TEXT AS OUTLINES ISSUE

[Jonathan23731901nk5l]

Hi, let me start by saying I am not technical at all!

I get sent ai fies by customers that have the text drawn as outlines  but when I iopen the file in ai, the text is not in the same style and there is a pink recatngle box aroud the text indicating that it is not correct.  I have sent thre same ai file onto a friend who when he opens the file, the corrct text is ther and oulines exactly as it should look.   Any ideas why this is happening please!  I have uploaded a screenshot of what I  get. 

[Jacob Bugge]

Jonathan,

As I (mis)understand it, your text is live Type, not outlined, and you have a substiute font because the original font is unavailable to you; it is available to your friend.

In other words, the font is missing on your computer.

It may be a matter of CC versions, if it is a font that is available in one version (that your friend has) and missing in another one (yours). In that case you can upgrade or downgrade your CC version.

Otherwise, it is most likely a matter of a font that only your friend has installed.

You can find out the font and what can be done about it.

Failing everything else, you can choose a font that you (can) legally have.

[Jonathan23731901nk5l]

Hi Jacob, thanks for your response. 

The text was (I believe) drawn as outlines, does this not mean that it is artwork rather thhan a a font that I might not have.  Therefore not having the font is not the issue?

Much appreciatd.

[Test Screen Name]

To be clear, the pink box means there is a missing font. So you have been misled: not all the text is outlined. 
Outlining text is considered bad practice, especially in the design stages. Good practice is said to be to agree a set of fonts and ensure all parties have them. The Adobe Fonts subscription is one way. 

[Jonathan23731901nk5l]

Thanks for yuor response.

I get the pink box quite a lot!  Normally it says what font is missing.  In this case it didn't, presunably beacuse it was oulined?  

Moving forward, how do I get all fonts upoaded onto the ai softwre so I don't encounter this again.  The files I get sent are comapny logos and text so can't agree font style in advance.

Thanks.

[Test Screen Name]

No, you cannot get a pink box if it was outlined, because there is no text. Did you try to select any text, or check it with a text tool?

Illustrator has access to the fonts installed in your system; you don't add them to Illustrator. The only way to harmonise fonts is to agree, and all of you may need to separately buy a font license (font sharing is not allowed by most font licenses). This is an important part of planning and a cost factor. 

[Monika Gause]

Moving forward, how do I get all fonts upoaded onto the ai softwre so I don't encounter this again. 

By @Jonathan23731901nk5l

There are gazillions of fonts. You cannot have them all. You cannot install them all at once. Your system would break with the load.

Create a new file and then place this AI file in it (linked, NOT embedded)

Then use Object > Flatten transparency. Check "Outline all text"

[Jonathan23731901nk5l]

ok - thanks.

[Jacob Bugge]

I agree with Test Screen Name (and myself in my first post) that it is better to work with live Type, especially in the design stages.

If you must outline the Type, you can work with everything else as it is, no need to flatten that, and then place only the troublesome live Type as a link, and do what you have to do.

But you seem to be close to find the answer to the font question, and then you can do the same in the future, rather than giving up and having to keep outlining type, and most likely regret sooner or later.

[Jacob Bugge]

Jonathan,

I blinked twice, and Test Screen Name gave as many exquisite answers.