How do I replace missing fonts?

Report · Jul 13, 2019

Hello InDesign Community! I normally use Illustrator but I was recently sent an InDesign file to look at. When I click to open it, I get the following dialog:

"This document contains ... links to sources that are missing. You can find or relink the missing links using the Links panel."

I click "OK" and it takes me to the next dialog box.

2. "The document uses fonts that are currently unavailable on your computer. Closing the dialog box will substitute the missing fonts with the default font until the original fonts become available. Adobe Fonts couldn't find any matching fonts."

Great, so closing this dialog box will automatically substitute the missing fonts and I can open my file and deal with it manually. Or so I think. I click "Close" and this does nothing. The file just won't open. So I go back and double click to open it. I have to go through the first two dialogs again. On the second one, I click "Find Fonts..." instead of clicking "Close".

Next, I'm taken to a third more complex dialog box. I'd tried selecting each font and clicking "Change All." I do this for all of the missing fonts, changing them to Myriad Pro Regular. When I get to the last one, I click "Change All" and it refuses to disappear from the list. Okay fine then. I click "Done". I try to open the document and I'm back to square one.

What am I doing wrong? I feel like I'm going mad. Please see the attached screenshots for reference.

Update:

I was able to open the file in InDesign by first opening the InDesign program and then navigating to open my file from within the program.

However, I still have the problem of re-linking the missing fonts.

I watched a YouTube tutorial video and it was unhelpful. In the video, the instructor would get to the third dialog box and would have the option/ability to check the box under "Sync". See the below screenshot:

However, the problem is that in my third dialog box, the option to check the box does not exist. When I try to check the box under "Activate" it is unresponsive/refuses to be checked:

Report · Jul 13, 2019

The Activate option is only for when the fonts are from Adobe Fonts, formerly Typekit, which could sync the fonts from the Cloud.

However, these don't appear to be so - you'd have to buy all the fonts, or get the font license to ensure you don't contravene the font license EULA.

Some of the fonts in your screenshots are DEMO fonts and may not allow export to PDF, as that would embed the font in the PDF, and a lot of Demo fonts don't allow embedding.

You need to acquire the fonts by purchasing them.

Or replace the font with another font on your system.

Report · Jul 13, 2019

Thank you so much for your reply!

How do I go about replacing them?

Update/clarification:

I have asked the person who sent me the InDesign file to also send me the font packs they used. If I install these font packs on my computer, will the InDesign file automatically link to them?

Report · Jul 13, 2019

you need the packaged files from whoever made that file. once you get those, there will be a folder name fonts next to the indesign file. install those fonts.

Report · Jul 13, 2019

Okay thank you, I will try that.

Report · Jul 13, 2019

they need to be installed. it's not automatic.

you should be using a professional font manager like suitcase fusion. or install them to your font book (if on a mac). This second option will create font activation issues in the future as you install more and more fonts.

Report · Jul 13, 2019

I have installed fonts on font book before, it's super easy. I guess I was asking if the fonts would automatically link once I opened the InDesign file after installation.

Report · Jul 14, 2019

They [the packaged fonts] need to be installed. It's not automatic.

Fonts which are packaged in the Fonts folder, will be automatically activated upon opening the associated InDesign file ! As a matter of fact, InDesign will even give priority over the packaged fonts, above similar system fonts. No need to install them. There's a special section in the Font menu, showing these "Document-only" fonts:

Report · Jul 14, 2019

Someone sending you fonts would contravene the EULA in most cases.

Be very careful, sharing fonts is not legal and mostly not allowed by the font license.

Remember fonts are basically software, they are licensed, that's how font creators make their money. That's how they feed their families.

I wouldn't steal a loaf of bread. If people stole bread, the baker would eventually close their business, then there would be no bread for the entire town.

Typically with a packaged indesign file, the fonts can be gathered, once you don't move the fonts from the packaged InDesign file structure, then you don't need to install the fonts, it will read the fonts from the folder in the packgage.