Weird Font Breakup and Possible Solution (LONG)

[Hedley Finger <hfinger@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Frameux et Frameuses:

A client came to me with a document that was okay most of the time but
would start to break up the type in weird ways.  For example, at 100 % zoom
10 pt type would look like 14 pt type at 10 pt line spacing, with the
result that lines overlapped and could not be read, let alone edited.  Yet
the type looked okay at 400 % and printed out okay.  So line spacing,
character size, word and character spacing were preserved in the document
and just the display went crazy.

Other phenomena encountered separately or together included all type
changing to the default font (in this case Times Roman), character spacing
becoming random, and inexplicable gaps between lines.  But the document
always printed out okay.

Some TEMPORARY fixes we discovered:

@  Placing the cursor in a paragraph and choosing Update All in the Para
Designer sometimes fixed (a) just the type with that para tag, or (b) all
type, whether tagged with that para tag or another.

@  Moving a dialogue over the document then away caused the document to
refresh just the type previously covered by the dialogue correctly, while
leaving other type not covered still in a mess.

@  Pressing Ctl-l to refresh the window sometimes fixed the type, sometimes
not.

A more permanent fix involves the Preferences dialogue.  In FrameMaker 5.5
for 68xxx Macintoshes, the Preference dialogue includes an extra check box,
[X] Font Cache (or something like this).  [This is not present in my own
FrameMaker+SGML 5.5 for Power Macintosh!]  When this check box is
unchecked, the weird fonts go away.

Adobe also suggested that older fonts that do not conform to the latest
Type 1 specification may be problematic when the latest version of ATM is
used.

For what it is worth, the platform is:

@  FrameMaker 5.5
@  Mac OS 7.6.1
@  Quadra 840AV with 68040 processor
@  ATM 4.0.2, created Monday, 24 March 1997
@  The following PostScript fonts were the only fonts installed additional
to the system TrueType fonts Chicago, Monaco, and Geneva:

FuturTBol
FuturTBolObl
FuturTBoo
FuturTBooObl
FuturTExtBol
FuturTExtBolObl
FuturTLig
FuturTLigObl
GoudyHanD
URWBaskerT-Regu
URWBaskerT-Bold
URWBaskerT-ReguObli
URWBaskerT-BoldObli

The oldest of these fonts is 4 March 1994 and the most recent is 9
September 1995.

At the end of this message is the advice supplied by Adobe, none of which
worked.

If anybody has had a similar experience and can advise how he or she solved
it, we would be pathetically grateful.

Regards,
Hedley


ADOBE'S ADVICE

>From: Edan Mumford <aptechnician@adobesupport.com>
>To: "'m.ghaffurian@latrobe.edu.au'" <m.ghaffurian@latrobe.edu.au>
>Subject: FrameMaker and font display issue
>Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 11:44:48 -0800
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>
>Hi Mary Ann,
>
>Please find below a guide to troubleshooting your font issue.
>
>Before you start please delete Framemaker and The Framemaker Preference
>file. Then reinstall frame and follow the steps below.
>
>Regards,
>
>Edan
>Adobe Support Centre
>
>
>
>***********************************
>
>
>The first step in troubleshooting font appearance is to determine the
>exact symptoms of the problem. Begin isolating the problem by applying
>another font to the text, then comparing how different fonts appear. Does
>only one Type 1 font appear jagged, do multiple Type 1 fonts appear
>jagged, or do all Type 1 fonts appear jagged?
>
>If one or more Type 1 fonts appear jagged, but others appear smooth, the
>problem may be caused by a damaged font or unavailable font files. If all
>your Type 1 fonts appear jagged, ATM is the most likely cause--it may be
>damaged or unable to locate one of its files.
>
>After you determine the exact symptoms of your font appearance problem,
>you have more clues to narrow down the cause of your problem, and you can
>begin troubleshooting your exact symptoms.
>
>
>ATM cannot display a Type 1 font smoothly when the outline font file is
>not installed, when the font file or the Fonts folder is damaged, when ATM
>has an insufficient cache, when both the TrueType version and the Type 1
>version of the font are installed, or when an earlier version of the font
>file is installed. Begin troubleshooting by first reinstalling the font,
>then recreating the fonts folder, next increasing the cache, then removing
>duplicate TrueType fonts, and finally by updating your font file.
>
>-	Reinstall the Font
>	Make sure the Type 1 font is not damaged and ATM can locate it by
>removing the font and reinstalling it from the original disks.
>
>To reinstall a Type 1 font in the Fonts folder in the System Folder in
>System 7.1 or later:
>1.	Quit all applications.
>2.	Open the Fonts folder in the System Folder.
>3.	Choose View > By Name.
>4.	Remove the outline and bitmap font files from the Fonts folder in
>the System Folder.
>5. 	Reinstall the outline and bitmap font files from the original disks
>into the Fonts folder in the System Folder.
>
>To reinstall a Type 1 font in the Fonts folder in the System Folder in
>System 7.0x:
>1.	Quit all applications.
>2.	Remove the Type 1 outline file(s) from the Extensions folder in the
>System Folder.
>3.	Remove the bitmap font suitcase from the System suitcase in the
>System Folder.
>4.	Reinstall the Type 1 outline file(s) from the original disks into
>the Extensions folder in the System Folder.
>5.	Reinstall the bitmap font suitcase from the original disks into the
>System suitcase in the System Folder.
>
>If you're using a font management utility (e.g., Adobe Type Manager
>Deluxe, Symantec Suitcase) to store font files outside the Fonts folder in
>the System Folder, see the utility's documentation for instructions on
>removing font files.
>
>-	Recreate the Fonts Folder
>	If you're using System 7.1 or later, the Fonts folder in the System
>Folder containing your fonts may be damaged, preventing ATM from locating
>an outline file. To make sure your Fonts folder is not damaged, remove it,
>then recreate it.
>
>To recreate the Fonts folder:
>1.	Move the Fonts folder from the System Folder to the desktop, then
>restart the Macintosh. After the Macintosh restarts, a new, empty Fonts
>folder is created in the System Folder.
>2.	Move font files from the old Fonts folder into the new Fonts folder
>in the System Folder.
>
>-	Increase ATM's Cache
>	ATM's Character Cache (ATM 4.0) or Font Cache (ATM 3.x) is an
>allotment of memory that ATM uses to store the fonts it has rasterized.
>When the cache is too small to create or display a font, the font appears
>jagged or does not appear.
>
>ATM's cache size varies. You should increase the size of the cache to 512K
>or more when your documents include a multiple master typeface (e.g.,
>Jenson, Ex Ponto, Tekton) or more than four.
>
>click the up or down arrows for the Character Cache Size (ATM 4.0) or the
>Font Cache (ATM 3.x), then restart your Macintosh.
>
>-	Remove TrueType Font Files
>	When both the TrueType version and the Type 1 version of a font are
>installed (e.g., Helvetica), ATM may be unable to locate the Type 1 font's
>outline file. Make sure only the Type 1 version of the font is installed.
>
>To determine if the TrueType version of the font is installed, open the
>folder or suitcase containing the font, then compare filenames. Each Type
>1 bitmap file includes a number (e.g., point size) in its filename. If a
>filename has no number, it's a TrueType font file. When you view the files
>in the suitcase by icon (choose View > by Icon), each TrueType font icon
>appears as a dog-eared page with three letter "A"s. Also, ATM Deluxe lists
>each file's type in its Fonts tab.
>
>If you have both the TrueType version and the Type 1 version of your font
>installed, remove one version. For instructions on removing one version of
>the font, see document 4146.
>
>-	Update the Font Files
>Each new version of ATM includes an updated rasterizer for rendering fonts
>to the screen. To work with a new version of ATM with an updated
>rasterizer, Type 1 fonts must adhere to the most recent Adobe Type 1 font
>specification. Some earlier Type 1 fonts do not adhere to the most recent
>version of the Type 1 font specification, causing them to appear jagged
>when you install a new version of ATM.
>
>If you're using a new version of ATM, obtain an updated version of your
>font from the font's manufacturer to ensure it adheres to the latest Type
>1 font specification.
>
>Older versions of ATM (e.g., 3.x) do not require Type 1 fonts to adhere to
>the most recent Type 1 font specification, since the most recent Type 1
>font specification was created after they were released.
>
>All Type 1 Fonts Appear Jagged or compressed
>When all your Type 1 fonts appear jagged, ATM itself is your most likely
>culprit. ATM cannot display Type 1 fonts when it is disabled, has an
>insufficient cache, is damaged, or is conflicting with another font
>utility. Begin troubleshooting ATM by ensuring it is turned on, then
>disabling other font utilities and extensions, next reinstalling ATM, and
>finally increasing the cache.
>
>-	Make Sure ATM Is Active
>Make sure ATM is active by selecting On in the General section of the
>ATM's Preferences dialog box (ATM 4.0) or in the ATM control panel (ATM
>3.x), then restarting your Macintosh. When ATM 4.0 is enabled, the message
>"ATM Rasterizer is active" appears in the General section of the ATM's
>Preferences dialog box. When ATM 3.x is enabled, the message "ATM is
>active" appears under the Off option in the ATM control panel.
>
>-	Disable Other Font Utilities
>Other font management utilities (e.g., Symantec Suitcase, MasterJuggler)
>may prevent ATM from loading or locating outline files. Also, you cannot
>use other font management utilities simultaneously with ATM Deluxe. If ATM
>Deluxe and another font management utility access the same font file at
>the same time, a system error will occur.
>
>You can determine if a conflict with another font utility is the cause of
>your problem by disabling the other utility. If you store your fonts
>outside the System Folder, you can then install your fonts into the Fonts
>folder in the System Folder to enable ATM to rasterize them. For
>instruction on disabling another font management utility, consult its
>documentation. For instructions on installing Type 1 fonts, see the
>"Reinstall the Font" section above.
>
>If your fonts still appear jagged after you disable other font utilities,
>you should then disable all your extensions. Other extensions may prevent
>ATM from loading or interfere with ATM's ability to locate outline font
>files. For detailed information on disabling extensions, see document
>200409 (System 7.x) or 200314 (Mac OS 8.x).
>
>-	Reinstall ATM
>When ATM is damaged, it may be unable to read, rasterize, or display Type
>1 fonts. To make sure ATM isn't damaged, remove ATM and then reinstall it.
>To reinstall ATM, copy the ATM installation files to your hard disk,
>disable all extensions, then reinstall ATM.
>
>-	Increase ATM's Cache
>ATM's Character Cache (ATM 4.0) or Font Cache (ATM 3.x) is an allotment of
>memory that ATM uses to store the fonts it has rasterized. When the cache
>is too small to create or display a font, the font appears jagged or does
>not appear.
>
>ATM's cache size varies. You should increase the size of the cache to 512K
>or more when your documents include a multiple master typeface (e.g.,
>Jenson, Ex Ponto, Tekton) or more than four typefaces on a page. To change
>the size of the cache, click the up or down arrows for the Character Cache
>Size (ATM 4.0) or the Font Cache (ATM 3.x), then restart your Macintosh.



======================================================================

Hedley Finger
   User documentation and publishing consultant
   Adobe(R) Certified Expert, FrameMaker 5.5

Hand Holding Projects Pty Ltd   ACN 007 418 153
   28 Regent Street   Burwood VIC 3125   Australia
   Tel +61 3 9809 1229   Fax +61 3 9809 1326   Mobile +61 412 461 558
   E-mail hfinger@handholding.com.au



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