How do I change the font of a Rmd output linked to a shinyapp?

#1

I manage to deploy an app with a download function to create a pdf document. I looked around at different ways of altering the font etc and came up with the following YAML.

output: 
  pdf_document:
    latex_engine: xelatex
mainfont: Arial
fontsize: 12pt
classoption: landscape
geometry: margin=0.5in

This works perfectly on my machine. However, when I deployed the app, I failed to generate the pdf document with the following error on log.

error
error949×599 18.3 KB

So what should I do on my Rmd file to allow different fonts to be used? I am new to coding in general, so any educational points would be appreciated.

#2

Hi @lawrencelmli,

I believe xelatex is using system fonts (i.e. fonts on your local machine), so is it possible that wherever you are deploying the app does not have the same fonts?

#3

That is what I thought but I tested it on my own laptop after deployment.

#4

An app deployed to shinyapps.io doesn't run on your own laptop, it runs on a server where the font isn't installed, ergo, it doesn't work.

#5

Thanks. Is there another way to change the font settings then?

#6

Try following the advice on this related thread

#7

Sorry I am really new to all of this. Do you mean that all I needed to do is to include the ttf file with my deployment? If yes, :man_facepalming:

#8

Yes, I believe that is what is being suggested in the other thread. Include the font file in the app bundle and refer to it with a relative path from the root dir.

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#9

I decided to use \fontfamily{} to choose the font to simplify things

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