FontExpert - Frequently Asked Questions

Question

Answer

Generic Questions

When I start up and go to folders it does not remember the folder I was at when I closed down and I have to browse through to find my 'My Fonts' folder each time.

Select the desired start folder in Tools, Options, General, "Start from this folder".

Version 9.0 previews font faces in several columns. Is it possible to set up 1-column preview, as it was in version 8.0?

Yes, the slider on the main view toolbar enlarges and reduces the width of font samples ("thumbnails"). To display font samples in one column, enlarge their width.

Antivirus software

I just tried installing the FontExpert trial. However, NOD32 AV suspected it has a relationship with the tsipe trojan and quarantined a *reg.exe file. What should I do?

Some antivirus programs detect worms by comparing the sequence of bytes in a binary file against the virus signature taken from an antivirus database. This may result in incorrect detection of a virus, when a similar sequence of bytes is found in the program’s binary file. Also, FontExpert includes the well-known and reliable ASProtect protection (aspack.com), and AV software may also incorrectly detect it as a "virus". Usually upgrading your antivirus data file or upgrading to the latest version of your antivirus software eliminates this problem.

NOTE
There was similar incident with Symantec antivirus reported by our customers. After the Symantec DAT file was updated, the problem disappeared.

See anti-virus reports created for FontExpert setup files by Symantec Antivirus and NOD32 Antivirus.

Activation

I just have purchased and received the CD. I installed the the program, however the program states that it's "trail basis"? Why does it say that?

You must first activate your license key to remove this message.

I just upgraded to the latest build and my license key is not working. The application tells me I'm running an unregistered version. Is a new license key required for this latest build?

You may always upgrade for free to the same major version of the FontExpert (e.g. from version 9.0 Release 1 to version 9.0 Release 2). The License Key sent to you when you purchased version 9.0 is valid for ALL earlier and future releases of version 9.0 only. If you have completely uninstalled the program from your computer and then have installed the latest build, you must activate your license key again.

I had to redo my computer and now every time I start FontExpert it says it is an evaluation copy. How do I put
my license key in so that I can use this?

You must activate your license key again on this computer. Choose Help/Activate License Key… from the main menu.

Adobe Applications

Why can't I see temporarily activated PostScript fonts in my Adobe applications?

This is a known issue, and we consider this behavior as an issue in Adobe products on the Windows platform, while the behavior of FontExpert is correct.

Workaround: With Adobe products and PostScript fonts, when possible, use permanent font installation instead of temporary activation.

Note: The problem is related only to PostScript fonts activated temporarily.

(Note that Adobe InDesign CS2 accepts PostScript fonts when they are activated temporarily from our Adobe InDesign plug-in. This is an exception to this issue.)

Temporary font activation is the feature well known to Mac users, and FontExpert users have requested this feature. We introduced it in version 8.0 with the warning that temporary activation is very similar to permanent installation.

Why are PostScript fonts not visible in Adobe CS3 software (Vista x64)

Font Management

Does your program allow you to include fonts within all subfolders for a selected folder?

In the Groups view you can include fonts within all subfolders of a selected group. See Groups view for more information.

What is the difference between the "Install" and "Activate Temporarily" commands?

Install command installs and activates the font permanently. Windows will load this font again after a Windows restart.

Activate Temporarily command activates the font temporarily. It will be active until you deactivate it or until Windows is restarted. Windows will not load this font after a restart, you will have to activate it again.

The Uninstall or Deactivate Now command is a "quick" version of the command described above. It doesn't display the window with the list of fonts, but its behavior is exactly the same (as if you chose the Uninstall or Deactivate command and in the window with the list of fonts immediately clicked the "Uninstall or Deactivate" button).

What is the difference between the "Uninstall" and "Unload" commands?

The Uninstall command removes a font permanently. This font will not be available for applications after a restart of Windows. The Unload command unloads a font, but it remains in the Windows registry and Windows will load it again after a restart.

How can I delete a font group without deletion of font files?

Font groups in the current version (9.0) of FontExpert are regular folders on your local disk. When you delete the group folder, all its contents are also deleted (moved to the Recycle Bin).

You can do the following:

1. Instead of deletion, you can move the group folder (cut/paste) to another location outside the root folder of font groups. In this case, the group folder will not be visible in the Groups tree anymore, and your fonts will not be deleted.

2. You can create font groups that contain shortcuts linked to actual fonts, while the fonts will remain located somewhere else. If you delete the group, you delete the shortcuts, but the actual fonts will not be deleted. To create shortcuts in a font group, choose the "Link" method in the Add Fonts to Group window. FontExpert will create small .LNK files referring to actual fonts, and you can install/activate/deactivate these shortcuts as if they were actual fonts.

Detect Font Problems feature

I see two similar buttons in Detect Font Problems windows: "Uninstall" and "Remove from Registry". What is the difference?

Remove from Registry means: Remove a record about this font from the system Registry, but do not touch a font file. Uninstall means: Remove a record about this font from the system Registry and make sure the font file is removed from the Windows\Fonts folder. Make a backup copy of the font file if needed.

The default location for Windows fonts is the Fonts subfolder of Windows folder.

If you remove a font from the Registry but leave its file in the Windows\Fonts folder, then Windows can automatically install this font again when you restart Windows.

If some font is physically located in a folder other than the Fonts folder, then the Uninstall and Remove from Registry operations are equal (because there is no need to touch the font file).

When FontExpert uninstalls a font that is located in the standard Fonts folder, it removes the font file and always makes a backup copy of this font. (You can choose a backup folder in the Tools\Options... dialog).