My forms can't display the proper fonts anymore

[Belinda07]

Hi, I'm using pdf forms for internal administration purposes since 2009. Now with the latest update of Acrobat Pro DC my font isn't showing anymore. I can see some bullets where the characters should be. The fonts are activated and working fine in other Adobe software. So why are they suddenly not working in forms anymore? Anyone??

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

It depends upon which fonts were available on your computer when the form was first made, which ones are on it now, and whether the fonts were embedded into the PDF.

Questions:

• By chance, has your computer changed (or you received a new one) since you last used the form?
• Did your operating system get upgraded?
• Were the fonts embedded into the PDF? File/Properties/Fonts and scan down the list. Would say "embedded" or "embedded subset" if they were.
• Can you provide a screen capture of the problem?

FYI, fonts can have very similar names but not be the same and therefore can be "missing". Example: Times and Times New Roman are not the same font.

[Belinda07]

Hi Bevi,

The fonts are the same as when the form was created. It's my house style font. I've changed computers once three years ago, but it never interfered with my fonts. Also has my OS been updated regularly, lately to High Sierra. The fonts are embedded. I've made a screen dump for you to see. The bullets are text in the font LinotypeProjekt which is giving me problems only in my Acrobat forms. I think the problem occurred since I've updated to High Sierra. Although the font is active, it's not appearing in the font list in Acrobat.

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com · Accepted solution]

From your screen capture, it's clear that Adobe Acrobat definitely doesn't recognize your existing fonts. That's what the odd-looking bullets mean.

Font issues are rampant with the latest version of Apple OS High Sierra. Some programs recognize the old location of the fonts, others don't.

Also, High Sierra doesn't handle PostScript fonts, so check that your version of LinotypeProjekt-Regular is an OpenType font (or TrueType).

RE: LinotypeProjekt — is it a traditional desktop font or is it licensed through Linotype's font program or Adobe's TypeKit? The "rent a font" programs like TypeKit can wreak havoc when programs don't recognize the font. With traditional desktop fonts (download the OTF/TTF file and install it), you have more control over where they are installed.

One solution that has worked for some users:

1. Uninstall the font.
2. Reboot your computer (clears out any fonts that are cached).
3. Reinstall the fonts. Use Apple's FontBook app or another font manager like Linotype's Font Explorer Pro.
4. Launch Acrobat and the form file and see if they fonts return.

Here are some other forum posts and independent blogs about similar problem with fonts, albeit with other programs, but the theory is the same throughout your computer. Fonts are controlled by the operating system.

• http://www.jklstudios.com/misc/osxfonts.html
• High Sierra Upgrade - Can't find Fonts
• InDesign doesn't recognize installed fonts all the time

Some folks have found that it makes a difference where the fonts are stored, as you'll read in the above posts.

Let us know if any of these solutions work for you.