Open Type Font cross-platform compatabilty

[Alec Stewart]

I work in a small design office where we use both Apple and Microsoft
platforms. We recently purchased the "Gill Sans Std" OTF font from Adobe,
but are having problems getting it to display properly when we switch
between the Windows and Mac versions of Word. If I use the font in a
document on my Mac, it shows up in dingbats when I open it on my PC.

In the Windows version of Word I can correctly apply a style to the font by
clicking on the B and I buttons. In the Mac version, I have to assign
styles by selecting the full font name on the font pull down menu, eg. "Gill
Sans Std Bold" or "Gill Sans Std Bold Italic". If I use the bold or italic
buttons on my Mac, the text will appear as a faux bold or faux italic--not
the true font definition.

When I use the bold and italic buttons, why doesn't the Mac version of Word
link the font to its correct style? I just got off the phone with Adobe
tech support and they told me that it was probably a communications issue
between the two versions of Word. It's a real pain in the rear to
continually have to reassign font definitions whenever a word document
crosses platforms!! Is there anything I can do to fix this problem!?!

It will solve a massive headache if we can get this problem resolved!!

Thanks!
Alec

Windows XP SP2
Word 2003

OS X Tiger
PowerBook G4
Word 2004

 

[JPenSuisse]

Hi Alec

I have posted posts about this on the Powerpoint form.

I use Adobe "Futura Standard". I have exactly the same problem. I am
betting it is an OS problem not a Powerpoint or Adobe problem. But who
knows? I did not have this problem with Powerpoint X running 10.3.x

I use 3 computers:

Powerbook G4 1.25 GHz - 10.4.4
iMac G5 2.1 Ghz - 10.4.5
Dell Inspirion with quality Intel processor

The problem has become rather dramatic in 10.4.5 because now, even
differet glyphs appear. Oddly, I have not trouble with the Dell and
Office for Windows. I have tried to reinstalling the OS, running disk
warrior. Currently I am running Office 11.2.3, but the problem has
been the same through all releases of Office 2004.

I can only say: don't update to 10.4.5! Or, change the font!

Greetings, John

 

[JPenSuisse]

Hi Again Alec,

I just wanted to give you an update...

Your post got me thinking again, and I installed FontAgent Pro 3.2 just
to see what would happen. Guess what in one of the user accounts the
Adobe fonts started working properly.

It looks to me like the problem is probably with Apple's font
management software. Who knows when or if it might be fixed.

Greeings again, JP

 

[Gavin Lawrie]

Your post got me thinking again, and I installed FontAgent Pro 3.2 just
to see what would happen. Guess what in one of the user accounts the
Adobe fonts started working properly.

Can you explain what you did to get this to work? I have the same
problem with our Open Type fonts - and if we can get around it using
FontAgent Pro that would be great. But not clear what it is that you
did. I'm not familiar with font manager software - so perhaps you
could explain such that I might be able to replicate here?

Many thanks in advance for your help.