Chrome – Odd Chrome Fonts (Helvetica related)

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Recently I've been having an issue with fonts in Google Chrome. On certain pages, where Helvetica is used, I get some random glyph type things instead:

enter image description here

I know this is related to the Helvetica font because it happened when I installed Helvetica and I've had it before. I don't often use Helvetica, but I needed it for something. I've had this before and I've just deleted the font and it's solved the issue.

However, I'm at my wits end this time. I cannot work out why it's happening. I've deleted Helvetica, I've cleaned the registry with CCleaner and emptied the font cache and yet the issue still persists.

Could anyone suggest anything that might fix this?

Best Answer

I managed to find a solution.

Go to: User\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\User StyleSheets

Open "Custom.CSS" and add this (it's usually a blank file):

@font-face { font-family: 'helvetica neue'; src: local('Arial'); } @font-face { font-family: 'helvetica neue'; font-weight:bold; src: local('Arial');

Then Save As with the file type "All Files".

This basically tells all CSS in Chrome to use Arial instead of Helvetica and Helvetica Neue.

I had previously tried this method, but just saved it rather than saving as a generic file. For some reason, this fixed it for me.

Related Solutions

Firefox Fonts – How to Get Firefox to Use MS TrueType Fonts on Linux

Edit: I completely updated this answer after getting some breakthrough advice from a colleague.

Here's what I inserted in /etc/fonts/local.conf (inside the <fontconfig> element):

<!-- Replace Helvetica with Arial -->
<match target="pattern">
    <test qual="any" name="family">
        <string>Helvetica</string>
    </test>
    <edit name="family" mode="assign" binding="strong">
        <string>Arial</string>
    </edit>
</match>

Similarly for Times -> Times New Roman. (See my full local.conf here.) The key was to use binding="strong" for the <edit> element. (Also, using "assign_replace" mode instead of "assign" causes something similar, except that then it's too aggressive: also Verdana gets replaced with Arial).

Changes in font configurations are effective immediately. Besides testing in Firefox, you can check that it works like this:

$ fc-match helvetica
Arial.ttf: "Arial" "Normal"

If you run into problems, the best help is near: man fonts-conf. (Although even with the documentation, the workings of the font system seemed somewhat complicated or unwieldy to me.) You can also try to "debug" what's really going on using a command like:

FC_DEBUG=4 fc-match helvetica

In addition, FC_DEBUG=1024 fc-match helvetica shows the list of config files that affect the font matching.

MacOS – Fix Helvetica Neue Font Error in Google Chrome

I've seen that happen before to a workmate. Removing the font and re-installing solved the issue. If you need assistance removing fonts from OSX and reinstalling follow this link

EDIT:

To clear the current user’s font cache, first quit all running applications (otherwise, you may see font oddities after using the command), then open Terminal (in Applications -> Utilities) and run this command:

atsutil databases -removeUser

If you want to remove the font cache for all users, use this command, and provide your admin password when asked:

sudo atsutil databases -remove

Once you’ve cleared the caches, you should stop and restart the ATS server with these commands:

$ atsutil server -shutdown

$ atsutil server -ping

It will take a second or two for the server to restart, but when it does, you should be good to go. If anything still looks odd, a logout and login should take care of any lingering issues.

credit: http://www.macworld.com/article/1139383/fontcacheclear.html

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Firefox Fonts – How to Get Firefox to Use MS TrueType Fonts on Linux

MacOS – Fix Helvetica Neue Font Error in Google Chrome

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