Troubleshooting font problem

Question

Level 1

15 points

Troubleshooting font problem

I recently ran into what appeared to be a font-related problem with a new app I was trying out. When I opened FontBook I found that I had numerous duplicates. I used the Resolve Duplicates command and I also manually disabled all of the foreign language fonts I could identify.

I also attempted to follow a procedure that was recommended somewhere in support literature, (although I'm embarrassed to say I can't recall where I read it now), suggesting that dragging the fonts folder out of the System/Library folder and back in again would help to identify corrupt fonts. It also said that MS Word would then check fonts when it started up. I did this and Word did, in fact, go through a font inspection when opened. For some reason, however, it seemed to think that every single font was corrupt and I had to click OK for each one.

Unfortunately, now when I attempt to start a different app -FileMaker Pro (7.0v3)- it crashes every time. I'm not really qualified to evaluate crash logs but there seems to be indication of font-related items. I've done the usual assortment of preference trashing, checking for and installing updates (FileMaker), disk and permission repair including DiskWarrior, but I've still got the same crash on startup with FM.

Font validation in FontBook revealed 3 corrupt fonts - two (both Asian languages of some kind - sorry) that were already disabled and Gr Courier. Disabling the latter appears to have made no difference.

So, I'm looking for some guidance in the way of troubleshooting the font issue. For what it's worth, I appear to have lots of non-system fonts in my System/Library/Fonts folder. Not sure what I should try next. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks - JAY

G4 MDD 1.25 MP, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Feb 6, 2007 9:23 AM

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Answer 1

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,240 points

Feb 6, 2007 9:45 AM in response to Jay Beech

If your current problem is only with Filemaker, you might want to ask in the forums which specialize in it:

http://www.fmforums.com/

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Answer 2

Feb 6, 2007 10:15 AM in response to Jay Beech

If you post the crash logs for FileMaker, I can take a look at them to see if the crashes are at all font-related.

Dual 2.7GHz PowerPC G5 w/ 2.5 GB RAM; 17" MacBook Pro w/ 2 GB RAM - Mac OS X (10.4.8)

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Answer 3

Feb 6, 2007 10:38 AM in response to Jay Beech

Hi Jay,

What you didn't seem to mention is what prompted you to troubleshoot fonts in the first place.

I do NOT use the Resolve Duplicates command because, unless they fixed this, Font Book removes the OSX version of fonts instead of the ones that are present from OS 9 and applications. I manually resolve duplicates.

Word from Office 04 has problems with 10.4. No way around that, but you can make it not check fonts on launch and can be found elsewhere on the Discussions.

You have Repaired Permissions as well, correct?

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Answer 4

Jay Beech Author

Level 1

15 points

Feb 6, 2007 11:04 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Yes, I've had difficulties accessing that site but am trying to find FileMaker-specific input as well. The company itself is very stingy with regard to support.

If your current problem is only with Filemaker, you
might want to ask in the forums which specialize in
it:

http://www.fmforums.com/

Reply

Answer 5

Jay Beech Author

Level 1

15 points

Feb 6, 2007 11:32 AM in response to MarkDouma®

That would be awesome. Go here:

<http://www.baytonemusic.com/FIleMakerCrashLog.htm>

Thanks - JAY

If you post the crash logs for FileMaker, I can take
a look at them to see if the crashes are at all
font-related.

Dual 2.7GHz PowerPC G5
w/ 2.5 GB RAM; 17" MacBook Pro w/ 2 GB RAM -
Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Reply

Answer 6

Jay Beech Author

Level 1

15 points

Feb 6, 2007 11:37 AM in response to J D Knight III

Hi Jay,

What you didn't seem to mention is what prompted you
to troubleshoot fonts in the first place.

I was trying out a new piece of music software that kept crashing on me. After sending that crash log along with some feedback to the company, one of the developers said he thought it looked like a font problem.

I do NOT use the Resolve Duplicates command because,
unless they fixed this, Font Book removes the OSX
version of fonts instead of the ones that are present
from OS 9 and applications. I manually resolve
duplicates.

Can you describe the procedure you use?

Word from Office 04 has problems with 10.4. No way
around that, but you can make it not check fonts on
launch and can be found elsewhere on the
Discussions.

Word only went through that process the first time after I moved the fonts folder. Since then, no problem,

You have Repaired Permissions as well, correct?

Yes, I'm pretty disciplined about that as a matter of course and made sure to do in this case.

Thanks.

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Answer 7

Feb 6, 2007 1:03 PM in response to Jay Beech

I do NOT use the Resolve Duplicates command
because,
unless they fixed this, Font Book removes the OSX
version of fonts instead of the ones that are
present
from OS 9 and applications. I manually resolve
duplicates.

Can you describe the procedure you use?

Font Book will show a dot next to the fonts with duplicates... if you hover over the fonts or get info it shows the location. I make sure to delete the older or non-system installed version. I also use FontDoctor to check our fonts.

Word from Office 04 has problems with 10.4. No way
around that, but you can make it not check fonts on
launch and can be found elsewhere on the
Discussions.

Word only went through that process the first time
after I moved the fonts folder. Since then, no
problem,

Word has a problem with 10.4 where it will do that check and show an error for every user font that can only be fixed by deleting a few files or disabling the check by Office.

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Answer 8

Jay Beech Author

Level 1

15 points

Feb 6, 2007 2:20 PM in response to J D Knight III

I make sure to delete the
older or non-system installed version.

How do you identify the latter? Basically if they're in the System/Library/Fonts or Library/Fonts folders? Can you delete anything from those folders? When even look into those directories in the Finder they automatically close.

I also use
FontDoctor to check our fonts.

Is this a good app? I hate to spend another $70 if I don't need to but I might if it would help me get through this issue.

JAY

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Answer 9

Feb 7, 2007 7:02 AM in response to Jay Beech

How do you identify the latter? Basically if they're
in the System/Library/Fonts or Library/Fonts folders?
Can you delete anything from those folders? When even
look into those directories in the Finder they
automatically close.

It depends on the applications. Office always installs in the user fonts ~/Library/Fonts, where ~ = your home folder, is short hand for /Users/ your user short name. Other programs install in /Library/Fonts so all users, and the program no matter who is running it, can reach the fonts. You have to check the creation date and version of each one, which can be done inside FontBook or using the Finder.

The Font folders close right after you open them? Really? I've never seen that. Makes me wonder what else is going on with your system.

I also use
FontDoctor to check our fonts.

Is this a good app? I hate to spend another $70 if I
don't need to but I might if it would help me get
through this issue.

It is much better finding fonts that are incomplete sets (screen set but no printing set, and vice versa) and other problems. If you buy fonts, or deal with any sizable amount for layout/publishing... this tool is a must.

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Answer 10

TildeBee

Level 7

31,923 points

Feb 7, 2007 7:45 AM in response to Jay Beech

Jay --
Just popping in here . . . you're getting great help.
Just a word of extreme caution:
NEVER touch your System>Library>Fonts folder!

Your crash report shows a font problem.
And incomplete sets does seem to be the culprit.

EDIT: Just found this.
It is entirely possible that deleting the Asian fonts is at the heart of your problem. Check out this thread from MacOSXHints:
http://forums.macosxhints.com/archive/index.php/t-50817.html

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Answer 11

Jay Beech Author

Level 1

15 points

Feb 7, 2007 7:37 AM in response to J D Knight III

How do you identify the latter? Basically if

they're

in the System/Library/Fonts or Library/Fonts

folders?

Can you delete anything from those folders? When

even

look into those directories in the Finder they
automatically close.

It depends on the applications. Office always
installs in the user fonts ~/Library/Fonts, where ~ =
your home folder, is short hand for /Users/ your
user short name. Other programs install in
/Library/Fonts so all users, and the program no
matter who is running it, can reach the fonts. You
have to check the creation date and version of each
one, which can be done inside FontBook or using the
Finder.

The Font folders close right after you open them?
Really? I've never seen that. Makes me wonder what
else is going on with your system.

Tell me about it... Here's what I've just noticed. If I have the Trash window open on the desktop I look into the System/Library/Fonts folder (in another window, of course), make selections, scroll, etc. However, if I close the Trash window and THEN try to open the above folder ALL Finder windows close and reopen, PLUS the Trash window is automatically opened.

There are no fonts in the trash as far as I can see.

I also use
FontDoctor to check our fonts.

Is this a good app? I hate to spend another $70 if

I

don't need to but I might if it would help me get
through this issue.

It is much better finding fonts that are incomplete
sets (screen set but no printing set, and vice versa)
and other problems. If you buy fonts, or deal with
any sizable amount for layout/publishing... this tool
is a must.

Sounds like I might benefit from this. For now, though, I think I'm going to to follow the procedure outlined here for Undoing (resetting?) FontBook:

<http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/undofontbook.html#Anchor-14210>

At that point, I'll see if FileMaker is working again then go try your procedure for deleting duplicates. It's possible that I may need to consider replacing my main drive. My boot partition is pretty full and I think if I'm going to go through the pain of reauthorizing all my apps I'm going to start with a new and bigger drive.

JAY

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Answer 12

Jay Beech Author

Level 1

15 points

Feb 7, 2007 7:41 AM in response to TildeBee

Then maybe I should take JD's advice and get FontDoctor to address that. I still think I'll start with the procedure I outlined in my most recent post. I don't think it can hurt...(famous last words).

Thanks so much for looking at my crash log!

- JAY

Jay --
Just popping in here . . . you're getting great
help.
Just a word of extreme caution:
NEVER touch your System>Library>Fonts folder!

Your crash report shows a font problem.
And incomplete sets does seem to be the culprit.

Reply

Answer 13

Feb 7, 2007 7:51 AM in response to TildeBee

for some reason I can't see that log file.. states it doesn't exist/has yet to be created.

Usually you want to leave /System/Library/Fonts alone like Bee mentioned (and I failed to) as they should only be there by the system install. Follow up on Bee's outside link post with your results please.

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Answer 14

TildeBee

Level 7

31,923 points

Feb 7, 2007 7:57 AM in response to Jay Beech

Jay --
See my edit on my last post.
FileMaker Pro needs some Asian Fonts.
You may have to reinstall them.
I don't think Font Doctor will do this.

Reply

Answer 15

Jay Beech Author

Level 1

15 points

Feb 7, 2007 8:13 AM in response to TildeBee

Wow! That looks like exactly what I'm experiencing. To be honest, I didn't think I could get myself in that much trouble because the notes above the "Essentially System Software" lists in this document <http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301332> indicated that those fonts cannot be disabled. Maybe the fonts referred to in your link are part of the 3rd list above - Additional Fonts (can be disabled).

I'll report back...

JAY

EDIT: Just found this.
It is entirely possible that deleting the Asian fonts
is at the heart of your problem. Check out this
thread from MacOSXHints:
http://forums.macosxhints.com/archive/index.php/t-5081
7.html

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