Question What are the font requirements for creating uDesignIT!-based documents? Answer One of the requirements of creating uDesignIT!-based documents is that the fonts used for the uDesignIT!-based document be installed on our servers. The server is a Windows-based server, therefore it follows that the fonts are Windows-based fonts. We realize that in the Real World documents may be created on the Macintosh platform, leading to the use of Macintosh fonts. When the original document exists on the Macintosh platform, we strongly suggest that you use OpenType fonts in the creation of the document, as OpenType fonts are platform independent. The OpenType font used to create the native Macintosh document may also be used on our uDesignIT! server. If you do not have access to an OpenType font for use in your document, we may build the document using an OpenType equivalent. We have purchased the complete Adobe Font Folio for use with uDesignIT! Full details about Adobe Font Folio (including a listing of all fonts found in the Adobe Font Folio), along with a vast amount of information about the OpenType font format, may be found on Adobe's website at www.adobe.com/type. If the font used in your document does not have an acceptable equivalent in Adobe's Font Folio, and the font is not available in OpenType format from the font's creator, then you may opt to have us convert the font into an OpenType format. However, this conversion does come with a disclaimer. The conversion process may not always lead to desired results. Here's more information from the uDesignIT! support team:

Tools are available that will convert fonts from one format or platform to another, however, we generally do not recommend them. Font attributes are specific to the font format, be it PostScript, TrueType, or OpenType. When building a font in a specific format the Designer or Foundry sets fields, internal flags and file attributes within the font specific to that format and platform. Conversion tools may (or may not) set the flags and internal fields properly when converting a font. Once a font has been converted it is considered a modified file. Most foundries will not support the font as it has been modified from it's intended format and they cannot guarantee it's functionality in an application.

In summary, the preferred font formats for use in the uDesignIT! system (from most preferred to least preferred) are as follows:

1. OpenType, which provides the highest amount of flexibility and the highest degree of accuracy when the uDesignIT! system uses the font.
2. Windows TrueType
3. Windows Type 1 (PostScript)
4. Any Macintosh font format converted to a format which may be used by the Windows-based uDesignIT! server.