I've put a database together with a few fields using ITC Zapf Dingbats, forgetting that that version comes with Adobe's CS suite and I should have used the Zapf Dingbats.ttf font supplied with the OS. (The client only has system fonts). I'm using triangular arrows plus a freehand-style tick and cross. All are put in either by auto-enter or by script. Switching to the .ttf version, loses the characters in the fields.

My ideal solution would be to discover why FM won't accept the .ttf font (it works fine in other apps tried, eg: TextEdit, iWorks). I've spotted others with the same problem on the web, but not spotted a resolution. Any thoughts?

If I can't fix it, I'm left looking for an alternative font. I've tried using Menlo, because it offers the same characters, but they are not on keystrokes and FM won't accept the characters when dragged in from palettes. Could I use Unicode reference codes?

The third alternative, I suppose is to persuade the client to install the Adobe version or the Wingdings set.

Assuming we are talking about Mac OS, there should be no problem using the system-installed Zapf Dingbats font. There could be a problem on your system, having two versions of the same font.

There could be, but they are managed by FontExplorer. If I activate only ITC version it works; if I activate only OS version (and apply that font to the field) it doesn't. I don't have fonts activated in any other font manager.

A it must be a local problem (apparently I lied earlier, when I said that the OS font is working in other apps. It isn't - I'm sure I checked that, but it isn't working now). So it's system-wide and not FM-specific. I've cleaned up my act in FontExplorer, deactivating all but the fonts I am using, cleared caches and rebooted. Nothings changed, but probably not a subject for this forum.

Thanks for your time.