activated fonts "missing" when opening file

[Systemik]

Hi folks,

Here's my issue. Very often, fonts that are clearly activated in my font management app (Font Agent Pro) show as missing upon opening project files (quark & indesign).

So, I turn on the font, open the file, & get missing font messages. I've tried clearing the font cache & restarting, often times this fixing the issue, but only temporarily as I have to repeat the steps 3 or 4 times a day. Is it just me or is this happening way too often? Anyone else out there having similar issues? Know of any workarounds or of something I'm doing wrong?

Thanks!!!

Mac OSX 10.4.8
Quark 6.5.2
InDesign CS 3.0.1
Font Agent Pro 3.3.0

[SharkFinStudios]

How many fonts do you have active at one time?

My thinking is that they might not be fully compatible with the respective programs. I have the same issue with one particular line of Futura. Says it's missing, but it will give me a preview. Not sure what the issue is, but I haven't taken the time to research it. Not a priority yet.

Any insight from any MAC guru's out there?

[Systemik]

thanks a ton for getting back! in font agent, i have different libraries separated by job & only activate one library at a time (could be up to 20 fonts). the one i'm dealing with now only contains 4 fonts, one of which shows as missing even after activating.

the thing is, I was working w/ this same file & group of fonts last week & everything was fine. this seems to happen randomly....like i'll be working on a file, close it & open it up later in the day & get missing fonts. I'm the only one who uses this machine & did a clean system reinstall a few months ago.

thanks for your help, everyone!

[vxhorusxv]

If you are working with a file that has already been created and you are trying to map the fonts in it there may be some issues if you open on a different operating system than the file was generated in. For example, if someone using a PC uses Futura Bold Condensed and you open it on a Mac, even if you have the entire Futura family installed, the document links to the TTF file. If you have the PS version or the OTF version installed you will have to manually reassign the fonts.

If your fonts are just not loading in your program when they are activated, check to see that the plug-in for each application (Indy, Quark, etc) is installed and functioning properly.

[budafist]

Yes, can go crappy with different versions of the same font. If you know what the font is supposed to look like you can just substitute the missing font for the version you already have. I'd do this very carefully though.

[Systemik]

thanks again, everyone!

[katydid]

Oh, man, can I revisit this topic? I've been having maddening font issues with Quark 6.5 and MacOS 10.4.9. Fonts are activated (I just use FontBook) but, from one day to the next, will be listed as uninstalled by Quark.

I was curious if anything worked for you, Systemik...

The only workaround I've found is to disable and then enable the font in question in FontBook. It will immediately pop up in Quark's font list. This works consistently and doesn't take a lot of time, but still, I feel like I'm treating the symptoms.

We're about to get a new 'puter with the same version of Quark and I'm hoping the prob won't persist....

[urstwile]

Most people on here don't recommend using FontBook as a font manager. I use the free Linotype Explorer X. It works with Quark 6.5.

[carter the artist]

I have been told repeatedly that for everything good about FontBook, there is one major problem. It is designed for the "Average" user. Who does not collect fonts or use fonts in the fashions that we do.

There are a few other options. But most cost money.

I, like Urst, Use Linotype. It's free, it works, it has plug ins for compatibility with our design programs, allows organization of fonts, and printing fonts (as we discussed recently on another thread.) It allows you to export fonts (even in a zip file), which I've found helpful lately with backing up jobs.

Check it out.

[Systemik]

hi katydid,

i definetly feel your pain! Not long after this issue I switched from using Font Agent Pro to Linotype Font Explorer. I like Linotype MUCH better! The issue happens very rarely now & can always be fixed by using Font Explorer's bulit-in font cache cleaning utilities. Yes, carter the artist & urstwile are correct - you should stay away from Font Book. Hope everything works out for you:)

[jimking]

If you have a Mac, download "Font Finagler" a handy font tool. One thing I do and do it everytime is I close the application down then load the fonts, and reopen the application. I think this is a bug of some sort. It used to be when loading the fonts with Quark for example, Quark would see the fonts right at the start. But now half the time with Quark openned while loading fonts it does not see them. But if I close the program and reopen then it sees them.

[Systemik]

I'll check that out as well - another app i use is Font Nuke (similar functions i suppose).

thanks!

[katydid]

so good to hear these tips/unwritten rules!
will check out Linotype Explorer, sounds superb.

[doubting_thomas]

A bit late on this one (slammed today), but something that hasn't come up
here is the ttfolder that Quark 6 uses. It's a good idea to trash that every
now andthen, or if your having troubles. There's a script here to trash it
(it shows the path on the web site, too, if you want to do it manually sometimes):

http://homepage.mac.com/macdrben/blogwavestudio/LH20041002162344/LHA20050122175717/index.html

Quark regenerates it at launch so don't worry too much about getting rid of it.
I have no idea if Q7 uses the same set up, if that's what you're using.
Another "fix" that I've used is loging out and in, then restarting Quark. It works
sometimes...