Embedded write protected fonts in Powerpoint? Thread poster: Jan Sundström
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Hi all,
I received a PPT file from a client.
When I open this in PPT, i get a warning message:
"The file contains embedded write protected fonts". (approx. translation from Swedish).
I can click on the text, and a cursor is visible in each text box, but I can't edit anything.
And even if I could edit, the "Archive>Save" menu option is greyed out.
Is there any way I can unlock this file?
The client thinks it's possible, ... See more Hi all,
I received a PPT file from a client.
When I open this in PPT, i get a warning message:
"The file contains embedded write protected fonts". (approx. translation from Swedish).
I can click on the text, and a cursor is visible in each text box, but I can't edit anything.
And even if I could edit, the "Archive>Save" menu option is greyed out.
Is there any way I can unlock this file?
The client thinks it's possible, but is not savvy enough to figure out how.
Did anyone else encounter this behaviour before?
I might have found a plausible explanation:
http://www.proz.com/post/186807#186807
'You may be able to reduce the file size of your document by selecting the Embed characters in use only check box. This option embeds only the font styles used in your document. Also, if you used 32 or fewer characters of a font — for example, a few symbols or a headline — Word embeds only those characters. Note that this option is most useful for documents that other users plan to view or print only, because the unembedded font characters and styles aren't available for editing.'
More background here:
http://pptfaq.com/FAQ00076.htm
So it seems I must talk to the one who has the original file, and ask him/her to save it without embedding. Right?!
/Jan
[Edited at 2007-08-07 14:44] ▲ Collapse
| | | | dom_fr
France
Local time: 05:32
English to French
| fonts licences | Aug 7, 2007 |
"The file contains embedded write protected fonts".
Consider fonts as softwares. It's not because your client has the right to use a font that you are allowed to use it on your computer.
Usally there is no problem with font because the font like Arial, Time, ... have licences more permissive.
Two way to solve this problem :
* get the licence of the font
* ask you client to change the font.
For a more complete explanation.
Dom
[Edited at 2007-08-08 05:01]
| | | | lexical 
Spain
Local time: 05:32
Portuguese to English
| I don't know why... | Aug 7, 2007 |
...you're fretting about this. Just tell the client you can't edit the file but would be pleased to do so if they can get their act together. Translators are not supposed to be agony aunts - just forget it and get on with the next project.
| | | | Tony M
France
Local time: 05:32
Member
French to English
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER
Jan Sundström wrote:
So it seems I must talk to the one who has the original file, and ask him/her to save it without embedding. Right?!
Not exactly!
You would need in fact to ask to embed the font with ALL characters (i.e. not JUST those few characters actually used)
However, without being an expert in the subject, I somehow doubt that's the actual problem here.
Possibly you yourself might simply be able to change the text to another font before editing?
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tlmurray (X)
Local time: 23:32
English
| Embedding and unlocking | Aug 8, 2007 |
Regarding fonts, you can read about the different types of embedding here:
| | | | Ken Cox
Local time: 05:32
German to English
+ ...
I had this once with a Word document; IMO it's most likely a sign of a user who is too clever for his or her own good.
AFAIK, you have three options:
1. Install all of the embedded fonts in question on your system. The editing restriction does not apply if the fonts are available on your system. Note that the fonts must be exactly the same as those that were embedded (i.e. exactly the same name, same font producer, etc.), so the safest approach is to ask the client (or ... See more I had this once with a Word document; IMO it's most likely a sign of a user who is too clever for his or her own good.
AFAIK, you have three options:
1. Install all of the embedded fonts in question on your system. The editing restriction does not apply if the fonts are available on your system. Note that the fonts must be exactly the same as those that were embedded (i.e. exactly the same name, same font producer, etc.), so the safest approach is to ask the client (or the author) to provide copies of the fonts (although this is a copyright violation and thus illegal).
2. Obtain a copy of the document without embedded fonts.
3. Export or transcribe the document to a different application (e.g. Word) and then regenerate it.
Good luck!
[Edited at 2007-08-08 07:44] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jan Sundström
Sweden
Local time: 05:32
English to Swedish
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | I'm not fretting | Aug 8, 2007 |
lexical wrote:
...you're fretting about this. Just tell the client you can't edit the file but would be pleased to do so if they can get their act together. Translators are not supposed to be agony aunts - just forget it and get on with the next project.
I'm not fretting, I'm trying to solve a problem that the client isn't able to figure out himself. If the client is a middleman who doesn't have a clue about Powerpoint, and doesn't have access to the original fonts, there's absolutely no point telling him to "get their act together". That would be like pouring water on a goose, as we say in Swedish.
We're talking about a 20 000 EUR job here, with even more potential in long term.
I get so fed up with the attitude "forget it and get on with the next project"!!!
That's exactly why this client had asked another translator first, who couldn't be bothered.
If I have the skills (or can learn them with the help of Proz), why shouldn't I use these skills to solve the problem, and secure a very profitable assignment?!
Lexical, if you're busy enough to turn down requests, fine for you. But I don't post questions here on Proz to get discouraging and unhelpful advice, I'm trying to do my job...
Ken, Dom, so you're saying that if I can source for these fonts (possibly from somewhere else), and install them properly, the write protection will magically disappear?!
Sincerely,
Jan
[Edited at 2007-08-08 11:35]
[Edited at 2007-08-08 11:37]
| | | | Jerzy Czopik
Germany
Local time: 05:32
Member (2003)
Polish to German
+ ...
| The link TLMURRAY is mentioning | Aug 8, 2007 |
but forgotten to put the closing > in his post is this one
If you can figure out, which fonts are missing (in menu "Format" in PPT maybe the "Replace fonts" will tell you this) you could easily buy them. As you say, this is a big job, so I would bother exactly as you do. Fonts are not expensive (about 100 Euros per type or something about 400 Euros per fami... See more but forgotten to put the closing > in his post is this one
If you can figure out, which fonts are missing (in menu "Format" in PPT maybe the "Replace fonts" will tell you this) you could easily buy them. As you say, this is a big job, so I would bother exactly as you do. Fonts are not expensive (about 100 Euros per type or something about 400 Euros per family, so nothing compared with the possible turnaroung on your job).
Good places to find fonts are www.fonts.com or www.linotype.com
Good luck
Jerzy
PS
Similar to you I'm also tired with so many "problems" and "solutions", which are recently creeping up on ProZ fora
[Edited at 2007-08-08 11:52] ▲ Collapse
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Jan Sundström
Sweden
Local time: 05:32
English to Swedish
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Thanks everybody for pointing me in the right direction!
I started investigating about different versions of PPT, and I realized that the client was using a more recent version.
So I went to Microsoft Update, downloaded a simple patch, adn magically the problem disappeared!
Maybe the patch also contained updated standard fonts (which were older varieties, as Ken implied!)?
Anyway, problem solved, another huge thanks to the Proz collective!
... See more Thanks everybody for pointing me in the right direction!
I started investigating about different versions of PPT, and I realized that the client was using a more recent version.
So I went to Microsoft Update, downloaded a simple patch, adn magically the problem disappeared!
Maybe the patch also contained updated standard fonts (which were older varieties, as Ken implied!)?
Anyway, problem solved, another huge thanks to the Proz collective!
/Jan ▲ Collapse
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