font doctor
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- dopepope
Any body have this? Does it aid in font problems and related computer performance problems? Is it worth getting?
- dopepope0
Thanks for the onslaught of responses. I'll sift thru and try to make a decision.
- Typographica0
I don't have Font Doctor, so I can't give it a specific review, but I can tell you that today's font problems will rarely manifest themselves by slowing your Mac. If the fonts are broke, you will have trouble - missing fonts, fonts that don't work as expected, fonts that don't print - but you won't experience slowdown.
Most font managers will watch for the more common font problems. For OS X I find FontAgent Pro is the best solution. Other swear by Suitcase (but usually only because they haven't tried FAP).
- dopepope0
cool, thanks typo.
Actually I'm running doctor now and it's doing a rather thorough job of inspecting and repairing my extensive collection of fonts.
As for the slow down, my trouble shooting has led me to conclude that it IS something corrupt in FONTBOOK that is creating havok for me in Panther. I can't open mail, ichat, safari or cocktail.
- Typographica0
Font Doctor is running a lot of cleaning scripts, whether its fixing problems you had or not is up for debate.
Yes, Font Book is a mess. It's the most bug-ridden app Apple has released for a long time. It has the power to cause some major chaos.
- dopepope0
That's true.
Hey Typo... is suitcase free? Should I switch to that from Fontbook? I'm having a miserable time with it. But it's all I have.
- Typographica0
Sorry, dope. All the decent font managers cost money. Like I said, your two best options are Suitcase and FontAgent Pro. I think both offer a demo. Try 'em and see what you like.
- dopepope0
I just downloaded the demo for FontAgent Pro
and I'll give it a go.
- dopepope0
So I am now using the FontAgentPro 30 day demo and I'm liking it a lot. But I would like to know just how many fonts most people use at any given time? How many would be considered TOO many? I personally think you can never have enough and ofter play with thousands when creating logos and graphics. It's seeming sluggish and I haven't even added half the fonts I had before my problems started.
- Typographica0
Insider Soft advises that you create a new Library after you reach 1500 installed fonts.
I would never have more than 500 fonts activated at once. That will noticeably slow any app.
- dopepope0
I'm admittedly pretty stupid when it comes to these font manager programs Typo. Is creating a new Library a feature in FontAgent? How do I make it so all my fonts are able to be played with while not slowing anything down. I have well over 1500 fonts. It's closer to 20000. I'n not saying I use them all, but I certainly cycle through all of them to spark ideas durring the creative process.
- Typographica0
Gee. I'd say 20,000 fonts is well over the average user's collection. You are even nuttier than I.
You can create a new library with the button at the top of the FontAgent window that's labeled "New Library".
- dopepope0
Duh... so that's what that button does?
I'm kinda addicted to fonts.
Thanks Typo. You've been helpful.
- dopepope0
So it's day two of the FontAgent Pro demo and I have loaded my fonts, divided them into 4 libraries, each not exceeding 1500 fonts, and I'm experiencing serious lag in that program, and ill cs, and Photoshop 7, when I use the type features. Anything I should do or know to make things run smoother?
- Typographica0
How many fonts do you have activated at one time?
- dopepope0
well, I have the libraries activated. But I thought only one at a time will actually show up.
Anyway, I like the interface and features of Agent, but I have to say I was actually sailing smoothly with FontBook for several months with no lag and at least 4000 fonts or more activated.
- Gorbie0
hey popedope!
Suitcase has a feature that scans and repairs wack fonts that aren't down.
Seems to work okay - but it sounds like you got too many fonts. Maybe try partitioning your hard drive - and have the seperate partition just to run yer fonts. Get it?
- dopepope0
what up gorbie. Have you actually done this?
- Gorbie0
I saw something about this on k10k a looong time ago.
It always seemed like a good idea though.
I'll look for it... hoed up.
- Gorbie0
found it.
http://www.k10k.net/dropbox/news…
what this guy says is a bit overkill, in my opinion. But two partitions would seem to make sense in your situation, with all those fonts.
- Typographica0
I am very skeptical that you were running a smooth system with more than 1000 fonts activated. That's like pouring a big bucket of tar in your Mac.
Browse your fonts in the manager, but only activate the ones you know you will use in your apps.