Need help with Fonts, can't change

[HockeyFan]

I am trying to change the font for one of my fields in layout mode on a layout page...and for some reason it won't let me. It gives me an error message once telling me that the font I am trying to choose doesn't correspond with the data in that field or something, and that I can hold down CTRL + ALT while selecting a font to override this. But when I hold down CTRL + ALT, and select font, still doesn't work, and then the error message never comes back. I have read some about trying to remove font styles from fields, etc...but I need something fast to make this work. I am producing an alumni directory on CD for a Fraternity, and need for the fraternity greek codes to show up in symbol font.

[Lee Smith]

Did you say you are creating this ON a CD?

[comment]

I am guessing you have already typed something in Greek into the field, and now you're trying to change to a font that does not have these characters. There are several ways to input Greek characters - an older Symbol font may have the Greek characters INSTEAD of Latin, or in higher ASCII. A newer font may use Unicode. These two are incompatible.

[HockeyFan]

Well I create a runtime that is burned onto a CD for an alumni directory. And I always use a template from a past school to create the layouts for the new school. Basically, I take an Access DB, and export it as Text, then import the text file into Filemaker. The field I am importing is Arial I believe....and when I put the field onto a layout page in layout mode in Filemaker, and then go to change the font for that field to Symbol, is when I get that error message...but once it gives the error message the first time, then the error message won't appear again, until you close and re-open FM. So then I can go to change the font, with no errors, but upon going back to text format, it never really changed, and is back to Arial or whatever. However, I have other fields on a layout that are in Book Antiqua, and I can change those to Arial or something else that's common...but not to Symbol. The error message I get says:

The selection contains fields whose storage option language is incompatible with the chosen font or text objects whose characters cannot be displayed by that font. The font will not be changed for these items. Hold down Alt and Control keys while choosing a font if you wish to override this protective action.

[comment]

As I said: I think you already have some text in the field, and that text is most likely Unicode. It seems your Symbol font is NOT Unicode, so Filemaker is trying to tell you it won't work. I am not familiar enough with Windows fonts to offer any certainty on this.

[HockeyFan]

I don't have a single record entered right now. So there is nothing at all in that field..because I haven't imported data yet.

Edited February 15, 2006 by Guest

[comment]

What does it say in Define Database > Fields > Options > Storage > Default language for indexing and storing text? Is it the same as for other text fields?

[HockeyFan]

It says English...and I have it on index all. I can change that field's font to something else like Times, Arial, etc etc...but not to the symbol font I have...and I don't really know why.

[Raybaudi]

this is the alert message

To override you have to press CONTROL + ALT and, with those keys pressed, chose your desired font !

[HockeyFan]

yes that's it

[HockeyFan]

I tried pressing those keys and then choosing my font while those keys are pressed, and the font still remains the same.

[comment]

I am missing some vital information here. Please create a brand new file with three text fields named English, Greek and Unicode. Set the storage language of the English field to English, the Greek field to Greek, and the Unicode field to Unicode.

Now go to Layout mode and see if you can select the Symbol font for any of these fields.

[Raybaudi]

I can always change the font to symbol like Webdings, but only if i take those keys pressed !

That is true with default , Italian, English and Unicode.

[comment]

I believe we are talking about a font named Symbol here. Also, Greek is not the same as Italian - it uses a different alphabet.

[Raybaudi]

Only to say that that message comes once and never appears anymore with font like Webdings and default language Italian or Unicode , too !

But I can always override with those keys pressed.

[Raybaudi]

Hi all

FOUND !

Go to Edit --> Preferences... --> Fonts and uncheck FONT LOCKING !

[HockeyFan]

OH THANK GOD.....changing the font locking worked!!!! And yes...I was using a font called Symbol. Man, what a pain in the butt...I feel kinda goofy now, knowing the answer was as simple as unchecking a box. Thanks for everyone's help!!! It worked!!! YAY

[comment]

I wouldn't give thanks so quickly. There is a reason for the warning you received. Changing the preferences disables the warning, but the reason remains. There's something, either in your file or in your system, that is not quite right.

[Raybaudi]

That check would be "unchecked" by default !

This is from: Help on line

Select Use Font Locking.

Note Selecting Use Font Locking is only necessary if you use fields that contain multiple input types, such as Roman and Japanese text within the same field. If you're not mixing input types in fields, then leave this option cleared. Data entry and editing is a little faster when font locking is turned off.

So there's nothing, either in his file or in his system, that is not quite right.

[HockeyFan]

Well I think I get the error because I use the same layouts from project to project, removing records and then designing the layouts for the new project and importing data for the new project as well. So my next issue, is that when I open the file on my Mac, the area where I have the symbol font (which shows ok in Windows), is not showing properly on the Mac. Instead it has those little rectangle symbols where the symbol characters should be. Any ideas how to fix this for the Mac??

[Raybaudi]

I'm sorry, I haven't a Mac.

[comment]

there's nothing, either in his file or in his system, that is not quite right.

Then why do you suppose he's posting? I have that box checked, and I can change a field from Arial to Symbol, without a warning.

[comment]

I think you need to use a Unicode font for the Greek symbols. Everything you said so far indicates that your Symbol font uses high ASCII encoding. This is different for Windows and Mac.

[Raybaudi]

I'm referring to what FMI says...

BTW my system, 7v3 Dev can't display SYMBOL font with that check checked ! May be a windows problem ?

[HockeyFan]

Well, I am a girl first of all, LOL, and also, I think the reason I get that error is because I had records in there at one time, and then deleted all records, because they were from an old school, when I started the new project I had to go in and customize fields according to the new school...now I am having these problems...either way, all that matters really is that I can now see the greek symbols in Windows...just not on the Mac...and I need to know what I can do to make this appear correctly on the Mac. I will also point out that I made a copy of my Windows file for the Windows Users Runtime...and I will have a separate runtime for the Mac users and then both will be burned on a disc for distribution. Because there are two separate files, I won't have to worry about changing something in the file on the Mac which would then change the way it appeared on Windows.

P.S. raybaudi I am using the same version of FM you are.

Edited February 15, 2006 by Guest

[comment]

I think the reason I get that error is because I had records in there at one time, and then deleted all records

That's why I suggested you make a test with a new file.

Because there are two separate files, I won't have to worry about changing something in the file on the Mac which would then change the way it appeared on Windows.

I don't quite understand this. Are you saying you only want a way to input the Greek characters on a Mac, never mind if it works on Windows?

In any case, I suggest you take a look at the attached file. It has only one field, with all the Greek capital characters in Unicode. I put the same field on the layout twice, in two different fonts.

You should open this on Windows, and try to change the font of the field - the font that will correctly show the characters is a Unicode font that also has the Greek block. That is the one you want to use instead of Symbol.

greek.fp7.zip

[Raybaudi]

Well, I am a girl first of all

That is even better ! ???

[Raybaudi]

I have that box checked, and I can change a field from Arial to Symbol, without a warning.

I double checked what you said here...

and that is true for me too, but only in Browse Mode. I still can't change to symbol in Layout Mode !

Also I can't understand your last example:

with font looking checked in Browse mode and in Layout Mode whatever font, but symbol, I apply to the second field gives readable text.

[comment]

I still can't change to symbol in Layout Mode

Again, I think this may be because the Windows Symbol font is not Unicode. Anyway, the test is rather meaningless without knowing the language selected for the field (and the results may be differ depending on what is - or was - in the field). All I meant to say here was this: unless you're sticking to a single character set (e.g. English), it's probably better to leave the check on - it will point out problems before your users do so.

with font looking checked in Browse mode and in Layout Mode whatever font, but symbol, I apply to the second field gives readable text.

I'm sorry, but *my* English is not good enough to understand what you're saying here...

[Raybaudi]

Either in Browse Mode, either in Layout mode, whatever font ( but not Symbol ) I use in the second field makes it readable

[comment]

Well, that would indicate that all your fonts (or at least all the fonts that Filemaker lets you see) are Unicode AND have the Greek block. So you can use any of them (except Symbol, IIUC).

I don't know what will happen in the opposite direction, though. The Mac Arial does not have Greek characters (as of 10.3.9), so if you choose Arial on Windows, and type in some Greek, then open the file on a Mac, it may work - or not.

Also, I notice that sometimes FMP will let me choose a font, but the font does not actually change. This happens especially if the field has characters that are not present in the new font. There's no warning, and it looks like the font has been changed - but come back to the field and it still shows the old font.

[HockeyFan]

Okay, the Mac I am using is 10.4, and I already have the symbol fonts appearing on Windows...but when I try to make a field the symbol font on the Mac in layout mode by right clicking on the field and going to format text, or whatever, it's not showing correctly, and instead is showing these rectangular characters. The field is English on the Mac. What can I do to make the greek characters appear for this field?

[comment]

If they are not Unicode, you can't - unless you construct some kind of substitution table in a calc field.

Why don't you want to use Unicode? This is precisely what it exists for.

[Charlih Chen]

Can I using the [color:black]Calculation value as following?

TheField = TextFont ( TheField ; "Greek" )

I have the same problem to display the Chinese charactor. The Field is always diaplay as square box that it was supposed to display in Chinese.

I tried and it won't work as following

TheField = TextFont ( TheField ; "細明體" )

Any solution for the field to display in Chinese?