Weird font behaviour

lesplan · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:05 pm Post subject: Weird font behaviour

We have two netorked computers in the office and two licences of MBM. Following the most recent update, I started to to notice some weird behaviour.

We have a number of files that we send out notification emails every month. The letter is in Times New Roman, but when we send out the email and transfer the file from one computer to the other, the font changes to Lucida Grande.

We have used MBM in this (networked way) for a couple of years now and never had any problems like this. Both machines are running the latest version of MBC and Leopard.

Can anyone suggest anything?

Thanks in advance for your time.

Eric

stanbusk · Site Admin Joined: 28 Dec 2005 Posts: 2273

Try to download the new fixed version we have uploaded today. It is very likely related to another font problem reported in other thread.

lesplan · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 4:51 pm Post subject:

Hi Stan

Both machines are using 5.7.1 and when I check updates, it says that none is available.

Can you please clarify?

Thanks.

Eric

stanbusk · Site Admin Joined: 28 Dec 2005 Posts: 2273

You just have to re-download the application here http://download.maxprog.com. We discovered a minor issue regarding font names containing null characters in given situations. That issue cause fonts to be ignored.

lesplan · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 5:19 am Post subject: still no workee

Hi Stan . . . this is what I did

#1) downloaded new MBM on both Imac computers from the link you provided

#2) opened MBM file on my computer, and made sure letter text was in Times New Roman (the font we use)

#3) transferred file via Ethernet network to 2nd computer

#4) opened MBM file and viola, text was all in Monaco font and all styles (ie bold, etc) were missing.

So, its still not working the way it should.

Eric

stanbusk · Site Admin Joined: 28 Dec 2005 Posts: 2273

Are the machines using the same processors? Both Intel?

lesplan · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 4:35 pm Post subject:

No -- one is a new Imac and is has Intel processors, but the other is an older G5 tower.

Eric

stanbusk · Site Admin Joined: 28 Dec 2005 Posts: 2273

Ok.

You can write a message on the G5 and open it on the MacIntel. The message will be converted as long as MaxBulk Mailer is located in its folder.

However you can't do the opposite. If you write your message on the MacIntel and open it on the G5 you will lose or get crazy formatting.

This comes from the processor byte order. We found a solution for G5 to Intel but not the opposite.

That only affects the 'Styled Text' format. Apple provides functions to perform those conversions but we were unable to make them work in the opposite way.

lesplan · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 4:21 pm Post subject:

Hi Stan

This is exactly what is NOT going on. It doesn't matter which way I transfer the files.

The new Intel machine is where the files reside most of the time - our data processing person maintains them as needed adding and deleting customer info.

I need to transfer them to my Power RC G5 to send them out. When they come over the font changes and I need to I change it back to Times New Roman. This is a bit of a pain since we are talking about 30 or so separate files each with their own specific customer list.

When the files are transferred back via our network to the Intel Imac, the font changes again. No data is being lost, but this is a pain in the butt. I have been using MBM for about two years now this way and I have never had this kind of an issue.

Eric

stanbusk · Site Admin Joined: 28 Dec 2005 Posts: 2273

The Intel/PPC conversion exists since the day Apple starts to sell its first Mac Intel machine and we released the first Universal version. We wrote a small PPC to Intel tool. This tool is ran as soon as you try to open a document created on a G5 and MaxBulk Mailer has been properly installed. The tool doesn't and has never worked the opposite way. In order to create messages on a MacIntel and send them using a G5 you have to run MaxBulk Mailer in Rosetta on your MacIntel. Select the MaxBulk application on your MacIntel, press Command+I and check the 'Open using Rosetta' option. Once done, messages you create on MacIntel will be fully compatible with your G5 in both ways. However if you open the messages you have created on your MacIntel so far, you will get the problem as on your G5. (You can create another copy of MaxBulk not in rosetta mode, open then document in that version and paste it to the other so you don't have to apply styles again). Also, when you update your MaxBulk Mailer copy, you have to remember to check the Rosetta option again.

lesplan · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 10:04 pm Post subject:

Hi back Stan

Thanks for the detailed response but I must confess that this stuff is a wee bit over my head.

What I'm having a hard time understanding is why it is so hard to use the software in a small networked office environment? I have been using MBM for a few years now and we have just recently encountered this problem.

We use a lot of other software between the four computers in our office: InDesign, Illustrator, Word, Excel, Eudora, Pages, etc. etc. and we are able to transfer files back and forth with no problem (and no need for any special translators or PPC to Intel tools?) Why is this not the case with MBM?

stanbusk · Site Admin Joined: 28 Dec 2005 Posts: 2273

It is the case because when you use Styled Text and save a document, you have to save the Style as well. Style is binary data. That binary data is made of bytes. The order of those bytes differs between processors. It is actually the opposite. Checking the 'Open using Rosetta' on your MacIntel will remove the problem. Have you tried it? It is extremely simple! Just a click with your mouse.

I have never filled the need to spend weeks developing a conversion tool to convert from Intel to PPC. You are right now the very first customer in two years asking for it. I prefer to spend my time in adding new features to MaxBulk Mailer. Furthermore Apple added that 'Open using Rosetta' parameter to avoid that problem.

lesplan · Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 10:09 pm Post subject:

Hi Stan

I just tried what you suggested an it did not fix the problem. I transferred some 15 files to my Power PC G5, saved the letter in Times New Roman, and sent the emails.

I then enabled the Rosetta option on the Imac Intel, transferred the files back via the network and they all showed up in Monaco font. I restarted the Imac and tried again with the same result.

What do i do now?

stanbusk · Site Admin Joined: 28 Dec 2005 Posts: 2273

It should work! If it doesn't for you, we have no solution.

lesplan · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:00 am Post subject:

Stan

Well it doesn't work and its pretty frustrating . . .

Like I said earlier, we have many programs that we use to exchange info and files back and forth and there is no loss in data or formatting -- ONLY Max Bulk Mailer.

Eric