Font Book Won't Recognize New Fonts

A client just sent me a few fonts to use in a project. I've tried dragging the fonts to a new folder in Font Book, but nothing happens. I've also tried clicking on the "Add Fonts" button and navigating to the font files, but they're grayed out.

When viewing the font files in the Finder, the Kind on some of the files shows up as "Font.mdimporter Document" while others are "PostScript Type 1 outline font."

Any suggestions to get these fonts loaded into my system?

-Ray

Posted on Aug 19, 2005 11:25 AM

34 replies

Sep 19, 2005 2:14 PM in response to SharonZ

It actually makes some sense that there's no differentiation between bitmap and TT suitcase files, since they're really on their way out. The Type 1 duo is biting the dust, too, to be replaced by OpenType.

Is TrueType on its way out too? From a simple basic user perspective it is difficult to see any compelling advantages with OpenType. Apple doesn't ship any OpenType fonts, even though MS may do so with Windows.

Kurt Lang

Level 9

68,700 points

Sep 19, 2005 2:43 PM in response to SermoDaturCunctis

Is TrueType on its way out too?

Unlikely. OpenType is actually available for purchase as TrueType or PostScript. The only problem there, is like .ttf TrueType files, which can be a single font or a family, OpenType files all end in .otf. There's no way to tell just by looking at them if it's a TrueType OpenType font or a PostScript version. Even the Get Info box simply labels them as "OpenType Font". Gee, thanks, but I already knew that. Very maddening.

Sep 20, 2005 6:44 AM in response to Kurt Lang

OpenType files all end in .otf.

However, on my Windows 2000 system, they seem to end in .ttf. Is that a platform difference, or are .ttf-files which have O-icon and when double clicked say "OpenType" a different kind of OpenType from .otf?

Kurt Lang

Level 9

68,700 points

Sep 20, 2005 7:37 AM in response to SermoDaturCunctis

However, on my Windows 2000 system, they seem to end in .ttf.

It could be that's what Adobe had to do to get them to show up in all versions of Windows, since Win '98 or ME for instance wouldn't even recognize an .otf file type. I haven't looked into it that deep, but you're likely correct.

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Font Book Won't Recognize New Fonts