A Truly Useful Font Cache Cleaner
If fonts are not displaying properly in applications such as QuarkXPress, InDesign or Microsoft Word, or system performance seems sluggish, or applications become unstable, try using Northern Softworks’ Snow Leopard Cache Cleaner to repair the problems. (Contrary to its name, it works with Mac OS X 10.3, 10.4, 10.5 and 10.6.)
This extremely versatile $10 tool provides an easy-to-use graphic interface for clearing potentially corrupt Font cache files (a common cause of font display problems), as well as other cache files to improve system stability. Tasks can even be set to run at regular intervals.
In addition, it offers helpful features such as: turn off Spotlight or Dashboard; set up and use a Login Items folder; automatically repair permissions after installing new software; automatically scan for viruses in downloaded files; create an emergency startup system on a flash drive or iPod; and test for problems with hard drives, screen pixels, batteries, RAM and more.
Jeff Gamet is a contributing editor for Design Tools Monthly, the executive summary of graphic design news. He is also the morning editor and reviews editor for The Mac Observer and iPodObserver.com, and contributing writer for Layers Magazine and Photoshop User. He writes the InBrief column for InDesign Magazine, and is the author of “The Designer’s Guide to Mac OS X,” from Peachpit Press
When Jeff isn’t writing about the graphic design world, he’s talking about it on the Design Tools Weekly podcast with co-host Jay Nelson. He also talks about Apple and the Mac world every week on The Mac Observer’s Apple Weekly Report.
Jeff studies, tests and reviews new software and technologies for the Macintosh community as well as the design and print industries. He is a former Pre-press specialist, and has nearly 25 years experience with computer technology. Jeff trains, lectures and consults on techniques for more efficiently using Mac OS X in creative environments throughout the country.
In the rare moments when he can get away from his MacBook Pro, Jeff spends his time climbing and biking in the Colorado mountains.
This sort of thing would be great on windows.. any ideas?
Not that I know of — apparently Windows only has one font cache file. I found this info at http://www.ascendercorp.com/support/#cache:
The Windows operating system has a font cache file that is located here:
C:\Windows\System32\FNTCACHE.DAT
Delete this file, and restart your system. A new FNTCACHE.DAT file will be created on startup.
BTW, Linotype’s FontExplorer X Pro also does a good job of cleaning caches on Macs.