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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Unusable Font Format

ShellyMiddleton - Apr 23, 2008 - 9:05 pm

A few weeks ago my hard drive crashed and I had to get it replaced. This was not too much of a problem since I had 4 different external hard drives backing up my MacBook Pro. My problem now is that some (or rather many) of my fonts say “Unix Executable File” in the Kind column and they are totally unusable. Is there a way to fix this? I have no idea what happened. They were fine before. I also use Suitcase Fusion as my font manager.

Thanks for your help,
Shelly

Natobasso - Apr 24, 2008 - 9:29 am

Hi Shelly, fellow designer here. So are the dot extensions still on those font files? Have you repaired permissions since the crash?

Apps/utilities/disk utility/repair permissions

ShellyMiddleton - Apr 24, 2008 - 12:34 pm

Yes, I've repaired permissions many times since then. There are no extensions on the font names, and the fonts icons are just gray little screens with the word Unix on them.

Shelly

Natobasso - Apr 24, 2008 - 12:42 pm

I'd download the free FontExplorer from Linotype: http://www.linotype.com/fontexplorer

Use FE to manage your system fonts folder, Tools/Clean System Fonts Folder and then have it search for conflicts and organize your fonts. Create a MY FONTS folder inside your hard drive and move all your fonts into it. File/Add to Library in FE to add those fonts.

Make sure you deactivate all fonts FontBook is trying to manage.

Hopefully this fixes your issue.

ShellyMiddleton - Apr 24, 2008 - 1:22 pm

Thanks, I'll give it a try and let you know what happens.

Natobasso - Apr 24, 2008 - 1:25 pm

Okay.

ShellyMiddleton - Apr 24, 2008 - 3:30 pm

This did not help with the fonts that were marked “Unix Executable File”. They are still unusable.

Shelly

Natobasso - Apr 24, 2008 - 4:52 pm

Found an article on this:
http://software-robotics.com/graphic...pic.php?p=7106

Were your fonts on a pc computer or server at any point?

If you know the original formats of those fonts, you can add that extension (.dfont, .ttf, etc.) and hopefully it will come right. If not, you may have to reinstall those fonts as their directory forks are corrupt.

Try a get info on one of the fonts (command + I) and see if it shows you the format/dot extension the font file should be.

Natobasso - Apr 24, 2008 - 4:56 pm

More on font types/dot extensions here for both mac and pc:
http://www.creativepro.com/article/it-takes-all-types

Do you work at all in Windows mode on your machine? Do you have your mac and pc fonts separated or together?

Natobasso - Apr 24, 2008 - 4:58 pm

And finally an article on troubleshooting fonts:
http://www.creativepro.com/article/t...-font-problems

It recommends using FontExplorer to clear your font cache. I think it's a good idea as well.

ShellyMiddleton - Apr 24, 2008 - 5:21 pm

Thanks for all of the information. I will try to process this and let you know tomorrow how it comes out. Before my hard drive crashed, I did have Parallels on my computer, though I didn't use it much. I have not re-installed it yet. I'll experiment with adding the extensions. Thanks again.

Natobasso - Apr 24, 2008 - 5:22 pm

Sure, let me know! Start with my last post first and work backwards.