Fontnames in Office Programs Showing Special Characters

This looks like a malfunction in the video card.  Does it consistently display exactly the same way every time?  No other symptoms on the system of video problems?

As a side note, how many fonts are installed in the system?

Hi Dr. Khan!

228 fonts installed.

DOES IT CONSISTENTLY DISPLAY EXACTLY THE SAME WAY EVERY TIME?  
Yes.  But ONLY in Office programs.  No others.

NO OTHER SYMPTOMS ON THE SYSTEM OF VIDEO PROBLEMS?
At startup, yes...somewhat?  Seems like a loose connection, perhaps, as a breeze of pixels flies across the monitor each time I start or restart the computer.  But, then loads up well.  It's a Laptop PC.

RAN A TEST
Asked a friend to install the same fonts.  His Word does NOT show the error.

How does this look to you?  If it is the video card how can I test it?

Sincerely,

OT

I'd guess that:


I can't (yet) explain why Office applications display like this, but others (e.g. WordPad) do not.

Perhaps (if the font licence allows it) you could attach a copy of one of the miscreant fonts so others could see what happens on their systems (I don't have any of the fonts you outline in your image).

Hi DDUK,

Will try to post those soon.  

At the same time, sounds like you're spot on.  I hunted around for ways to be able to edit the name string.  Couldn't find any apps that would allow it.  Could barely even REACH the font files directly.  

In the interim, while I try to get the links to the Font sources online, is there a tool you can suggest that would let me edit those name strings?

Sincere thanks,

OT

i used to use an application called Font Creator (from High Logic) which you can use to create or edit TrueType fonts (provided the font licence allows you to do this).

It's not free, but it's not as expensive as some of the other ones available (Fontographer?).

Hi DDUK,

Using the 30-day evaluation version of FontCreator.  (Seems like I have all the features in the evaluation.)  

What should I be clicking to find the relevant name string to edit?

At the same time, for each Font that's showing the error, I notice that the extraneous characters shown next to the font name match the  

.notdef

glyph

Seems like renaming will do the trick, if I can find what to rename.  Passing along that .notdef item as a further clue.

Thanks!

OT

There are numerous different name fields in a TrueType / OpenType font; the most relevant one (if it is present) is the one with name-id = 19 ("sample text") in the relevant sub-section of the name table (see https://www.microsoft.com/typography/otspec/name.htm for the specification).

19      Sample text; This can be the font name, or any other text that the designer thinks is the best sample to display the font in.

The .notdef glyph is one of four glyphs which it is recommended are present in all (Windows) fonts; this character provides the default 'galley character", although some fonts may define other galley characters to be used with different code-point 'regions'.

However, this doesn't explain why other applications on your system, or Office applications on your other workstation(s), do not exhibit the same symptoms, so perhaps there is a setting somewhere?

Are all of the systems running the same versions (and update status) of the operating system, and Office applications?
What about 'language' settings?

Sorry, i was  wrong about "sample text" being used for the display name - it must be one of the other strings.

Hi DDUK,

ARE ALL OF THE SYSTEMS RUNNING THE SAME VERSIONS (AND UPDATE STATUS) OF THE OPERATING SYSTEM, AND OFFICE APPLICATIONS?
WHAT ABOUT 'LANGUAGE' SETTINGS?
They're running Chinese language.  Just mine is English.

Seems like I can't post the miscreant fonts online.

Can you guide me how to use FontCreator to edit that name-id=19 value?  Couldn't figure out how to reach it.

When I see how carefully you answer the questions I feel impressed.  Thanks, DDUK!

If you have time feel lucky to have you weigh in on this question, too.

Sincerely,

OT

Thanks VERY much!