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About Linotype Font Explorer X
Testimonial
I use both mac and pc, and I wish the PC had something as good as OS X Linotype Fontexplorer (A win version exists, but is in buggy beta at the moment). FontExplorer is a one man show that can be highly configured to support mass amounts of type. I even manage all mine through this program over the local server so everyone in my space uses the same versions of a font. There is saved searches in folders, collections, sets, labeling, tagging, and auto-activation when opening a file (ie.InDesign) that has a non-installed font. I wish I could go into more detail, but it is complex and took me some time to understand both system default fonts and how the Linotype program operates before finding my mac type mgmt zen.
Download
FontExplorer X is available now for download, free of charge. No license fee, no shareware, or nag screens, and no functionality limits. FontExplorer X is free. A service from Linotype.
System Requirements
Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later
Change History
FontExplorer® X Change History
FontExplorer X Version 1.2.3 (build 833)
Release date: February 12, 2008
This update (Version 1.2.3) fixes among other things some misbehavior in previous versions of FontExplorer X when used under Mac OS X 10.5. It is strongly recommended for all users of Mac OS X 10.5.
Updated features:
The “Clean System Fonts Folder” function now also takes care of those fonts that are part of the System installation of Mac OS X 10.5.
Bug fixes (1.2.3):
System font requests for auto activation caused requesting applications to hang until FontExplorer X is quit. This has been fixed
Deleting font caches under Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) now works as expected
Show/Hide Font Collections under Mac OS X 10.5 now works as expected
Smart Set conditions “contained in” and “not contained in” now work as expected
Instability (freezes, crashes) with QuarkXPress 6.5 when using the Plug-In have been fixed (new Plug-In v1.41)
Known issues
System font requests are also handled by the Font Book application under 10.5, this interferes with the auto activation feature of FontExplorer X. To avoid conflicts, turn off “Automatic font activation” in Font Book’s preferences.
With Mac OS X 10.5.0 and 10.5.1 the auto activation feature of FontExplorer does not work. This can be resolved by updating to Mac OS X 10.5.2.
The 3rd party application PlugSuit 1.5 may cause FontExplorer X to crash when starting. This will be resolved in a future update of PlugSuit. To work around the problem add FontExplorer X to the Excluded Applications list in PlugSuit.
Previous versions:
FontExplorer X Version 1.2.2 (build 435)
Release date: August 23, 2007
The update of Linotype FontExplorer X to version 1.2.2 delivers important bug fixes and is recommended for all users.
Updated features:
Complete redesign of the integrated Linotype Font Store
Lots of new fonts and Value Packs available in the integrated Linotype Font Store
Updated QuarkXPress 6.5/7.x Plug-Ins
Bug fixes (1.2.2):
Fixed a bug when checking for updates
Fixed a bug when creating a Smart Set
Fixed a bug when removing font request rules
Fixed a bug where “Import date” wasn’t localized
Fixed a bug where Application Font Cache Cleaning didn’t recognize QuarkXPress when running Mac OS X 10.3.9
Fixed a bug where creating a new Set from selection didn’t update the information area
Fixed a bug where FontExplorer X would crash when cleaning Application Font Caches
Fixed a bug where not all characters of an OpenType font were displayed in the information window
Fixed a bug where Reveal in Finder didn’t work
Fixed a bug where the import date wasn’t updated after importing a font again
Fixed a bug where the keyboard shortcut wasn’t updated when changing the keyboard layout
Fixed a bug where you couldn’t clean Application Font Caches although an application was selected
Fixed a bug which could crash FontExplorer X at startup
Fixed a bug which didn’t update the information area when moving Sets
Fixed some interface and text issues with the German localization
FontExplorer X Version 1.2.1 (build 356)
Release date: July 10, 2007
The update of Linotype FontExplorer X to version 1.2.1 delivers overall improvements in nearly every area and is recommended for all users.
Bug fixes (1.2.1):
Fixed a bug when changing tracking in the information window
Fixed a bug when updating or launching FontExplorer X
Fixed a bug when using WYSIWYG on Mac OS X 10.3.9
Fixed a bug with multiple font requests
FontExplorer X Version 1.2 (build 341)
Release date: July 9, 2007
The update of Linotype FontExplorer X to version 1.2 delivers overall improvements in nearly every area and is recommended for all users.
New features:
Added information “Import date”
Adobe InDesign/Illustrator CS3 Plug-Ins
New detailed preview in the information window
Option to activate entire suitcase when activating a font contained in that suitcase
Option to search fonts by vendor
Possibility to create a Set from detected fonts in documents
Sorting by label
Updated features:
Cleaning application font caches now cleans QuarkXPress 7 caches
Cleaning System Fonts Folders now handles Adobe CS3 fonts
Improved character view in the information window
Improved drag & drop behavior
Improved font activation warning
Improved font detector
Improved font request behavior and preferences
Improved Store Registration Assistant
Setup Assistant now recognizes previous FontExplorer X Font Library folders
Updated InDesign/Illustrator CS1/CS2 Plug-Ins
Updated QuarkXPress 6.5/7.x Plug-Ins
Bug fixes:
Fixed a bug when exporting fonts as images
Fixed a bug when importing fonts from a network volume
Fixed a bug where “Last imported” included more than the actually imported fonts
Fixed a bug where different fonts with the same PostScript name were displayed the same
Fixed a bug where FontExplorer X could not find its database
Fixed a bug where the font activation warning was positioned randomly on the screen
Fixed a bug where the main window opened after using Fast User Switching
Fixed a bug where the preferences wouldn’t be set correctly after importing a FontExplorer X configuration file
Fixed a bug where the Trash containing font files deleted from FontExplorer X couldn’t be emptied while FontExplorer X was running
Fixed a bug which allowed negative numbers for Smart Set rules
Fixed a bug which didn’t update the rules information when editing a Smart Set
Fixed a bug which prevented copying preview images from the font preview
Fixed a bug which prevented FontExplorer X from launching when Parental Controls were enabled
Fixed font activation issues with QuarkXPress 6.5 and 7.x
Fixed interface issues with the Plug-In Manager
Many other internal fixes and improvements
FontExplorer X Version 1.1.2 (build 1A060)
Release date: January 25, 2007
Bug fixes:
Fixed a bug when changing comments
Fixed a bug when deleting conflicts
Fixed a bug when detecting fonts in documents
Fixed a bug which prevented instant search by typing in the font list
Fixed a bug which prevented font activation with one click
Fixed slow duplicate scanning
FontExplorer X Version 1.1.1 (build 1A057)
Release date: January 4, 2007
The update of Linotype FontExplorer X to version 1.1.1 delivers overall improvements in nearly every area and is recommended for all users.
Bug fixes:
Fixed a bug regarding the auto activation of InDesign/Illustrator CS/CS2
Fixed a bug regarding the Smart Set rule processing logic
Fixed a bug when deactivation a font contained in a collection
Fixed a bug when launching FontExplorer X on a German system
Fixed a bug when removing conflict fonts
Fixed a bug when selecting many fonts in the font list
Fixed a bug when updating a Smart Set
Fixed a bug when updating from an earlier version
Fixed a bug which did not sort Sets and Smart Sets imported from a configuration file
Fixed a crash when searching for duplicate conflicts with very few fonts in the library
FontExplorer X Version 1.1 (build 1A046)
Release date: August 9, 2006
New Features:
Activation of single fonts in a suitcase (Mac OS X 10.4 only)
Duplicate import
Labels
QuarkXPress 7 Plug-In (Universal Binary)
Updated Features:
Collections can now be hidden via a checkbox in the Sources list
Conflict table columns are now customizable
Easier way to select the hotkey to bring FontExplorer X to front
Extended the contextual menu in the preview area
Improved font import
Improved Illustrator CS/CS2 Plug-Ins
Improved InDesign CS/CS2 Plug-Ins
Improved style linking view
Improved WYSIWYG view
Monitoring preferences now include an option to warn before deactivating a certain number of fonts
Monitoring preferences now include an option to warn if importing fonts from a removable media
More information will be stored: The number of activations and the last activation date of a font
Plug-Ins can now be installed, updated and removed via the new Plug-In Manager
Redesigned the Conflicts
Smart Set performance has been improved
Smart Set titles can now be generated automatically
Smart Sets now include Designer, Description, Number of activations and Last activated options
The Font Detector now shows links to the Linotype Font Store
The import dialog now lets you choose font formats you want to import
The status text in the main window now contains the current search term
Bug fixes:
(De)activating fonts in Mac OS X 10.3.9 was slow sometimes
A WYSIWYG-font was not shown under certain circumstances
Adding a new preview sample in the preferences did not update the samples list in the preview area in Mac OS X 10.3.9
Corrected some incorrect tooltips
Creating a new Set by dropping fonts on the sources list did not update the information area correctly
Dragging fonts out of the font list sometimes did not work correctly
Dragging non-font files in the Sources list did create a Set for each file after restarting FontExplorer X
Exporting font information as text file did not include copyright information
Exporting Sets or fonts with a slash in the name or a dot as prefix did not work correctly
Fixed a bug when (de)activating fonts and using Fast User Switching
Fixed a bug when dragging fonts from the font list
Fixed a bug when importing a configuration file with no options selected
Fixed a bug when launching FontExplorer X from a Plug-In
Fixed a bug when switching between multiple font requests in the font request dialog
Fixed a bug where a file called “AdditionalInfo.db” did appear after a restart in the trash
Fixed a bug which prevented fonts from InfiniType from being imported
Fixed a crash regarding Smart Sets
Fixed a sorting bug in the preview
Fixed disappearance of the preview when changing rating or switching Sets
Font Detector report did include incorrect information
Font formats were displayed incorrectly in the style linking view
Fonts stored on a network volume could not be revealed in Finder
Getting font information in the store for a font without a character map did not work
Growl notifications did contain the number of suitcases and not of fonts when importing or removing fonts
Importing fonts with read-only access with the option to manage font files by moving them enabled did not work correctly
Importing in an empty Set did remove the Set if no fonts were imported
Key combinations for some characters were incomplete in the information window
Last imported fonts did not include fonts which were already imported
Pressing the backspace/delete key when customizing the preview text in the detailed preview tab in the information window did not work correctly
Pressing the command key while dragging fonts from the Finder into the Sources list did not change the drop destination on Intel
Macs
Pressing the option key in the Conflicts did not highlight the Set(s) the selected font is contained in
Removing a font from a Set did remove the Set too if it only contained one font
Removing a Set did not update the information area correctly
Renaming a Set/Smart Set did not update all visible “Contained in” information
Restarting after cleaning the system font caches was prevented by the confirm quit preference
Saving a configuration file did not work if font request rules weren’t changed before
Smart Set rules disappeared when loading a configuration file with the option to replace the current configuration
Smart Sets containing rules for different vendor names couldn’t be created
Some menu entries in the “Font” menu were enabled when no font was selected
Sorting after format did not work in the style linking view
Sorting did not work correctly in the Sources list if a Set contained a slash in its name
System fonts were always displayed in Smart Sets regardless if enabled or not
The Contextual menu item “Go to Conflicts” did not work correctly
FontExplorer X Version 1.01 (build 1A029)
Release date: March 17, 2006
Updated Features:
Improved Smart Sets
Updated Illustrator CS1/CS2 Plug-Ins
Updated InDesign CS1/CS2 Plug-Ins
Bug fixes:
Fixed a bug when browsing through the store
Fixed a bug when deleting fonts from the conflicts
Fixed a bug with the WYSIWYG list
Fixed a database updater bug
Fixed a font counting bug
Fixed a font family view sorting bug
FontExplorer X Version 1.0 (build 1A025)
Release date: March 14, 2006
New features:
Admin-Free mode
"Contained in" Smart Set option
Optional WYSIWYG font list
Possibility to launch from a network volume
Recognition of TrueType Collection (TTC) font format
Universal Binary, compatible with Intel Macs
Updated features:
Huge font import speedup
Improved configuration import/export
Improved family view
Improved font activation regarding QuarkXPress 6.5
Improved font request preferences
Improved import behavior
Updated Help files
Updated Illustrator CS1/CS2 Plug-Ins
Updated InDesign CS1/CS2 Plug-Ins
Updated Monitoring Preferences
Updated QuarkXPress 6.5 Plug-In
Bug fixes
Fixed a bug when browsing with the arrow keys through the font list
Fixed a bug when deactivating fonts in the information window
Fixed a bug with global font requests
Fixed a bug with the font selection not being retained when switching view modes
Fixed a bug with the unicode options in the characters tab of the information window
Fixed a bug with the store links
Fixed a rare bug when scanning pdf files for contained fonts
Fixed a rare application startup crash under Mac OS X 10.3.9
Fixed many other small issues
FontExplorer X Version 1.0fc4 (build 1A005)
Final candidate, not to be used in production environment
Release date: December 22, 2005
New features:
Adobe Illustrator CS1/CS2 Plug-Ins
Copying to clipboard from the font preview will copy sample images
Font Detector support for Keynote 1/2 files
Network home directory support
Visual feedback options for de-/activating fonts
Updated features:
Improved Font Detector’s .pages file scanning
Improved Store
Improved Updater
Updated Help files
Bug fixes:
Fixed a bug when changing comments
Fixed a bug when copying a character from the information window
Fixed a bug when disk was full during import process
Fixed a bug when installing Plug-Ins as non-admin
Fixed a bug with deactivating many fonts
Fixed a bug with the detailed preview
Fixed a bug with the font format recognition
Fixed an import crash of corrupt fonts
Fixed other small issues
FontExplorer X Version 1.0fc3 (build C751)
Final candidate, not to be used in production environment
Release date: October 26, 2005
New features:
Ability to change Rating and Comment of multiple fonts
Ability to download complete orders from the store
Recognition of Apple’s Advanced Typography Font Format
Updated features:
Improved Conflicts
Improved Import
Improved Smart Sets
Improved Store
Updated InDesign CS, CS2 and Quark Plug-Ins
Bug fixes:
Fixed a crash when browsing through the store
Fixed a crash when deactivating fonts, especially under 10.3.9
Fixed a problem with the information window’s selected tab saving
Fixed Credit Card clearing problems
Fonts didn’t stay activated after reboot or logout
Font-Folder was created in home directory if not managing fonts
Switching to Conflicts sometimes threw an exception
Fixed many other small issues
Known Bugs:
Problems with InDesign auto-activation
FontExplorer X Version 1.0fc2 (build C6F1)
Final candidate, not to be used in production environment
Release date: September 29, 2005
New features:
Font Rating
Application Cache cleaning
Store Back/Forward Navigation
"Multiple Folder" Import Option in the Preferences
Updated features:
Improved Application Stability
Improved Drag & Drop
Improved Font Activation/Deactivation
Improved Smart Sets
Information window now remembers last selected tab
PlugIn Installer now shows PlugIn version
Store is now much faster
The "Import fonts" Dialog now allows you to select the import destination
Updated German Localization
Bug fixes:
"View" > "Expand tree" used reserved OS key command
Activating Fonts under 10.3.9 didn’t update the Interface
Changed preview increase size key commands in English localization
Changing the Font Downloads path added a "2" to the name of the folder
Cyrillic preview string was misspelled
Deleting Fonts sometimes didn’t work correctly
Error when opening a Font with FontExplorer X and FontBook at the same time
Fixed a rare Store Browser Crash
Fixed a scrolling Bug when dragging fonts on a Set/Folder
Fixed an error when switching to conflicts or the conflict type
Font Preview sometimes didn’t work
Ignoring now some useless Font-Requests (e.g. "system")
Sets, Smart Sets and Folders sometimes couldn’t be renamed correctly
Some minor interface issues
Sorting sometimes didn’t work correctly
FontExplorer is a registered trademark of Linotype GmbH which may be registered in certain jurisdictions.
For further information do not hesitate to contact us via:
Phone: +49 (0) 6172 484-418
Fax: +49 (0) 6172 484-429
e-mail: moc.epytonil|ofni#moc.epytonil|ofni
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