Network Font Management System

[.soulty]

Hey all, I need to set up a font management system for our design team. Something that can handle alot of font's , possibly has a preview console and search features. I would appreciate any suggestions into some font apps that can do this and more.

[DDD]

I use fontexpert. Really cool tool.

[.soulty]

yeah same, and actually i was silly i didn't look there first. I saw on the website you can 'search' network drives but how do you make network drives the main font directory?

[DDD]

I wouldnt use it as the main font directory. You can install fonts and choose to leave them where they are or make a local copy. And you can run a report to see whats installed and uninstall ones you dont need. If you make a network drive windows main font directory it will slow down everything. IMO.

[.soulty]

yeah your right about the network slowdowns. I would expect with 5+ people always accessing fonts would kill the network for the rest of the company.

: in regards of making a local copy do you mean physically ? or can i 'install' a local copy via searching for offline fonts on a network font directory using Font Expert?

[DDD]

When you use FE, and you activate/install a font. That is a option. I usually choose to make a local copy. And if I am not mistaken when you de-activate the font, it is deleted from the installed fonts as well as the temp directory.

It works well for our team.

[.soulty]

ok great, so just i'm clear, you can use fe to browse the font in the network directory but when you activate that font you can make a local copy so each team member can have the fonts they selected 'installed' locally in a temp directory on their computer but have all the offline fonts available to browse (edit) on the network font directory.

[DDD]

yup, or you can choose to not have a copy local and use it from where it is and still have it available to use in programs. And it still be open for others to use as well. I have never seen what happens if a font is not available due to the network being down. But it doesnt sound like windows would like that so I wouldnt choose that option.

[.soulty]

ok great, that sounds like the solution, I think font expert is a excellent font manager and been using it since you recommended it to me many years back :thumb:

thanks for clarification DDD. ;)