Missing Fonts Displaying as "Custom" or "10pt" in Older InDesign Files

[georgek37401698]

I've noticed that fonts are often missing when I open older ID files. However, when I examine those missing fonts, it's not that the font is missing; it's that the font style, instead of being something like "Regular" or "Bold," is set to either "Custom" or, in the case of the document I just opened, "10pt," in brackets, of course, because there is no "10pt" style.

Does this have something to do with variable fonts? I use ID irregularly throughout the year, so may not be on top of some of the more recent changes. It does seem odd that these files are somehow changing.

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[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @georgek37401698,

Thanks for for reporting, and I understand how frustrating it can be to encounter issues with missing fonts in older files.

To help you better, could you please share which version of InDesign and operating system you’re using? It would also be helpful if you could provide a screenshot of the error or the “10pt” style issue when it appears. This could give us more insight.

Sharing these articles for reference: Troubleshoot font issues (https://adobe.ly/3yHZdOQ)

Resolve missing fonts issue in InDesign and InCopy (https://adobe.ly/3yHZdOQ)

Looking forward to your response. 

Thank you,
Abhishek Rao

[georgek37401698]

ID 19.5 on Mac OS 14.6.1. Can't really give a useful screenshot. It's just a matter of the fonts having 10pt in the style name, or "custom." I'm not clear on how variable fonts work so I don't understand why font styles are changing to "custom" rather than "Light" or "Regular."

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

It sounds like the old multiple master fonts.

https://fontforge.org/docs/ui/dialogs/multiplemaster.html

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@georgek37401698 

How old are your files?

What font(s) and what kind - Type 1 or TTF/OTF?

Type 1 fonts have been retired some  time ago:

https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/fonts/kb/postscript-type-1-fonts-end-of-support.html

[georgek37401698]

These files are probably mostly less than 10 years old (which I know is old in Adobe time). I'm fairly sure they're all OTF.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

These files are probably mostly less than 10 years old (which I know is old in Adobe time). I'm fairly sure they're all OTF.

By @georgek37401698

"Probably mostly" and "fairly sure" isn't exactly a confirmation - could you please check? 

[georgek37401698]

All the fonts that are doing this are OpenType TrueType fonts. I've noticed specifically that it happens with Roboto and Source Sans 3, which are two of our house fonts from Google. It's happening on files less than 5 years old. It happens sporadically, without any rhyme or reason as far as I can see.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

[...] It's happening on files less than 5 years old. It happens sporadically, without any rhyme or reason as far as I can see.

By @georgek37401698

Corrupted INDD files? 

When it happens again - can you do IDMLing? Export as IDML, open, save with a new name - do not overwrite your original file. Then open this new INDD file again.