How to Use the Obsidian App for Notes.
• A Better Computer: The Least Scary Obsidian Guide You’ll Ever See.

Techie: Wells H. Anderson, JD, GPSolo eReport Contributing Technology Editor and CEO of SecureMyFirm, can be reached at 952/922-1120 or through www.securemyfirm.com. Their focus is on protecting small firms from cyber threats with affordable, multiple layers of defense.