InDesign CS giving me headaches!

[Raven]

I've just started using ID CS after QX4 for years. It's got me baffled even with a Users Manual and using Help View.

I'm designing a 24 page Annual Report. I set up my Paragraph Styles and Character Styles. Today when I opened the file, most of the fonts had changed. They are highlighted like they were unknown fonts. How did that happen?

Now I am trying to change them back to what they are supposed to be...

Example - The font name in the Character palette shows META as the font. In the Paragraph Style I set up, the font is and should be Usherwood. It doesn't matter what I do, I cannot get the font to change back to Usherwood. When I click on the Paragraph Style nothing happens!

However, I can change a font paragraph or font heading individually in the Character Palette. But then all the tabs are different, and I have to change the text away from ALL CAPS. It's like I have to redo all the text over again in the document. This sucks!

I don't know if this is related, but in the tabs on the palette names there are letters missing! Pages is _ages. Paragraph Styles is _aragr_h Sty_es.
Even in the menu bar commands there are letters missing. What's with that?

Dual G4/1.25GHz. 1gb Ram. OS10.3.8.
Font Reserve 3.1.3

[Lou Wrench]

Yeah I've had something like that as well!
If you have switched from Q4 to InDesign you have also switched from OS 9 to OS X …
Here lies the problem, all apps must be upgraded like Suitcase ATM de-Lux doesn't have an upgrade (bummer) and OS X doesn't support bold style or italic style, your font must include it. And OS X has several thousand places it can store and use fonts (or so it seems) these need clearing out to avoide conflicts.
Anyway a restart seems to sort the menu display out

[tequillajane]

I recommend that you check out prepressforums.com there is a whole section on font problems and how to cure them in OSX - Have no fear, after a few tips and tricks and some propper maint. and care of your fonts, it will be easier to manipulate your fonts.
Are you using a font manager, I have SuitcaseXI, but I have also heard alot of users like FontAgent Pro, And I do NOT recommend using Font Reserve. I bought it, used it for a month and threw it in the trash and bought Suitcase and never looked back! But check out the site, I'm sure they have what your looking for, if not, post on it, and they are great with answers...

[Raven]

Thanks Tequillajane.
I learned to go to Character styles, set it to No Styles, and then go back to Paragraph Styles. Sounds like one overrides the other. Everything is working cool again!

I used to use Suitcase years ago and it gave me grief. Now it may be time to go back?

How many designers out there use...
Suitcase, vs Font Pro, vs Font Reserve?
Let's do a poll!

[Haeme Ulrich]

We have the best feedback from our clients who use FontAgent. The badest software in my experience ist Suitcase (with his auto activation plug-in).

[Voxann]

And I do NOT recommend using Font Reserve. I bought it, used it for a month and threw it in the trash and bought Suitcase and never looked back!

Totally agree! Suitcase is the best for all mac computers' versions. It can even include temporary fonts to install for a short while on public mac labs at school. It makes everything a lot more easier. I used to always save all fonts on my disk and use them as temporary fonts under Suitecase so that it will show up in my projects under any applications I was using.

[AdobeAce]

Totally agree! Suitcase is the best for all mac computers' versions.

Hi All,

I've been using CS2 since May and I'm still waiting for the long-promised Auto-Activation Plug-Ins for InDesign and Illustrator. I'm tired of activating my fonts manually, and even more tired of going to Extensis.com checking on the status of the new plug-ins.

[tequillajane]

I had CS1 when we installed Suitcase, and when I upgraded to CS2 a few months ago, the same plugins worked. I was not aware that there was a CS2 version.
You may want to give it a try on yours...maybe it'll work, I have had no problems with the auto activation feature.
I usually turn on the customers fonts before I open a project though, that is just our workflow though. But if it is a new customer or they don't have a folder because we set all their stuff or something, the auto activation is fine.
Like I said, I didn't even know there was a special plugin for the CS2 versions.
Good Luck

[AdobeAce]

Hi All,

I've been using CS2 since May and I'm still waiting for the long-promised Auto-Activation Plug-Ins for InDesign and Illustrator. I'm tired of activating my fonts manually, and even more tired of going to Extensis.com checking on the status of the new plug-ins.

Hi All,

At long last, Auto-activation Plug-in for InDesign CS2 is available for download.

http://www.extensis.com/en/support/product_support.jsp?id=300005&x=18&y=12

Now, what about Illustrator CS2?