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ofiexperts
Participant
July 31, 2020
Answered

InDesign font incompatibility between mac and pc

  • July 31, 2020
  • 1 reply
  • 3503 views

Hi,

I work with a original indesign file created on Mac. I work on PC. My problem is that I install the files from the pack "Avenir" that came with the file and I can see they are installed on my PC. also I can write on a new document using that font. Although I continue getting message that the file created on Mac is using "Avenir" and is missing on my  system. And wont change even if I point that text to use "Avenir" on my system.  

How to handle this?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Willi Adelberger

The Mac can read all Windows font, but Windows lacks this compatiblity and can read only Windows Font but no Mac Fonts. That is one of the advantages of a Mac.

1 reply

Bill Silbert
Community Expert
Bill SilbertCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 31, 2020

The only fonts that are designed specifically to work cross platform between Mac and PC are called Open Type. These fonts will have a suffix of .otf. The Windows versions of True Type fonts (.ttf) are also supposed to work cross platform but I have seen tracking and kerning issues when using those on a Mac. Be aware that most fonts have versions in Open Type, True Type and the virtually obsolete Postscript Type 1 fonts. However, that does not mean that the different versions are interchangeable. If you stick to Open Type for all your fonts you should be okay.

    O
    ofiexpertsAuthor
    Participant
    July 31, 2020

    Thank you. I understand that. The thing is that I use otf version and actualy if I create a new document it works. But when I open the document that was sent to me (I have to make translation to that file)  then this font doesn't work. The font comes in folder attached to de .indd file.

     

    Bill Silbert
    Community Expert
    Bill SilbertCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 1, 2020

    If in order to transfer the file from Mac to PC you used the Package function in InDesign, and had the fonts for the file collected, then there should be a folder within the job folder called "Document Fonts". As long as the InDesign file is not moved out of the job folder then the file should recognize any fonts that are in the Document Fonts folder. As soon as you move the InDesign file out of the job folder it loses its connection to the Document Fonts folder and the fonts will read as missing. Try opening the InDesign file without moving it from the job folder and its proximity to the Document Fonts folder and see if the fonts read correctly then. If that works then your original problem sounds like it lies with how you've installed the fonts on the PC.

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