Font Management

[Guest]

I am using FrameMaker version 7.1. I know this is a very old version, but I cannot upgrade at this time for various reasons. I found out the hard way that it can only display X amount of fonts on the screen (unlike PageMaker which handles the fonts differently). Up to now I have been able to cut down the number of fonts on my system to the point that I can display all fonts that I need on my screen. (As you can see from the screen print, I cannot get to any fonts past Typist). Now it has gotten to the point that I need to add some additional fonts so now all will not be displayed (format > fonts). I know that I can delete some fonts, which is what I have had to do until now. However that is not the option that I want to do. Is there any font management program that will allow me to have more fonts on my system and only allow FrameMaker to use (display) a limited amount of fonts?  If so what program(s) are available and how do I use it in FrameMaker?

[Be.eM]

gustantino wrote:

Is there any font management program that will allow me to have more fonts on my system and only allow FrameMaker to use (display) a limited amount of fonts?  If so what program(s) are available and how do I use it in FrameMaker?

Gustantino,

not exactly in the way you ask (it isn't possible to restrict a number of fonts to FrameMaker only), but of course there are tools. And considering the number of fonts you're using, you definitely need one 😉

I'm using this one: http://www.insidersoftware.com/FA_win.php

Using tools like FontAgent Pro, you can enable/disable fonts whenever needed, without having to delete/install them each time. So in your case you could boot the system with the minimum number of required system fonts (which is also good for memory and performance), and enable the fonts when required. This way your system and the FrameMaker menu stay as clean as possible.

Bernd

[Guest]

Thanks for the info - not exactly want I wanted, but I will try this

[Mike Wickham]

Your photo almost makes it look like your problem is the limit of your

monitor size, rather than a FrameMaker limit. I don't know. In any case,

you might want to try a font manager, such as Extensis Suitcase Fusion. Such

programs can be set up to install/uninstall fonts automatically as you need

them. I have no personal experience with this, however. So can't give any

tips.

You might also be able to condense your list a little using the

section in maker.ini.

[Guest]

Thanks - it is not the monitor size - a limitation of framemaker - I will

try your suggestion

[Guest]

I am not familiar with the WindowsToFrameFontAliases section in maker.ini -

can you explain?

[Mike Wickham]

I am not familiar with the WindowsToFrameFontAliases section in

maker.ini -

can you explain?

I'll give it a shot, but it has been a long time since I messed with it, and

even then, I probably didn't fully understand it. The instructions in

maker.ini are meager and weak. For the purpose of this discussion, I'll use

"typeface" to mean the font name, such as Bookman, Times New Roman, etc. And

I'll use "font" to mean the flavor of the typeface, such as "roman,"

"italic," "bold," and "bold italic."

Basically, if I recall correctly, Windows groups no more than four font

styles into a typeface. For example, if you had a typeface called Font1 in

roman, italic, bold, and bold italic, Windows can group them into a single

typeface listing (the items in the font choice menu you posted). In this

case it would show Font1 as a typeface choice. In FrameMaker, you can then

choose the angle and weight in the font section of the Paragraph and

Character Designers to achieve the four font style variations.

But what if you had the roman, italic, bold, and bold italic variations of

not only Font1, but also of Font1Compressed, and Font1Expanded, for a total

of 12 font stylings. In reality, these are 12 stylings of one typeface, not

four stylings each of three typefaces. But Windows can't lump more than four

together, so you're left looking at listings for Font1, Font1Compressed, and

Font1Expanded in the FrameMaker dropdown list. In other words, FrameMaker

sees three different typefaces and lists three in the dropdown list.

However, the Paragraph Designer and Character Designer also have the

Variation field. Using the WindowsToFrameFontAliases feature in maker.ini

you can map Font1Compressed and Font1Expanded as variations of Font1. So

even though Windows can only see three typefaces with four stylings each,

FrameMaker can be made to see one typeface with 12 stylings! The angle field

will still give the regular and italic choices. The weight field will still

give regular and bold. And, after mapping, the variations field will list

Font1, Font1Compessed, and Font1Expanded. Combining these fields gives you

all 12 font choices. And you will then see only Font1 in FrameMaker's font

dropdown list-- not Font1Compressed or Font1Expanded-- saving two lines in

your listing and making room on the list to show two other typefaces. And,

now, you can use combinations of the angle, weight, and variations fields in

the Designers to achieve all 12 font styles.