Replace Type 1 fonts in documents including paragraph formats

Report · Jan 18, 2022

Hello everyone,

Unfortunately, I have a lot of files where I used Type 1 fonts. I would like to continue using the files. Replacing fonts with InDesign's own tool (Type > Find/Replace Fonts) is too time-consuming. That's why I'm looking for a script that automatically converts Type 1 fonts to OpenType fonts.

The desired procedure for converting the files would be like this:

I currently have the Type 1 version of the affected font installed. I would uninstall it and then install the OpenType font version. When opening an InDesign file, the script would run and replace affected fonts. (If it works with a double click in the scripts menu would also be enough). It is important that not only the fonts are changed in the text itself, but also in all paragraph formats. And that the fonts that are no longer installed at the time are also replaced.

I've tried this scripts, but it doesn't work reliably:

http://kasyan.ho.ua/indesign/batch_process_scripts/change_fonts.html

Files to test here:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ttvroy2n2e4emuk/AAARHRYsGbN9dIcqW2ExCcrIa?dl=0

Thank you in advance for your help!

Report · Jan 18, 2022

If your font’s EULA allows it try FontLab’s TransType. It converts the font and keeps the version number, see this thread:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/ende-der-unterst%C3%BCtzung-f%C3%BCr-ps-type-1-f...

Report · Jan 18, 2022

Hi rob day,

Thanks for your answer.

I already have the OpenType fonts.

I have the Type 1 fonts with me converted with the "CrossFont" software. It worked fine.

Where do you actually see the "version number" of the fonts?

But what I mean is:

I want to replace the fonts in many files.

Only uninstalling the Type 1 fonts and installing OpenType fonts in Windows does not do anything.

And the InDesign tool (Find/Replace Fonts) is far too cumbersome if you have to use it again and again in every old InDesign file.

Report · Jan 18, 2022

The version number is listed in Find Font Info. The limited testing I did with TransType didn’t require font replacement—the document saw the converted font, because I kept the original name and file path:

Report · Jan 18, 2022

Is it possible to test TransType for free in a trial period, or do you have to buy the paid version directly?

I couldn't find a free trial: https://www.fontlab.com/font-converter/transtype/

If this works (same path of the Fonts) you would save my life 😄

Report · Jan 18, 2022

You need to give up a email address to get the download link—it worked as a trial for me.

Report · Jan 19, 2022

Oh, doesn't work for me 😞

I don't get any mail, not even in the spam folder.

I have expected that, because I didn't bought an older version either, as requested.

Report · Jan 18, 2022

First of all, your script is outdated. Please re-download it: the new version searches the text on master pages.

The problem is that some text has overrides: for example, let's look into the 1-st instance of a missing font after the script was run.
Flama [Book Compressed]

The Flama font family has no [Book Compressed] that's why it is in square brackets! The text — 03 — has Frank Text par style applied. And it has Flama Thin font defined as required in Excel. So the script did its job. But it also has overrides:

Book Compressed
align: centred

After I cleared all overrides in the file by this script (thanks Grefel for writing it), the document has no more missing fonts.

Hope it helps!

— Kas

Report · Jan 18, 2022

Hi Kas,

Thanks for your answer.

I can not all overrides in the documents, otherwise it would ruin all the layouts of all my old documents.

I've tried the other font (Flama) because that doesn't work:

ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tBook Condensed >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tBook Condensed
ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tMedium Condensed >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tMedium Condensed
ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tBook Condensed Italic >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tBook Condensed Italic
ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tMedium Condensed Italic >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tMedium Condensed Italic
ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tDemi Condensed >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tDemi Condensed
ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tDemi Condensed Italic >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tDemi Condensed Italic
ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tBook >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tBook
ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tBook Compressed >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tBook Compressed
ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tBook Extra Compressed >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tBook Extra Compressed
ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tBook Compressed Italic >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tBook Compressed Italic
ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tBook Italic >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tBook Italic
ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tMedium >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tMedium
ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tMedium Italic >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tMedium Italic
ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tDemi >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tDemi
ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tDemi Compressed >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tDemi Compressed
ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tDemi Extra Compressed >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tDemi Extra Compressed
ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tDemi Compressed Italic >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tDemi Compressed Italic
ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tDemi Italic >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tDemi Italic
ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tHeavy >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tHeavy
ITC Franklin Gothic LT (T1)\tHeavy Italic >>>>>> ITC Franklin Gothic LT\tHeavy Italic

It might be the solution if I could find another font that had exactly the same font styles as the Franklin font.

But maybe rob day's suggestion will work. That would of course be the easiest.

Report · Jan 18, 2022

There is an old Adobe software from 1999 for windows.

Adobe OpenType Converter 1.0.2.161

I found this app in this site: https://vetusware.com/browse/?page=10

It's the best way to convert type1 to cff opentype.

It's an old software, but type 1 fonts are too.

@SW-Man take a look.
Regards
Sami

Report · Jan 19, 2022

Hi Sami Artur,

Thank you for your answer.

I'll try that software and hope that InDesign recognizes the new OTF font as the replacement of the T1 font and no longer reports the font as a missing one.

Cheers!

Report · Jan 19, 2022

I did some tests using Fontforge (free font software), fontlab 5, and OTMaster 7.9 and even when all the names (psname, full font name, family name, etc...) are the same as each other, Indesign realized the font is not type 1 anymore and ask to replace to another font)

There is no perfect solution.

The best solution it is a convertion that mantains the metrics, and the kerning.

Regards

Sami

Report · Jan 19, 2022

I just tested TransType again and InDesign saw the converted .otf without any intervention.

Then I copied the Aldus font folder to my desktop, converted the Type 1 version to .otf with TransType, and dragged the .otf version into my user>Library>Fonts folder and Indesign saw the font and updated the text:

Report · Jan 19, 2022

Hi @rob day , You are right.

The font I converted was AtClearface Medium.
I've tested with Trantype 4 and font was converted the right way and InDesign didn't ask any font.

I am attaching the type 1 names and the otf names.

The first image is from the type 1 font and the second is from OTF.

Report · Jan 20, 2022

@Sami Arturand @rob day

Do you use Mac or Windows?

I'm making very slow progress 😞

I tested with the OpenType fonts converted with TransType.

Result:

Book Extra Compressed is still reported missing.

The other fonts are also marked as Type 1 fonts, as if they weren't OK either, why?

Image 01: Type 1 font.

Image 02: Type 1 font uninstalled and OpenType font installed.

Image 03: Book Extra Compressed is missing.

Image 04: OT fonts (replaced in the document) are no longer marked as incorrectw why?

I got feedback from TransType (Fontlab):
That is just not possible. InDesign keeps not only font names in its documents but also their type. After you deinstall Type 1 fonts from the system InDesign will present you the dialog because Type 1 fonts are not installed anymore but used in the document.
You will have to select your new OpenType Type 1 fonts in the “Replace by” section to make the font substitution throughout the whole publication.

The big question is: what happens when InDesign ends support for Type 1 fonts in early 2023?

Unfortunately, I use the Type 1 font in really many files.
I can't search and replace in each file 20 times :-((

Report · Jan 20, 2022

@SW-Man-2 ,

As I already said, there is no perfect solution.

The best solution it is a convertion that mantains the metrics, and the kerning.

Unfortunately You will must replace your fonts carefully using the "replace by" tool in Indesign in each Indesign file, but Transtype will make almost all the work You need.

Regards

Sami

Report · Jan 20, 2022

I’m using OSX Mojave. To convert the font I did this:

•Quit InDesign

•Moved (not copied) the font out of the Fonts folder to my Desktop

•Converted the desktop Type 1 font with TransType

•Moved the converted .otf font back into the Fonts folder

•Restarted InDesign