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Mac OS 8.6 was released with a bug called the Corrupt FOND Bug. This article will discuss its effects, repairs and workarounds.

ALL USERS of OS 8.6 need to understand and apply the fix discussed in this article!!

Discussion

This bug will corrupt the FOND resource in many older fonts, as well as fonts embedded inside applications. Numerous applications can be affected by simply launching the application under Mac OS 8.6, if one does not take special steps. Several applications have since been updated to prevent this bug from affecting their resources, but, as a precaution, one should always run Mac OS 8.6 with one of three additional extensions designed to trap the bug and prevent damage.

Additionally, in Mac OS 8.6, the height of characters in Apple's Japanese and Traditional Chinese fonts is one pixel shorter than in Mac OS 8.5, leading to problems displaying, editing, or printing text.

Applications Known To Be Affected

While each application will react to the bug differently, typical responses are mysterious Type 2 and Type 3 errors, particularly when accessing PDF files, attempting to set passwords within applications, and more.

Please do not overlook that individual font suitcases, including those embedded within the System Suitcase may become affected.

Solutions

The situation is very easy to fix, and easy to prevent from happening in future.

In order to repair existing damaged applications and fonts, Apple has released the Font First Aid Utility as part of the Font Manager 1.0 Update package.

However, this patch has been widely confirmed to be the source of a serious stalling effect when used in combination with QuarkXpress (v3.x - v4.x), as well as Microsoft Internet Explorer v4.x.

It is our strong recommendation that after you apply the Apple Font Manager Update 1.0, and run the Apple Font First Aid Utility, that you also run a free utility from Alsoft called Corrupt FOND Fixer. Additionally, you should then remove the Apple Font Manager 1.0 extension, and replace it with the Font Fixer for 8.6 extension made by DiamondSoft.

Further, one needs to be certain that one never again launches any applications under OS 8.6 unless one of these two extensions is enabled. If you do, the very same embedded and individual fonts may again become corrupted, forcing you to again run the Font First Aid Utility and Corrupt FOND Fixer utility.

If for any reason you ever do a clean-installation of OS 8.6, or are upgrading a machine to OS 8.6, be sure that you immediately apply either the Font Manager 1.0 Update or Font Fixer for 8.6; else risk damaging otherwise fine applications and fonts.

Caution!

There have also been some reported problems when running either repair utility due to conflicts with other extensions. It is strongly advised that you only run these utilities with the single Font Manager 1.0 Update extension enabled.

Known examples of conflicts are the Platinum Sounds sound set in the Appearance extension, FWB Extension, Stuffit True Finder integration, and more. Once you have run the font repair utilities, you may reenable these extensions without further concern.

You should also not assume that either Font first Aid or Corrupt FOND Fixer will repair any other aspect of a damaged font. These utilities address and correct a single resource specific to this problem. For more comprehensive font repair, try FontAgent by Extensis; but, again, note that FontAgent cannot repair fonts embedded inside applications. Isn't this fun?

Resource Links

Additional Information

Conclusion

This bug seems and can be serious, but is entirely livable, once you get it under control. Please note that the Font Manager Update fix is embedded in OS 9, so you will not need to worry about it once you upgrade. That said, QuarkXpress users will once again experience the Dreaded Stall, until Apple, Adobe and Quark find a solution; so if you're a heavy QuarkXpress user, you may want to delay your upgrade to OS 9.


Article Created on: 16 June 1999
Article last revised on: 4 January 2000
Author: Frederico
Editor: WebClub '00

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