FontAgent 8.1 checks more resource info

FontAgent 8.1, a font repair and organization utility, is now available from Insider Software. The new version checks all font-file resource data, catching corrupt fonts before they cause problems, according to Rio Sabadicci, CEO of Insider Software. Plus, it ensures that fonts required by Adobe InDesign are in their correct location and running correctly, he added.

“The new version of FontAgent now checks all resource data for every font file it finds on a Mac,” Sabadicci said. In doing so, it catches corrupt fonts before they start causing crashes, lock-ups, printing errors, unexpected font substitutions and other problems. FontAgent 8.1 attempts first to repair damaged fonts and if it cannot do so, it removes just the damaged parts of the font suitcase so the rest of the font remains usable, he added.

“Insider’s policy is always to notify users when FontAgent detects problems and to attempt to fix them,” Sabadicci said. “Rather than simply flagging fonts that aren’t perfect, we make our best effort to restore them to the very best condition we can and notify users so they can replace the files if they wish.”

FontAgent 8.1 adds compatibility with Adobe InDesign, which requires that certain Adobe fonts be stored in specific locations in order to launch correctly. In addition to checking the integrity of Adobe Sans MM and Adobe Serif MM fonts, FontAgent 8.1 now ensures that they are stored in both the standard System:Fonts folder and the Application Support:Adobe folder.

You can download FontAgent 8.1 from Insider’s Web site right now. The update is free for users who have licensed earlier versions of the utility; otherwise, it costs US $69.95. There’s a limited edition that ensures the integrity of up to 250 font files on one system and costs $29.95. The $169.95 Network Edition, repairs and optimizes fonts on up to ten computers and can synchronize the fonts so each Mac has the same font set. A demo version is also available.