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| Quark - Silencing the Font Alert | | Date Created: 09 Oct, 2004, 02:08 PM |
 It seems that one of QuarkXPress' "features" has become more trouble that it's worth.
I have had several customers who have had the error message: "The font "name of font" used in the layout may be corrupt and may be substituted by courier. [108]. " when they print or export their QuarkXPress 6 and QuarkXpress 6.1 documents.
I did some experimentation with the fonts and documents in question. What I've found out is that most of these error messages are "false." In most cases, the documents printed to postscript devices just fine (with the correct fonts being output) despite the warning dialog box.
After some further work I found some of those instances where fonts did go to Courier had more to do with font permission issues (see the Font Geek article about fixing font permissions) than the font actually being corrupt.
As I understand it, this warning is a feature. In the past (versions of the OS and versions of QuarkXPress) when fonts didn't work well, you found that out when the document was printed and your fonts were replaced with Courier. This new alert dialog box/warning would seem to be a notification of the problem before the actual printing (or RIPping) of the document. And as features go, it's not a bad idea.
But a warning feature that pops up to tell you something is wrong and that isn't really wrong is not so much a feature as it is an annoyance. |
 After doing some research on this problem I found that it wasn't only my customers who were having this problem. In fact the problem is so wide spread that Quark, Inc. actually addressed the problem -- in it's own way.
They actually released an XTension (a QuarkXPress "plug-in") called FontAlertSilencer XT for Mac OS that you can download for free and place in your XTensions folder (within the QuarkXpress 6 application folder - probably located in your Applications folder) to suppress the font warning. Quark, Inc. issued the XTension with a description and a disclaimer; quoted in blue text below... |
From the Quark, Inc. Website...
The FontAlertSilencer XT prevents the font error warning message while printing and exporting PDF from a QuarkXPress layout. There may be scenarios where a font is actually corrupt but the FontAlertSilencer XT will prevent the warning message about a corrupt font from appearing. However, there have been reported cases where the font is not actually corrupt but the warning message is displayed. It is up to your discretion to use or not use this XTension.
-- Size: 28.13KB
-- Version: 6.1
-- For: QuarkXPress 6.1 and QuarkXPress Passport 6.1
-- OS: Mac OS
-- Language: All Languages
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Click her to Download FontAlertSilencer XT (File Size: 28k)
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| If you do download this XTension and install it, my recommendation is to make sure that your fonts are in good shape before you disable this feature. If you've "cleaned up" your fonts and you're using a good font management system, then you may well be better off suppressing this QuarkXPress "feature." |
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