Expert: Glen Demers - 9/29/2010

Question
We have an issue involving opening pre existing ID files doesn’t matter which version they were created in,  and when they are opened and you are prompted to find fonts and you replace them with our fonts, which by the way are the Adobe OTF Master Collection, text drops randomly throughout the file. The actual text box is still there but it is empty. We have this issue with customer submitted files also. For example, if the file was created in ID CS2 and you open it in its native version it is fine, same thing with files created in CS3, but when you try it in CS4 you run the risk of losing text. Even after you replace the text that is missing, the next time you open that file if it happens to be on another machine you run the risk of dropping text again. Even when you open it on the original machine there is a chance of dropping text. PLEASE HELP!

Answer
Hi Steve,

We had this issue a few years ago, turned out to be a font problem. I would recommend keeping your system fonts to a minimum and using font management software such as Fusion, Font Explorer or Font Book to open additional fonts as needed.

All are located in the /System/Library/Fonts/ folder.
The minimum font list for OS X, 10.3 and 10.4
AppleGothic.dfont

Courier.dfont

Geneva.dfont

Helvetica.dfont

Keyboard.dfont

LastResort.dfont

LucidaGrande.dfont

Monaco.dfont

Times.dfont

Symbol.dfont

The minimum font list for OS X, 10.6 is:
AppleGothic.ttf

Geneva.dfont

HelveLTMM

Helvetica LT MM

Helvetica.dfont

HelveticaNeue.dfont

Keyboard.dfont

LastResort.dfont

LucidaGrande.dfont

MarkerFelt.dfont

Monaco.dfont

Times LT MM

TimesLTMM

Times.dfont 

Symbol.dfont

The minimum font list for OS X, 10.6 is:
AppleGothic.ttf

Geneva.dfont

HelveLTMM

Helvetica LT MM

Helvetica.dfont

HelveticaNeue.ttc

Keyboard.ttf

LastResort.ttf

LucidaGrande.ttc

Menlo.ttc

Monaco.dfont

Times LT MM

TimesLTMM

Times.dfont

Symbol.dfont
MarkerFelt.ttc is still required for the Notes portion of Mail in 10.6, but is in the /Library/Fonts/ folder.

For OS 9 Classic mode,the only ones that must be present in the /System Folder/Fonts/ folder are:
Charcoal

Chicago

Geneva

Monaco

I would empty out all other font folders on your machines and manage all non-essential fonts as needed with a font management program.

InDesign or the Adobe suite puts fonts in its own font folder, so while they're available to the Adobe applications, other programs can't see them. The location for these OpenType fonts is /Applications/Adobe InDesign CS/Fonts/. Although more commonly, the location is /Library/Application Support/Adobe/Fonts/. These can be moved out from there and managed with your other fonts.

Keeping fonts to a minimum makes it easier to diagnose font issues and helps you avoid font conflicts.

Hope this helps,
Glen Demers
Prepress Technician, Best Printing Online
www.bestprintingonline.com

For more InDesign tips please visit our help pages here: http://www.bestprintingonline.com/indesign.htm