Zapf Dingbats not working

Leopard comes with a .dfont version of Zapf Dingbats in the /System/Library/Fonts/ folder. So you may either have a font conflict, if you're trying to use an older Type 1 PostScript version for the file; or the OS X supplied font just doesn't work properly with the document since it is Unicode.

If you're trying to use a different version of Zapf Dingbats, you're going to have to get OS X's version out of the way first. Go to the /System/Library/Fonts/ folder and copy the file ZapfDingbats.dfont to another location for safe keeping. Then delete it from the System folder. You'll have to enter your password in order to remove it. With only the version of Zapf Dingbats you need active, it should now work properly.

I just did a little experimenting here. Flash does seem to have an issue with certain fonts. I tried an older Type 1 PostScript font (ITC Zapf Dingbats) first in Flash CS3. It wouldn't work at all. Couldn't type or even paste in characters. Even the Character Palette wouldn't pop them in. I then switched to the Leopard provided version of Zapf Dingbats. That does work, but only by pasting them in from another app where you can see the characters, or popping them in from the Character Palette. You can't type them in.

I called Apple support but they just told me to reinstall my system software which was their response to all my problems which are unfortunately many on my new laptop.

Yes, the "catch all" problem solver. Reinstall. :-P

I'm not sure which type of Zapf Dingbat font you're trying to use, but if it's a Type 1 PS font, it sure seems to be a problem. As mentioned, I could use Apple's supplied .dfont version. I could also use the ITC Type 1 version if I converted it to an OpenType font first. But again, characters could only be entered via the Character Palette, or copy/pasting from another application, such as TextEdit.

Part of the problem with the Type 1 PS font is that it is laid out very strangely. It's plain ol' 8 bit font, but the position of the glyphs is encoded in an odd way. In a normal font, the space character is followed by exclamation, quote and number (hash mark), but in ITC's Type 1 PS Zapf Dingbats font, it's space, a1, a2, a202. This strange naming system continues through the entire font. So while the glyphs are in the correct ordinal positions (a-z, A-Z, 1-9, etc.), you still can't type them from the keyboard because the position names are completely different.

I'm actually using Apple's version of the font and it (and other fonts like it such as Symbol) doesn't work in Apple's Mail program either...

That should be possible. How are you trying to input the characters into Mail? You need to open Character Palette and navigate to the Unicode Dingbat section, 00002700, to do those, and probably to another section for a symbol, depending on exactly what it is.

I am having a similar problem with Dingbat font. My problem is the font displays properly in Word or AppleWorks, but not in Pages, Keynote, Numbers or TextEdit.

Here's the kicker, I have tried this on three different Macs (all running Leopard).

Got the same answer from Apple - reinstall your system. Didn't work on a reinstall either.

I am having a similar problem with Dingbat font. My problem is the font displays properly in Word or AppleWorks, but not in Pages, Keynote, Numbers or TextEdit.

If it displays right in Appleworks, you are not using a Unicode version of the font. In Pages, etc. use the Character Palette and go to Unicode section 00002700 to select and input dingbats.

Thanks for the suggestion. Your suggestion works. I didn't realize that Pages, TextEdit, etc handles fonts differently. I don't understand why font usage is different in these program. For example, why doesn't formatting this sentence to Dingbat font display the dingbat characters.

Hello folks. I just noticed this thread. My Father's partner who is a graphics designer has been having the exact same problems, but what's more is that she has been talking with Apple UK, and apparently the engineers in Ireland are (now) fully aware of the problem (although it has taken us users to tell them about it! Bad Apple!!). I'm surprised that this problem hasn't been rectified in 10.5.5. So my recommendation is to contact Apple asap (don't bother with these forums, as it's well documented that Apple don't tend to take much notice on them).

I hope this helps.

Tom

I don't understand why font usage is different in these program. For example, why doesn't formatting this sentence to Dingbat font display the dingbat characters.

Modern apps are designed use Unicode technology, under which fonts should not replace normal Latin with other stuff. Dingbats should have their own codepoints. Sometimes an old non-Unicode font, such as one that puts Dingbats where Latin is supposed to be, will work, but sometimes not.

Have you validated the font via Font Book?

Then, you got me. I have no idea since it works in everything I have. However, that doesn't include Flash or and Adobe stuff.