Fonts: can't enable

Try Linotype's Font Explorer X. I just downloaded it and have been exploring using it with a number of old fonts that I've found. Not sure if this is the end-all font solution, but it may help you with your problem.

Install it then re-import your fonts using the import function and then activate them in the viewer and see if they're available.

JoeL

Font Book won't show what's in your Adobe fonts folder. Not that what IS showing in FB shouldn't work in InDesign, BUT... fonts you use in InDesign need to be in the /LIBRARY/APPLICATION SUPPORT/ADOBE/FONTS folder. If FontBook is listing the fonts, they're in one of your other Fonts folders. You can't use FontBook to get them back where they belong, so drag them into your Adobe fonts folder.

You should try to identify what happened between the time those fonts worked a week earlier and the time they stopped working. My guess is that someone was using your computer. My further guess is that someone wanted to get at Frutiger and Caslon from inside other applications and knew just enough that they moved them from the Adobe fonts folder to one of the system Fonts folders.

Nope, that's not it. I support many designers that are now going to Tiger. Both of the 2 I have upgraded get frequent Illustrator font errors - even with doc's created by them! One day the fonts are fine, the next you load the same set that worked the day before and bang, you're dead in the water. Could it be a problem with Tiger utilizing Old postscript 1 fonts? I personally witnessed this activity. I loaded OCRB in font book. No duplicates. Open illustrator 10 and font cannot be used (not open). Tried different copy of OCRB, same. Rebooted system, font was seen fine. The workaround CANNOT be to reboot your system. Not acceptable. Worked much better in Panther.

Thanks to Dr. Smoke on a different thread. Safe boot up to get rid of font cache has alleviated some pain. We'll see how often I have to do that!!

Hi Bart,

I imagine Apple doesn't like myself, or anyone else saying so, but Font Book is not a very good font manager. Heck, even their own PDF on the subject recommends using a third party app. Personally, I've been very happy with Suitcase X1. Others find FontAgent Pro to be a very stable manager, also. While I'm sure Font Book will continue to improve, you'd be much better off using a more mature font manager for now.

BUT... fonts you use in InDesign need to be in the /LIBRARY/APPLICATION SUPPORT/ADOBE/FONTS folder.

That is not correct. The fonts can be anywhere they are normally activated, or opened through a font manager. I never have any fonts in the folder you mention other than those in the Required folder. I use Suitcase X1 to control all of the fonts I want open or closed. The Adobe apps have no more problem seeing those fonts than any other program. The only advantage (if it can be said to be an advantage) to using that folder is that only the Adobe apps will see those fonts since they are the only apps that look in that folder. Otherwise, except for the required fonts, it has no special function or reason to exist. But yes, you are correct in saying ...

You can't use FontBook to get them back where they belong, so drag them into your Adobe fonts folder.

... since Font Book is a non functioning mess for Bart at the moment. At least he can continue on with his work in InDesign by using that workaround.