Extensis
today announced the release of Suitcase 10, its popular font management software. While this release isn’t Mac OS X-compatible, Extensis promised a free upgrade to a Carbonized version of the software by the end of the year.
Suitcase provides users with the ability to organize the myriad fonts they have installed on their system. Users can activate sets of fonts, search, view and use fonts, create sets specific to applications, and much more.
According to Extensis, new features in Suitcase 10 include:
Auto Activation
– Suitcase automatically activates fonts in many popular business and graphics programs. Users can create application sets, so anytime the program is opened the necessary fonts are activated as well. Suitcase also includes a QuarkXPress extension that uses Apple’s Font Sync technology to automatically open the exact font used in a QuarkXPress document.
Activate on Demand
– In a prepress environment, where fonts are received along with the document to be printed, the prepress operator can now temporarily activate the fonts needed for the print job simply by dragging them into Suitcase. Deactivating of these fonts is a single keystroke.
FontBook Included
– Suitcase includes a free copy of FontBook, developed by LemkeSoft. FontBook previews and prints font families in 24 different layouts, including reference cards, font sizes, ASCII tables and more.
Suitcase Strip
– The Suitcase Strip, located in the Apple Control Strip, can be used to activate and deactivate sets without opening Suitcase.
Collect for Output
– Suitcase copies all font files necessary to print a document to a specified location, so sending a job to a commercial printer is fast and easy.
Corrupt Font Tracking
– Suitcase tracks which font causes a system to crash, and marks it so it can be found and deleted or replaced.
Contextual Menus
– All Suitcase commands are available in contextual menus for fast and easy navigation.
Multiple Master Fonts
– Suitcase 10 adds support for Multiple Master fonts.
Improved Font Conflict Handling
– With one click of the mouse, resolve any and all duplicate font conflicts that appear.
Suitcase 10 Server is also available; it’s a workground tool that enables users in a workgroup to use the same fonts and have sets of fonts managed by a specific administrator. The server software runs on either a Mac or Windows machine, and includes 5 copies of Suitcase 10.
Suitcase 10 calls for Mac OS 8.6 through 9.1; a PowerPC-based Mac; 10MB of hard disk space; and 32MB RAM.
Extensis reports that Suitcase 10 is expected to ship later this month; it can be downloaded from the Extensis Web site now for US$99.95 ($49.95 for upgrades from previous versions or as a competitive upgrade from other products). Suitcase 10 Server carries an estimated price of $999.95.
Extensis reports that French, German and Japanese language versions will be available beginning in August.