ppt work around "read only embedded font"

[kdub's since 1959]

I need a work around for "this presentation cannot be edited because it
contains a read-only embedded font"

 

[Sonia]

PowerPoint 2003, right? This is a most hated new "feature" of PowerPoint 2003.
In a nutshell:

a.. If the needed font is available, install it on the computer where you need
to edit the file in PowerPoint 2003
b.. Have the originator of the file save it again without fonts embedded and
send it to you again
c.. If you have an earlier version of PowerPoint available, open the file
there, use Format, Replace Fonts to substitute a different font for the embedded
ones and resave the presentation
Follow the links here: Contact Microsoft: Use MSWish to request features,
report problems, etc. if you'd like to tell MS what you think of this "feature".
--

Sonia Coleman
Microsoft PowerPoint MVP Team
Autorun Software, Templates and Tutorials
(Never test the depth of the water with both feet.)

 

[Sonia]

I don't think so. I just tried last year's PowerPoint Live CD, which has
embedded fonts. I tried to open it and got the message saying that it could
only be opened Read Only. Leaving PowerPoint 2003 open, I switched to Windows
Explorer and installed the fonts. Returned to PowerPoint 2003 and it happily
opened the presentation file and allowed me to edit it.

I think one possibility might be that it isn't always easy to exactly match the
font. The above presentation uses Eras, but not all Eras font files are equal.
It actually uses Eras Bd BT, Eras Demi ITC, and Eras Ult BT. If I uninstall
Eras Ult BT (PowerPoint 2003 is still open) and then try to open the
presentation, it will only open as read only. So all embedded fonts have to be
identified and installed for it to work, and a perfect match is required.

The other thing that might be confusing is that if you search for installed
fonts in PowerPoint 2003 *and* you have a presentation open that has embedded
fonts, you'll find the fonts and there is no way to detect that they are only
installed temporarily. You have to close the presentation and create a new
blank presentation to do a reliable search in PowerPoint. So it's best to use
Windows Explorer and check C:\WINDOWS\Fonts to see the fonts that are
permanently installed. (I know you know all of this, but others might not.)

 

[Sonia]

But I meant with the presentation open, not just PPT. I'd expect it to behave
differently, but I don't have the PPTLive CD handy to play with.

Yes, if the file was opened as read only and you install the fonts while it is
still open, it remains read only and you have to close it and re-open it.

Used to be you could tell; the Format, Replace Fonts dialog showed a
slightly different icon for embedded vs regular TT fonts.

I never noticed that but I see it now and it hasn't changed. Very subtle to the
upset and confused user. <G>