Font Book - Font Basic Parsability

Question

Level 2

289 points

Font Book - Font Basic Parsability

Hi,

I'm trying to validate a TTF font file, before importing it into Font Book, but I get an error. The error says:

1 serious error was found. Do not use this font.
Font basic parsability

The file seems fine to me, in that, I can view it with Quick Look. So why is Font Book giving me this error?

 iMac 17" 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, Mac OS X (10.5.2),  16 GB iPod Touch,  40 GB Apple TV Take 2

Posted on Mar 12, 2008 8:24 AM

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Answer 1

Reuben Feffer Author

Level 2

289 points

Mar 25, 2008 1:54 PM in response to Reuben Feffer

Just to add something to this thread...

If you go to a website that offers free fonts, often they have a PC and a Mac version. The Mac versions are often .sit files that require the installation of an additional app to open. The PC versions, on the other hand, are .zip files that Finder can open just fine. So, is it ok to install the PC version of fonts on a Mac? I mean, if double-clicking opens it in Font Book, and it passes Font Book's validation process, then surely the font must be ok for use on a Mac, even though it's listed as being for PC.

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Answer 2

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,836 points

Mar 12, 2008 9:09 AM in response to Reuben Feffer

So why is Font Book giving me this error?

Hard to know, it may not have any practical importance. You can just manually put it in Home/Library/Fonts and see if it works or causes any problems.

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Answer 3

Reuben Feffer Author

Level 2

289 points

Mar 12, 2008 9:29 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Hi,

Well the fonts are now in my Home / Library / Fonts folder. However, they're still not showing up in Font Book. Interestingly, Finder is classifying them as "Windows TrueType font". I thought TrueType font was an Apple format? Is there a difference?

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Answer 4

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,836 points

Mar 12, 2008 9:38 AM in response to Reuben Feffer

Interestingly, Finder is classifying them as "Windows TrueType font".

A large number of the fonts included with OS X are Windows True Type. It is the most common font type I think, and they normally work just fine. Apple versions are called datafork true type in the Finder.

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Answer 5

Reuben Feffer Author

Level 2

289 points

Mar 12, 2008 10:01 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Ok, thanks.

Well the fonts I was having problems with were coming from fontspace.com/filmfonts. Maybe the fonts on that site aren't compatible with Macs? I don't know. What I do know is, the fonts available from dafont.com work just fine. I guess Macs are just more fussy about where their Fonts come from.

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Answer 6

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,836 points

Mar 12, 2008 10:23 AM in response to Reuben Feffer

I guess Macs are just more fussy about where their Fonts come from.

Do those fonts not show up in the font menus of the apps where you want to use them? Showing up in Fontbook is not what matters.

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Answer 7

Reuben Feffer Author

Level 2

289 points

Mar 12, 2008 3:14 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

Um... No, they don't.

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Answer 8

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,836 points

Mar 25, 2008 2:10 PM in response to Reuben Feffer

So, is it ok to install the PC version of fonts on a Mac?

Yes. OS X can use most PC fonts just as easily as Mac fonts, and if you look at the fonts included with OS X a good number of them are Windows TrueType (=PC) fonts. Two exceptions are Windows PostScript fonts and fonts for complex scripts like Hindi, which OS X cannot use.

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Answer 9

Apr 2, 2008 7:59 AM in response to Reuben Feffer

Perhaps the font is corrupt or has an incorrect font number that conflicts wirth one you currently have installed..... and constantly trying to find a way around it isn't smart. Mac's are very font sensitive, using or installing corrupt fonts can destabilize the entire system or at least give software problems. I suggest you download the font again then scan it with a font software (I prefer font doctor, but it's not free).

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