UPDATE (2002-12-09) README!!! Multiple Master Font Printing Problems under Updated Windows 2000 and Windows XP

[Dov Isaacs <isaacs@xxxxxxxxx>]

UPDATE — 2002-12-29 — Fix Available from Microsoft

Adobe Systems Incorporated has received reports from the field of 
problems with PostScript printing of text formatted with Multiple 
Master font instances under Windows 2000 and Windows XP after certain
operating system “updates.” This is a description of the symptoms, 
causes, and the fixes available for the problem.


SYMPTOM

Under Windows 2000 (all versions) and Windows XP (both versions) 
after certain OS updates, PostScript printing of text formatted with
Multiple Master font instances (used in conjunction with ATM Lite 4.1
or ATM Deluxe 4.1) appears to stop working completely for Adobe 
FrameMaker and all non-Adobe applications that do not generate their 
own PostScript. The problem manifests itself as areas on the page 
(both actual printed page and PDF page created via distillation of 
PostScript by Acrobat Distiller) that are devoid of text where text 
formatted with a Multiple Master font instance should appear. Screen
display of the document is correct, showing all fonts as expected. 
Output to non-PostScript devices (such as inkjet devices or Winfax 
device) likewise appears to be correct.


CAUSES

Windows 2000:  Applying Recommended Update Q322842 for Windows 2000 
(all versions) that supposedly resolves a problem of a “deadlock occurs
between two threads of system GDI in Windows 2000” (Microsoft Knowledge
Base Article Q322842) triggers the symptom described above.

Windows XP:  Applying Service Pack 1 for Windows XP (both versions) 
triggers the symptom described above.


AVAILABLE FIX

Information about the problem and the fixes available are posted on 
Microsoft's web site at <http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=329604>.

For Windows XP this URL provides direct access to a downloadable “hot fix”
(based upon the language of your system) that you may download and install
on your system to totally fix the problem. The fix will also be available 
for Windows XP users as part of Windows XP Service Pack 2, when it is 
released.

For Windows 2000 this URL provides information as to how to contact Microsoft
Technical Support to obtain the fix. (There should be no service charge from 
Microsoft for this Technical Support call if you mention that your system is
suffering from the symptoms described in Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 
329604. Microsoft has committed to make this fix directly downloadable for 
Windows 2000 users when versions for all languages are fully tested. The fix
will also be available for Windows 2000 users as part of Windows 2000 Service
Pack 4, when it is released.

Note that if you already applied workarounds for this problem in the past, 
prior to installing Microsoft's “fix” you should first fully update your 
system with all service packs and recommended updates that you may previously 
have uninstalled or refrained from installing due to this problem!

	- Dov


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