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Some e-mails and web address show the text as F/F and some other mixed up ones. Not all the text just some. I can copy it into a layout program and then read it. It's happening on several different Macs, all on different OS software.
As hard as it is to find information on this problem, it is a remarkably common Mac issue. It is either a font cache issue or an incorrect font substitution problem. If the characters in the email overlap and don't look spaced evenly, then it is likely a font cache corruption. If the characters are unreadable, but are orderly and evenly spaced, then it is probably a font substitution issue.
Font Cache Problem
For Mac users, font cache problems show up in browser and email applications as well as graphic documents. When the fonts are activated, they are cached for use - some are handled by the operating system and some by the applications themselves. It is easy for these cache files to become corrupt and result in crazy, overlapping unreadable fonts as a result of incorrect or corrupt encoding information when mapping the character codes.
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In order to fix this, you need to use a program like Smasher from Insider Software to "smash" the font caches. While this is a paid program, you should be able to clear these caches using the demo mode.
Incorrect Font Substitute Problem
If the font problem is still not fixed, it is probably an incorrect font substitute problem. When a document calls for a specific font and it is unavailable or inadequate, the operating system chooses another font which results in an incorrect substitution. The fonts in question are usually Times Phonetic or Helvetica Fractions fonts. You can try to find these particular fonts in the fonts folders and delete them, or use the program Font Agent Pro to manage all of your fonts. This program will show you a preview of the font so that you can see if it matches what you are seeing on your screen. You can then easily find and delete the font that is causing the problem.
Even though I can't see what is on your screen, I'm fairly confident that one of these two solutions will work for you.
Is your computer an Open Invitation for HACKERS? Download free version of Sparktrust Inspector to identify vulnerabilities and problems on your computer (and even your WEBSITES)!
Kat Delong | June 19th, 2009
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The Smasher worked! at first I deleted the Fraction fonts, when I read what you wrote, I said that's it.....but we have 3 computers and 2 backup drives, (there was no way, without spending hours) to find them all, So it was on to Smasher, I'm currently using, Font Agent Pro. I read up on Smasher, and thought, I'll give it a try, and it worked.
Thank you so much!
Even our Mac experts over-here couldn't help me with this problem. Now I just have to do it to the other computers.
Thanks again.
Pamela