Word 2008: fonts gone missing (Help!)

[nathan001001]

Hi everyone,

I've just installed Office 2008. After launching Word I noticed that some of
my fonts are missing in Word. I checked the fonts in my library (with
Fontbook) and they were all there. Also in other apps, the fonts are still
selectable.
So it seems that all my fonts are still on my mac, but Word just doesn't
show all of them in the drop down menu. Now the weird part: When I type in
the name of one of these 'missing' fonts in the drop down menu, Word does
find it and even lets me use it.

Does any of you have an idea of how I can convince Word to show all fonts in
the dropdown without my having to type (and remember) each and every font
that is missing when I want to use it?

Thanks in advance,

johan

 

[Diane Ross]

After launching Word I noticed that some of
my fonts are missing in Word.

Let me explain what happens during the install of Office 2008 for fonts.
There are issues with some font types being added back, but I'll let the
Word experts explain this problem.

Office 2008 Font Install Basics:

Office 2008 uses a different method for fonts and many fonts are new
versions. Office 2008 will install fonts to the /Library/Fonts/Microsoft
folder. By being at the root, then all users on the machine have access to
them and you don't get Office 2008 putting multiple copies on the machine
for each user.

The installer will scour /Library/Fonts/ and ~/Library/Fonts/ for fonts with
the same name and move them to /Library/Disabled Fonts/ or
~/Library/Disabled Fonts/ depending on where they were found.

Note some of the Microsoft fonts are newer than the Apple fonts.

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Hi Nathan,

Can you look in the Format | Font dialog? There's a very teeny font
menu there. Do you see your fonts listed in it?

If you do, then it's a known issue in Word. Something about the way the
various font menus are created is buggy--the workaround is to use that
master font menu in the Format | Font dialog. MS is working on the
problem. Turning off WSYIWYG font menus *might* help, I forget.

Quicker ways to access commonly used fonts, rather than go through
Format | Font all the time:
1) Create a style that includes the font
2) create a mini-font menu of your own that offers select fonts (haven't
tested whether the same bug would trouble such a menu)

Daiya

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Actually, if you see the fonts in Format | Font, you might as well try
recreating your font cache--it might help fix the other font menus. Or
it might not, but it's fairly easy to do:

Quit *all* Office apps.

Find the file [username]/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Office
2008/Office Font Cache (12) and drag it to the desktop. Relaunch an app
and see if that helps--it may take a little longer to launch as it
recreates the cache.

 

[Mike]

Daiya & Diana,

Thanks for the insightful explanations and suggestions.

I've now also ran into this problem where I need Apple Symbols font for a
mathematical character. Unfortunately... Apple Symbols does not appear in
Word 2008, and inserting the character from the character palette (of the
Show Character Palette from menu bar) inserts the symbol using an alternative
font (Helvetica) which is less then ideal (certainly a no no if I want this
in a publication).

So, based on what Diana explained and Daiya's suggesting I tried copying the
Apple Symbols.ttf from /Library/Fonts into /Library/Fonts/Microsoft and then
removing the Office Font Cache (12), but to no effect...

I need Apple Symbols. Come on MS, keep polishing that product, as
alternatives are looking more and more attractive.

Any other suggestions?
Mike

Actually, if you see the fonts in Format | Font, you might as well try
recreating your font cache--it might help fix the other font menus. Or
it might not, but it's fairly easy to do:

Quit *all* Office apps.

Find the file [username]/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Office
2008/Office Font Cache (12) and drag it to the desktop. Relaunch an app
and see if that helps--it may take a little longer to launch as it
recreates the cache.

Hi Nathan,

Can you look in the Format | Font dialog? There's a very teeny font
menu there. Do you see your fonts listed in it?

If you do, then it's a known issue in Word. Something about the way
the various font menus are created is buggy--the workaround is to use
that master font menu in the Format | Font dialog. MS is working on
the problem. Turning off WSYIWYG font menus *might* help, I forget.

Quicker ways to access commonly used fonts, rather than go through
Format | Font all the time:
1) Create a style that includes the font
2) create a mini-font menu of your own that offers select fonts
(haven't tested whether the same bug would trouble such a menu)

Daiya

 

[Diane Ross]

I've now also ran into this problem where I need Apple Symbols font for a
mathematical character. Unfortunately... Apple Symbols does not appear in
Word 2008, and inserting the character from the character palette (of the
Show Character Palette from menu bar) inserts the symbol using an alternative
font (Helvetica) which is less then ideal (certainly a no no if I want this
in a publication).

PopChar allows you to select font for symbols used. It even has Braille.

It's a long time Mac product.

$29.99 EUR
<http://www.macility.com/products/popcharx/>

Macility Productivity Bundle: $44.99 EUR (all useful applications)
<http://www.ergonis.com/products/productivity/>

PopChar X ­ for easily inserting special characters into text

KeyCue ­ Can't remember the menu shortcuts...keycue shows you what is
available. The neat thing is it lets you see your Entourage script shortcuts
in addition to the ones added by the Entourage application. Works in all Mac
applications.

Typinator ­ automates the entry of repetitive text and graphics. Any of the
insert type applications are "must have" IMHO

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Okay, you read my earlier post, so I don't know why you wouldn't make
the answer to this question clear, since obviously it's the important
first step. Does Apple Symbols show up in your Format | Font font menu?

Daiya & Diana,

Thanks for the insightful explanations and suggestions.

I've now also ran into this problem where I need Apple Symbols font for a
mathematical character. Unfortunately... Apple Symbols does not appear in
Word 2008, and inserting the character from the character palette (of the
Show Character Palette from menu bar) inserts the symbol using an alternative
font (Helvetica) which is less then ideal (certainly a no no if I want this
in a publication).

So, based on what Diana explained and Daiya's suggesting I tried copying the
Apple Symbols.ttf from /Library/Fonts into /Library/Fonts/Microsoft and then
removing the Office Font Cache (12), but to no effect...

I need Apple Symbols. Come on MS, keep polishing that product, as
alternatives are looking more and more attractive.

Any other suggestions?
Mike

:

Actually, if you see the fonts in Format | Font, you might as well try
recreating your font cache--it might help fix the other font menus. Or
it might not, but it's fairly easy to do:

Quit *all* Office apps.

Find the file [username]/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Office
2008/Office Font Cache (12) and drag it to the desktop. Relaunch an app
and see if that helps--it may take a little longer to launch as it
recreates the cache.

Hi Nathan,

Can you look in the Format | Font dialog? There's a very teeny font
menu there. Do you see your fonts listed in it?

If you do, then it's a known issue in Word. Something about the way
the various font menus are created is buggy--the workaround is to use
that master font menu in the Format | Font dialog. MS is working on
the problem. Turning off WSYIWYG font menus *might* help, I forget.

Quicker ways to access commonly used fonts, rather than go through
Format | Font all the time:
1) Create a style that includes the font
2) create a mini-font menu of your own that offers select fonts
(haven't tested whether the same bug would trouble such a menu)

Daiya

nathan001001 wrote:

Hi everyone,

I've just installed Office 2008. After launching Word I noticed that
some of my fonts are missing in Word. I checked the fonts in my
library (with Fontbook) and they were all there. Also in other apps,
the fonts are still selectable.
So it seems that all my fonts are still on my mac, but Word just
doesn't show all of them in the drop down menu. Now the weird part:
When I type in the name of one of these 'missing' fonts in the drop
down menu, Word does find it and even lets me use it.

Does any of you have an idea of how I can convince Word to show all
fonts in the dropdown without my having to type (and remember) each
and every font that is missing when I want to use it?

Thanks in advance,

johan

 

[Mike]

Daiya, yes I did follow your instructions, and no the font did not show up in
this master list.

It seems that since my move to Leopard the whole issue has been "resolved"
and I've got my Apple math symbols back. Sorry I can't be of help in
resolving the problem which I imagine still remains in Tiger.

Okay, you read my earlier post, so I don't know why you wouldn't make
the answer to this question clear, since obviously it's the important
first step. Does Apple Symbols show up in your Format | Font font menu?

Daiya & Diana,

Thanks for the insightful explanations and suggestions.

I've now also ran into this problem where I need Apple Symbols font for a
mathematical character. Unfortunately... Apple Symbols does not appear in
Word 2008, and inserting the character from the character palette (of the
Show Character Palette from menu bar) inserts the symbol using an alternative
font (Helvetica) which is less then ideal (certainly a no no if I want this
in a publication).

So, based on what Diana explained and Daiya's suggesting I tried copying the
Apple Symbols.ttf from /Library/Fonts into /Library/Fonts/Microsoft and then
removing the Office Font Cache (12), but to no effect...

I need Apple Symbols. Come on MS, keep polishing that product, as
alternatives are looking more and more attractive.

Any other suggestions?
Mike

:

Actually, if you see the fonts in Format | Font, you might as well try
recreating your font cache--it might help fix the other font menus. Or
it might not, but it's fairly easy to do:

Quit *all* Office apps.

Find the file [username]/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Office
2008/Office Font Cache (12) and drag it to the desktop. Relaunch an app
and see if that helps--it may take a little longer to launch as it
recreates the cache.


Daiya Mitchell wrote:

Hi Nathan,

Can you look in the Format | Font dialog? There's a very teeny font
menu there. Do you see your fonts listed in it?

If you do, then it's a known issue in Word. Something about the way
the various font menus are created is buggy--the workaround is to use
that master font menu in the Format | Font dialog. MS is working on
the problem. Turning off WSYIWYG font menus *might* help, I forget.

Quicker ways to access commonly used fonts, rather than go through
Format | Font all the time:
1) Create a style that includes the font
2) create a mini-font menu of your own that offers select fonts
(haven't tested whether the same bug would trouble such a menu)

Daiya

nathan001001 wrote:

Hi everyone,

I've just installed Office 2008. After launching Word I noticed that
some of my fonts are missing in Word. I checked the fonts in my
library (with Fontbook) and they were all there. Also in other apps,
the fonts are still selectable.
So it seems that all my fonts are still on my mac, but Word just
doesn't show all of them in the drop down menu. Now the weird part:
When I type in the name of one of these 'missing' fonts in the drop
down menu, Word does find it and even lets me use it.

Does any of you have an idea of how I can convince Word to show all
fonts in the dropdown without my having to type (and remember) each
and every font that is missing when I want to use it?

Thanks in advance,

johan