The scripts that come with FontAgent Pro work directly with FontAgent Pro, but you can add scripts that run other applications as well.

Below is a script that launches Smasher, Insider’s font and cache maintenance utility. If you would like to download the script click here. Unzip the attached file and place the script in the /Library/Application Support/FontAgent Pro/Scripts/ folder to get it to appear as Launch Smasher in the FontAgent Pro > Scripts menu.

set appFolder to (path to applications folder as Unicode text)
set afolder to appFolder & “Smasher”
tell application “Finder”
if exists folder afolder then
try
tell application “Smasher”
activate
end tell
end try
else
tell application “Finder”
activate
display dialog “You do not have Smasher installed. To learn more about Smasher and download a demo click \”Learn More.\”" buttons {“Cancel“, “Learn More“} default button 2
if the button returned of the result is “Learn More” then
set theURL to “open http://www.insidersoftware.com/SM.php”
do shell script theURL
else
– nothing happens
end if
end tell
end if
end tell

Note:  If you copy and paste the text into Script Editor, depending on the browser you are using, you may need to do a find-and-replace on the quotes to get them to be dumb quotes. ScriptEditor will see a smart quote as an unknown token and the script will not compile. You can view and edit the linked script after you download it if you wish.

This script is handy because when you start seeing symptoms of font cache corruption, it allows you to quickly launch Smasher from FontAgent Pro, where you can clear your caches and get back to your work. It is also a good idea to make sure you have Smasher’s cache clearing scheduled to run each time you start or shutdown your Mac.

When you run the script, Smasher launches and you can edit settings to clear your caches in any manner you wish. If you don’t have Smasher installed it  gives you an option to go to a web page where you can learn more about the product.

This script is offered as is and you may feel free to edit it in any way you wish. For example, you add scripts that launch other applications such as QuarkXPress or InDesign from within FontAgent Pro.

In future posts, we will talk more about using AppleScript to automate font-related workflows. Stay tuned to The Inside Scoop.

New Font Verification and Validation Engine
Smasher 2 includes an all-new font validation and verification engine identifies problem fonts and eliminates them before they can cause you and your favorite applications major aggravation.

Support for Adobe Creative Suite 5 Cache Clearing
This new version of Smasher includes new support for InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop CS5 application caches. Smasher 2 also continues to clear caches for earlier versions of the Adobe Creative Suite, as well as QuarkXpress, Microsoft Office applications, CUPS spool files and Mac OS X system caches—and it allows you to do so manually or on a regular, scheduled basis.

Expanded Font Preview Capabilities
Smasher 2 includes expanded font preview capabilities including the ability to define and display custom text strings at varying sizes, so you can see exactly how text will appear in your projects.

Simpler, Cleaner User Interface
Smasher’s updated interface makes it easier to access its many features. The main window, caches window and smash scheduler window have all been redesigned based on user testing to be simpler and more straightforward. Smasher 2 also includes a new look-and-feel with updated icons that are easier to view and recognize.

WYSIWYG Font Lists
Smasher now lists typefaces in their native outlines, so what you see is what you get—every time.

Archive Original Fonts
Smasher now gives you the ability to archive a copy of the original fonts into a zip file or to a disk image, making it fast and easy to back up your font collection.

Automatic Application Updater
Smasher 2 updates itself automatically when Insider releases a new version, freeing you from having to manually download new software and run its associated installer.

For More Information
To learn more about Smasher 2 or to get a free trial, visit www.insidersoftware.com.

Unique Technology that Ensures Correct Activation

Built on Insider’s unique FontSavant™ technology, the new release ensures that FontAgent Pro’s auto-activation manager always selects the right font in your documents—not just a close match or one that has the same name.

FontAgent Pro gives you full control over the font auto-activation process. It begins by detecting the most subtle differences among fonts to deliver the most accurate font activation possible. When no installed fonts match one required by a document, it provides a list of alternate fonts in your collection—with a relevancy ranking that shows how closely they match the font your document requested—so you can choose the best font. You can also activate a preferred font format (e.g., Type 1, OpenType, TrueType) automatically.

Availability and Pricing

Release 4.140 of FontAgent Pro is free to users who have already licensed FontAgent Pro 4. The product retails for $99.95 for new purchasers and is $49.95 for registered users of FontAgent Pro 3 and earlier. Cross-grades from qualifying competitive products are also available. Existing users and those wanting a 30-day trial version of FontAgent Pro can download the latest release from:

http://www.insidersoftware.com/downloads/FontAgentPro4.dmg

Real-Time Font-Usage Manager
FontAgent Pro Server 4 now tracks font distribution and usage in real-time–an industry first. It shows which users have access to libraries and fonts, and when they activate and deactivate them. You can even use your favorite scripting language to export usage data into various file formats, and then use Excel, report scripts or asset managers to analyze and report on font usage and ensure compliance with font-license agreements–and be prepared for licensing audits at any time!

Live Font Server Backup
We’ve also added live backup services to FontAgent Pro Server 4. It backs up its fonts, users and groups without locking out users… something Extensis UTS doesn’t do. Better yet, you can restore a server to a previous state with just a few clicks. The backup manager lets you set the backup times, and you can also add font-server archiving into your existing backup scripts. Another important point: you can backup your font database to any networked drive–again unlike Extensis, which seems to force backup to only local drives, a practice which at best seems dangerous.

Failover Services Add to Lead in Multi-Server Environments
FontAgent Pro clients now include failover services that allow them to automatically connect to alternative servers when their primary font server is unavailable. Used in conjunction with FontAgent Pro’s server replication, these failover services make FontAgent Pro the clear choice in multi-server environments.

Enhanced Directory Services, Security and Permissions
We’ve also added faster Active Directory, Open Directory and LDAP synchronization to FontAgent Pro Server 4, along with improved support for nested groups, standalone users, keychain-based password protection and non-standard directory schemas. You can now identify group and font administrators who can upload fonts, create users and groups, edit licenses, upload and edit sets, upload and edit font libraries, assign fonts and users to groups and view font usage information–and allow IT administrators to maintain control of the font server itself.

Kerberos Single-Sign-on Support
Using Kerberos in your organization? FontAgent Pro clients now check if users have previously logged in via Kerberos. If so, they are automatically authenticated to FontAgent Pro Server. If not, FontAgent Pro asks them to enter their username and password. It’s that easy.

For More Information
We’re excited about FontAgent Pro Server 4, and we hope you are as well. If you have questions or would like more information, just let us know. We’ll get you the Inside Scoop.

A little about font caches

Font caches are data files that help your OS and applications speed the display of text on your screen. You can open and examine most cache files with a text editor because they often just list font files or their properties. Mac OS has its own cache files, as do applications in software suites such as Adobe Creative Suite, QuarkXPress, Apple iWork and Microsoft Office.

Every time you activate or deactivate a font, these cached lists need to be updated or activated fonts might not appear available in many applications. In addition, when the updates don’t occur, the cache files easily become corrupt or damaged–or simply fall out of sync with their associated applications–and cause additional application instability.

It is difficult to tell if a cache is corrupt simply by looking at the file. Often the first indication is bizarre or unexpected behavior in your applications. So how can we go about solving this pesky issue?

In comes Smasher

Smasher provides preventive font maintenance for your Mac OS X design applications and acts as a companion technology to your existing font manager, such as FontAgent Pro. Smasher is an essential utility for anyone who uses a lot of fonts because it clears your font and application caches on a regular, scheduled basis. So you can install Smasher, set its preferences to clear your caches at every reboot, and say goodbye to cache problems for good.

Every time you reboot, Smasher removes old cache files. Then, as Mac OS X and your applications launch, they create new cache files that better reflect the activation status of the fonts on your system. So fonts show up in your application menus as they should, and you are better  protected against display problems, garbled fonts, strange font substitution, printing problems and application crashes.

Smasher also performs routine maintenance on CUPS print spool files and other temporary system files to keep your Mac running smoothly. To learn more about Smasher or to download a demo of this handy utility, click here.