Expert: Amy - 8/9/2009

Question
I need to modify AI files created by another person using CS2 on a Mac. I am using CS4 on a PC. When I open her files, I always get the message that the fonts in her file are missing, even though I have installed them in 3 places (Windows, Adobe Support Files, Required, Fonts and Common Files, Adobe, Fonts). The fonts are ok when I open a new file and type them, so they are there.

Answer
Hi Kimberly,

I experience that, too, when working with Mac files. As near as I can tell, it is because my fonts are converted and probably have different identifiers. From reading other people's posts on Adobe forums, I believe this is a common problem for which there is no good answer.

I just use the find font command and replace them all. It's now part of my workflow even though it's frustrating.

One thing you can try is to clear out the Adobe font lists. These are just cache files. To do that, close all your Adobe apps, use Search to locate all files on the PC named Adobefont*.lst where * is a number. That suffix is LST, to be clear. Delete those files, making sure only to delete the files that match that pattern. There will be a number of them. They will "grow back" upon the next launch of an Adobe program.

Also, I can't say for sure but it is probably not helpful to have the fonts in all three places. I guess I'd leave them at system level.

Good luck, fellow PC user.
-A