Which Font Manager Best for In-Design?

[B.A._...@adobeforums.com]

I currently have Font Reserve, which I don't really like. I'm on OS X 10.2.8. Has anyone tried Font Juggler? I've been using Pagemaker, and Buko and everyone else has convinced me that I have to go to ID. So I'm getting ready, and trying to get prepared.

[Michele_...@adobeforums.com]

I am using Font Agent Pro 2 with Panther. It's a little more ATM-like than the other font managers, and think a little less expensive. It seems to work well enough, and I've had good responses from tech support when I've had questions. There is a 30-day fully functional trial version at Insider's web site. Give it a shot.

Regards,
Michele

[John_D...@adobeforums.com]

B.A.

Font Reserve was purchased by Extensis (Suitcase X1). According to an Extensis rep we were told that within short time, Extensis will take the best features of both programs (Suitcase and FR) and combine them in to one piece of software.

Is Font Juggler the same as Master Juggler?

Be prepared for messages similar to: ..... "Suitcase is the only way to go - forget about anything else." and ..... "Font Agent is the only way to go - forget about anything else."

I use Suitcase X1. Have never tried Font Agent pro mainly because Suitcase works for me and I see little reason to switch to anything else. My workflow is pretty simple and I could probably come close to just using the Font Book built in to Panther. But I'll stick with Suitcase.

[Bu...@adobeforums.com]

I use Font Agent Pro because Suitcase pissed me off.

I have not tried version 11

[pete...@adobeforums.com]

I've tried them all...Suitcase was always too buggy for me, even way back when...

Font Agent seems to be the slickest, BUT chokes on large libraries.

Master Juggler has font naming problems... seems to list EVERY font on your system, i.e., lists both screen and printer fonts as separate items. Very annoying, confusing, and screen wasting IMHO.

I'm sticking with Font Reserve -- have used for several years. Big problem for me is that it's autoactivation doesn't work for Adobe CS products. I still use it, although it's a PITA right now. Can't wait for Extensis to put their money where their mouth has been since acquiring it last year.

Later.

[B.A._...@adobeforums.com]

Thanks all for the help.
Michelle, thanks, I'll look into Font Agent Pro again. John, yes I was thinking of Master Juggler . . and I am prepared for the "Only way to go" messages. That's why I asked. . . Buko, your vote for FAPro was taken seriously, as well. I hate it when you PO'd. . . Peter, thanks for the input on MJ . . . I think I'm heading for FAPro.

[Eric...@adobeforums.com]

Personally, I like and use Font Reserve.

From the discussions that have periodically cropped up in these forums, it seems that none of the font management programs out there are able to completely satisfy anyone. Choice comes down to which one aggravates you the least.

[Bu...@adobeforums.com]

Choice comes down to which one aggravates you the least.

how true

[Gavin_...@adobeforums.com]

I have used Suitcase from version 2, yes some versions have been a bit buggy I had trouble with versions 9 and 10 in OS9. So when I upgraded to OSX I looked at changing my font management program from Suitcase. The best offering was Font Agent Pro which I gave a week trial, but it just did not cut the mustard.

So I stuck with Suitcase and X1 is the best version for a long while, very stable and powerful. For a professional there is own one choice Suitcase.

I recommend giving them both a test drive as both have 30 day trial demos available.

[Ronald...@adobeforums.com]

I use Suitcase but I have to admit it's a real aggravation if you try to move your font sets. It won't keep track of them. Even full backups of entire hard drives lose use of the custom font sets that a person creates in Suitcase.

Other than that it doesn't give me any major problems.

[B.A._...@adobeforums.com]

Hey, guys . . .backed up fonts on a disk, got rid of Font Reserve, downloaded FontAgent Pro 2.0 demo, set it up, and it's GOOD to go! Font Reserve somehow ditched essential dfonts like Helvetica, Times, Courier, etc. Missing 7 required dfonts total. Up and running in FA Pro in 30 minutes. Love it! Now ready to do InDesign. Tackling learning curve will be much easier, not that font screw-ups are gone. Thanks for your input . . .

[Erik_N...@adobeforums.com]

I've used Font Agent Pro 1.0 since 2002. Not a single problem with it, ever. I'm running Jaguar 10.2.8 on a dual 867mhz G4. I've got about 300 font families...

I'm very happy with Font Agent Pro. I'll probably upgrade to 2.0, shortly.

[B.A._...@adobeforums.com]

Eric, I spoke too soon. Wasn't able to ditch all Font Reserve -- Database still there. Can't get FontAgent 2.0 to import the fonts . . . They're in the set says 204 font families, but none of them are there. Registered last night, but still cant get any fonts to work. Their manual doesn't run you through initial set up. I'm at a loss.

[Roger_P...@adobeforums.com]

OSX-Auto Activate Fonts in classic applications
Is there a font program that will auto activate fonts in classic applications when I am working on OSX

[Erik_N...@adobeforums.com]

The font program, to my knowledge, would have to be launched within the classic environment.

I don't know of a font manager that will do it in the way you describe.

[Bu...@adobeforums.com]

FontAgent Pro manages Classic fonts but I don't think it auto activates them.

BA, I don't have FAP2 yet but in 1.4 you just drag the hard drive with fonts on to the app window and it will find all good fonts and make a new font folder containing the good fonts.

[Marco_Antoni...@adobeforums.com]

Font Reserve does that.
If I am not mistaken, Suitcase X1 does it too.

[iG...@adobeforums.com]

Font Reserve does auto-activate for Classic applications. It's also been updated to work with the CS versions of Illustrator and InDesign.

Last week I had a client that was fed up with Font Agent Pro. It is crappy about Classic activation. They get the award for slow! Anyway, I tried to put Font Reserve on that G5 Mac and it would crash Quark 4.1 every time I launched it. I wasted like three hours on that. I gave up and put the Suitcase demo on that Mac. So far so good. Never had that problem before.

[colo...@adobeforums.com]

What about Font Book - the software that comes with Panther? Anyone using it, and ifso, how's it working out?

[B.A._...@adobeforums.com]

Hey guys, Buko is right. FontAgent Pro is great. I currently have 1.4 and ATM lite for classic. All the fonts I specify in FAP are activated in Classic. I really like this App.
They are working on an upgrade to 2.0 that includes pagemaker, so we can get rid of ATM. In the meanwhile, 1.4 works, in conjuction with ATM. Font Reserve is a monster -- my whole computer literally died (Black Screen) for about 5 seconds any time I had to make a change . . . very unsettling. Plus it ate half of my system fonts. Anyway, I'm not on Panther yet, by choice, so I don't know about Font Book, but from what I'm seeing in the various posts, it's not a good solution. Good luck to all us Fontaholics. . . one day at a time :) Thanks Buko for all your excellent advice. . . Got ID, and am pacing (weaning) myself to get up to snuff and ut of Pagemaker. Then maybe I won't need the elusive Classic.

[Bu...@adobeforums.com]

What about Font Book - the software that comes with Panther? Anyone using
it, and ifso, how's it working out?

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha.

Sorry I couldn't resist. Its Ok if you only have 110 fonts but most designers have thousands.

[Richard_...@adobeforums.com]

LOL. Very nice, Buko. Colorgirl: Font Book is the MS Publisher of font management if you're a professional designer.