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Adobe FrameMaker (Version 17): Replacing Missing Fonts

Forum|Forum|21 days ago
April 27, 2026
3 replies
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Hi!

I got a message from our translations vendor that my FrameMaker files have several missing fonts.

Based on my research, I should be able to deselect the Remember Missing Font Names check box under Preferences, and this warning will go away in future FrameMaker sessions:

However, after I close FrameMaker and re-open the book, I’m still seeing messages about missing fonts under the Console panel:

I went to the Fonts panel, selected one of the missing fonts, but the Replace Font panel does not show me where the font is missing is and I’ve never heard of the font that it wants to use as a replacement:

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you!

Correct answer Jeff_Coatsworth

Here’s Matt’s blog post on finding missing fonts - https://techcommtools.com/framemaker-unavailable-fonts/
and here’s the one where he talks about FA - https://techcommtools.com/font-awesome-bullets/

Matt-Tech Comm Tools

Community Expert

Here is a walkthrough of downloading FA5 and installing on Windows so that Fm has access

-Matt Sullivan, FrameMaker Course Creator, Author, Trainer, Consultant

mary_n_fingerlakesAuthor

Known Participant

Thanks @Matt-Tech Comm Tools!

Matt-Tech Comm Tools

Community Expert

Far and away the easiest way to handle this is to go to https://fontawesome.com/ and download the free versions of fonts you’re looking for. They are icon fonts, and not easily replaced.

Even if you try to replace, fonts on master pages and especially reference pages can be tricky to find.

I often have to save to a MIF file and then sleuth the text file for the fonts.

-Matt Sullivan, FrameMaker Course Creator, Author, Trainer, Consultant

mary_n_fingerlakesAuthor

Known Participant

Hi @Matt-Tech Comm Tools - actually, the previous writer in my position did download the Font Awesome icons and saved them as SVGs. But, truly, this is a lack of knowledge on my part--I’m not sure how to use or replace them and I can’t seem to find clear, user-friendly instructions on how to do so. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Jeff_Coatsworth

Correct answer

Community Expert

Here’s Matt’s blog post on finding missing fonts - https://techcommtools.com/framemaker-unavailable-fonts/
and here’s the one where he talks about FA - https://techcommtools.com/font-awesome-bullets/

frameexpert

Community Expert

When you have Remember Missing Font Names checked, FrameMaker will make a temporary font substitution. This is usually what you want when others are editing the file and they don’t have the font or fonts. When you get the files back and you have the fonts, everything will be fine.

When it is unchecked, you will get the message when you open the file, but now the fonts will be REPLACED not substituted. In other words, the font substitution will be permanent. If you save the changes, you won’t get any missing font messages the next time you open the file.

www.frameexpert.com

mary_n_fingerlakesAuthor

Known Participant

Thanks @frameexpert. I am still pretty fuzzy on these font issues.

When I originally sent the FrameMaker files to translators, the Remember Missing Font Names was checked by default, but the translators said several fonts were missing and they wanted me to provide those fonts.

How do I ensure the translators don’t encounter the missing fonts issues?

Thank you.

Jeff_Coatsworth

Community Expert

Wouldn’t the translation agency want .mif or XLIFF files instead? Unless they’re doing layout and formatting for you too, they shouldn’t care what font is in the content they get.

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