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TICKET ARCHIVE -> I Can't Read International Characters From Another Mac
RHR - Jul 19, 2005 - 1:04 am
I can't read the special characters in a MS Word document sent by another mac user. She has placed them using the Character Palette.
She has used a standard font (Verdana) so I don't think that's the problem.
I'm using os10.4.2, she's using 10.3.9.
We are both using MS Office 2004 but I'm not using Entourage – I'm using Thunderbird.
She has emailed it to another mac user, on 10.4, who has opened it with all the formatting intact so I can only assume it's my system.
I do use Suitcase x1 but I've disabled it but still have the same problem.
Does anyone know what the problem might be?
I would say that my technical level is 'high end user' (graphic designer – definitely not a technician)
Regards
Richard
She has used a standard font (Verdana) so I don't think that's the problem.
I'm using os10.4.2, she's using 10.3.9.
We are both using MS Office 2004 but I'm not using Entourage – I'm using Thunderbird.
She has emailed it to another mac user, on 10.4, who has opened it with all the formatting intact so I can only assume it's my system.
I do use Suitcase x1 but I've disabled it but still have the same problem.
Does anyone know what the problem might be?
I would say that my technical level is 'high end user' (graphic designer – definitely not a technician)
Regards
Richard
CaptainQuark - Jul 19, 2005 - 8:27 am
Hi Richard,
Depending on the language you are having problems reading or the nationality of the system on which the file was generated, it could just be something as simple as a font issue.
I, like you, am still on 10.3.9, but I haven't yet had anyone send me any Tiger-generated material, so unfortunately I can't give you any specific advice on the issue you mentioned, but what I can do is give you the industry-standard workaround (or at least, if it isn't industry standard, it SHOULD be! ;-) ).
I have lost count of the times MS Word text screws up when importing text into QuarkXPress and other such applications. The problem lies in that there are so many 'dialects', if you like, of Word floating about, and so many proprietary import filters, that it is very difficult indeed to guarantee any one standard. So we need to use another standard: Rich Text Format – the lingua franca of the word-processing world.
Ask whoever sent you the file to save it out in .RTF format and e-mail that file to you instead. If the application you are using won't import RTF-formatted text, simply open it up in Text Edit and save it out in MS Word format. That way, you can guarantee that the conversion WILL work on your system.
Hope that helps!
CQ
Depending on the language you are having problems reading or the nationality of the system on which the file was generated, it could just be something as simple as a font issue.
I, like you, am still on 10.3.9, but I haven't yet had anyone send me any Tiger-generated material, so unfortunately I can't give you any specific advice on the issue you mentioned, but what I can do is give you the industry-standard workaround (or at least, if it isn't industry standard, it SHOULD be! ;-) ).
I have lost count of the times MS Word text screws up when importing text into QuarkXPress and other such applications. The problem lies in that there are so many 'dialects', if you like, of Word floating about, and so many proprietary import filters, that it is very difficult indeed to guarantee any one standard. So we need to use another standard: Rich Text Format – the lingua franca of the word-processing world.
Ask whoever sent you the file to save it out in .RTF format and e-mail that file to you instead. If the application you are using won't import RTF-formatted text, simply open it up in Text Edit and save it out in MS Word format. That way, you can guarantee that the conversion WILL work on your system.
Hope that helps!
CQ
RHR - Jul 19, 2005 - 6:01 pm
Many thanks for that Captain that's a really good idea. I used to request rtf when getting copy from pc operators but had got out of the habit.
I'm actually the one on Tiger, so under the usual way of things I shouldn't be the one with the problem but I think it was Suitcase x1 that was the issue.
In Suitcase's preferences I had 'Allow Suitcase to override system fonts' checked when the document first came in. I did clear it & deactivate the program but the problem wasn't resolved (that's when I called for help). What I had forgotten was to trash the MS Office preference folder. Once I had done that & rebooted all was fine.
I now just have to figure out how to bring this 300 page document into InDesign without losing the special characters!;-}
Thanks again
Richard
I'm actually the one on Tiger, so under the usual way of things I shouldn't be the one with the problem but I think it was Suitcase x1 that was the issue.
In Suitcase's preferences I had 'Allow Suitcase to override system fonts' checked when the document first came in. I did clear it & deactivate the program but the problem wasn't resolved (that's when I called for help). What I had forgotten was to trash the MS Office preference folder. Once I had done that & rebooted all was fine.
I now just have to figure out how to bring this 300 page document into InDesign without losing the special characters!;-}
Thanks again
Richard
TechSupport - Jul 22, 2005 - 6:30 pm
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