Merlins Tower

Apple Safari Brower For Windows: Fixing the Font Issue

Posted on June 17th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Safari, Tutorial, Web Service.

Below is a my guide on how to fix the font issue after installing Safari Browers for Windows.

My Issue is I love fonts and have several hundred installed from Free Fonts and many other font resources on the web (Another Article some day) Well, my love of fonts seems to have choked the Safari Browser for Windows. The Issue is Safari scans the system every time it loads and updates the font list. So the simple solution is to follow the directions below and and when you restart the Safari Browser most if not all of your font problems will be gone.

1) Download the Fonts.Plist from here. (Right Click and Save Link as) to a location you can keep it on as if you upgrade to a newer version you may need to replace it again. I Suggest creating a directory such as “c:\Safari Extras” and save it there.

2) Open up Windows Explorer and make sure you have set Show Hidden files and folders radio button set (To Set this click on -Tools- -Folder Options- Click on the second Tab -View- and in the section called Hidden Files and folders you will find the radio button to press. See below for what it looks like.

3) Now go to the following directory:

Using Windows XP
C:\Documents and Settings\Your User Name Here\Local Settings\Application Data\Apple Computer\Safari

Using Windows Vista
C:\Users\Your User Name Here\AppData\Local\Apple Computer\Safari

Now Copy the fonts.plist you download earlier over the file located in the directory for the version of windows you are using. I see no need to keep a copy of this as if you want to recreate it run Safari for windows without it being there but if you want feel free to rename if to fontsold.plist

Now you want to right click on this file an click on properties and make sure the read-only check box is checked.

If not Safari will over write this file and you have to copy it again.

You can view this fonts.plist file using notepad and if you do you may notice I have a few fonts in there that are not normally installed such as the Helvetica Fonts - These are required if you want to see the RSS Feeds as the main.css file located in:

C:\Program Files\Safari\PubSub.resources

Points to Helvetica as the default font

This is why you can not see the Washington Post Link under the News dropdown. or Any of the RSS Feeds.

The Fonts I have for Helvetica are as follows and can be found here.

The fonts you need to download are: Not sure which ones you need but better safe then sorry. :-)

Helvetica
C:\Windows\Fonts\helr45w.ttf
Helvetica Bold
C:\Windows\Fonts\helr65w.ttf
Helvetica Bold Oblique
C:\Windows\Fonts\helr66w.ttf
Helvetica Condensed
C:\Windows\Fonts\ps_14526.ttf
Helvetica Condensed Bold
C:\Windows\Fonts\ps_14528.ttf
Helvetica Condensed Bold Italic
C:\Windows\Fonts\ps_14529.ttf
Helvetica Condensed Italic
C:\Windows\Fonts\ps_14527.ttf
Helvetica Narrow
C:\Windows\Fonts\helr47w.ttf
Helvetica Narrow Bold
C:\Windows\Fonts\helr67w.ttf
Helvetica Narrow Bold Oblique
C:\Windows\Fonts\helr68w.ttf
Helvetica Narrow Oblique
C:\Windows\Fonts\helr48w.ttf
Helvetica Oblique
C:\Windows\Fonts\helr46w.ttf
Helvetica-Bold
C:\Windows\Fonts\helr65w.ttf
Helvetica-BoldOblique
C:\Windows\Fonts\helr66w.ttf
Helvetica-Condensed
C:\Windows\Fonts\ps_14526.ttf
Helvetica-Condensed-Bold
C:\Windows\Fonts\ps_14528.ttf
Helvetica-Condensed-BoldObl
C:\Windows\Fonts\ps_14529.ttf
Helvetica-Condensed-Oblique
C:\Windows\Fonts\ps_14527.ttf
Helvetica-Narrow
C:\Windows\Fonts\helr47w.ttf
Helvetica-Narrow-Bold
C:\Windows\Fonts\helr67w.ttf
Helvetica-Narrow-BoldOblique
C:\Windows\Fonts\helr68w.ttf
Helvetica-Narrow-Oblique
C:\Windows\Fonts\helr48w.ttf
Helvetica-Oblique
C:\Windows\Fonts\helr46w.ttf

Make sure to install these into your Windows Font Directory and restart your system.

This is located:

C:\Windows\Fonts

Well that is it - Now you can run Safari for Windows and see the pages you want.

The reason I understand this is happening is that Apple decided to render all the font in its own font engine and not use the built in windows one. This also makes the fonts you see on the screen slightly blurry - this is Apples form of Clear Type working to help reduce eye strain.

Hope this helps everyone that is having this problem.

Technorati Tags: Apple, Safari, Browser, Windows, Font, Issue, Fonts.Plist, Safari+For+Windows, Washington+Post, RSS, Issue, Safari+Fonts, Safari, Issue

1 comment.

I hate Automated Customer Service Systems and A Solution

Posted on March 13th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Communication, Hack, Human, Tutorial, Web Service.

I had a horrible time this morning - I had to call and get some paperwork straightened out about my vehicle. I had to call the bank the used to have my auto loan and try and get them to send out some paperwork that dealt with a lean on my vehicle that doesn't exist anymore and had not since 2003. Well, this morning I went through Customer Support H E Double Hockey Sticks. I really despise those automated voice prompt systems. (And I used to work with one at my previous job) But they seem to be getting harder to use.

I used to know the trick of pressing 0 to get a customer support specialist - well now they switched up and when you don't press anything or keep pressing the wrong buttons it switches over to the computer telling you to please speak your answer instead of connecting to a human.

Is it me or do those computer voice recgnotion systems really make things worse. After I tried pressing 0 - I was put into the voice prompt maze - Say 1 for this - Say 2 for that - say 3 for anything but the human I desired to talk to (Heck I would have been happy to even talk to a script reading operator located in some foreign land).

Since my issue is not that common (At Least I hope is it not that common) to have it's own voice prompt menu item. I kept switching from menu to menu and back over a few again - trying to find the correct combination to get to a person or by chance to a menu system that may have what I was calling about.

Now - the really furious thing happened  - The computer said it was not sure what I wanted to do and was told to call back when I had had all the proper information and proceeded to promptly hang up on me. Ouch 17 mins wasted in a phone menu maze and then the system hung up on. Yes, HUNG UP ON ME - How rude and very poor customer service.

Well I proceeded to check the internet to find alternative ways to get ahold of someone at this bank - Which honestly I should have checked in the first place and was able to find this God Send of a website — Get Human .COM — Using the database I was able to find the 800 number (The Same One I previously called) and it had all the keystrokes I needed to get to a human being right away.

This time around I was talking to a live human that was able to help me in a matter of only a few minutes and was able to send me out all the paperwork I needed. Complete phone call 7 minutes. I am so happy that I found this website and I just had to share this experience with you.

Make sure you share this website with your friends and family. Print out a list and keep it in your daytimer if you use one. This can be a big timesaver for everyone.

Technorati Tags: Customer+Support, Voice+Prompt, Phone+maze, Customer+Service+Hacks, Hack, Hacks, DIY, Operator, Information, Banking, Amazon, Auto+loan, Banks, Automated, Customer+Service, Customer, Service

0 comments.

Video: Helpdesk Support for using a Journal / Notebook

Posted on March 7th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else, Communication, Journaling, Miquelrius, Moleskine, Notetaking, Tutorial, Video, Weird Stuff, YouTube.

As many of you well know things we take for granted were once new to someone at some point of time. This video skit is just about that fact. What if there was a help desk in the middle ages when the paper journal was first introduced to the monks that only used paper scrolls? How would you explain it to the end user? What would you say and do?

Would you know how to use it if you were used to using a paper scroll?

What were the advantages and disadvantages of using one?

I really enjoyed this video and had to share it. So sit back and enjoy - Warning this is in dutch  Norwegian (Thank you, JEM -  I stand Corrected - I just wrote was I was told it was) with English Subtitles but still worth it.

Middle Age Tech Support

Technorati Tags: helpdesk, help+desk, tech+support, Middle+Age, Paper+Scroll, Journal, Paper, Middle, Age, Video, Youtube, How+to, How, To, Funny, Cool+thing

2 comments.

The Art of Shaving: Part 1 With Video

Posted on March 1st, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Gadgets, Hack, Health, Life, Shaving, Tutorial.

1 comment.

DIY: How to make your own Parchment Paper

Posted on February 18th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Art, Coffee, Craft, DIY, Hack, Journaling, Leather, Tutorial.

8 comments.

Guide to Writing in Elvish - Free Online Tutorial

Posted on January 29th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else, Art, Communication, Drawing, Freeware, Hack, Journaling, Movies, Sketching, Tutorial, Weird Stuff.

Had a long hard week and for some fun I learned a new language - well only learned how to write in Elvish. Ever see those fancy scrolls in Lord of the Rings or any of the other movies / books / games that have Elvish Language written on them? Well This web page has a quick and easy guide on how to convert any english writing in very artistic and fancy elvish writing. Well To the left is my first time trying to write Merlins Tower in Elvish. It really is pretty easy to follow along and accomplish. I can see doing this with a nice broad nibbed fountain pen or a wide italic cut nib. I didn't have any of my wide nibs with me so I had to make due with what I had at hand. This was accomplished with my art book using a find sharpie marker to get the nice broad strokes. (I filled in the lines I drew) I really want to try this out with some of my calligraphy pens when I have a free moment. This guide can be printed out for ease of use. This would be pretty good for making your own scrolls and Mystical Books. Or if you just want to hide what you are writing.

Well thats all for today - Enjoy - Stay Warm and enjoy some nice tobacco in your pipe - You know I am. 8 :-?  <– Merlin Smoking a Pipe  

Technorati Tags: calligraphy, handwriting, fountain, pen, fountain+pen, ink, art, elvish, lord, of, the, rings, scroll, writing

5 comments.

Free Handwriting Practice Paper

Posted on January 16th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Craft, Freeware, Hack, Journaling, Notetaking, Tutorial, Web Service.

Greetings Everyone - a loyal reader Dave was kind enough to send this tip for  to me to share with the rest of the readers. It is where to get a PDF of handwriting practice paper. It is designed for children but can be quite useful when you want to practice your new found love of cursive or italic handwriting. Note if your printer can do it print it 2 per sheet to allow you a smaller line for more adult sized writing ** Great Tip Dave  - THANKS**

The Paper is available here - just save out the PDF file to your computer and you will be good to go. (Sounds like a Taco Bell Commercial)

Now I didn't print this our for myself by upon inspection this paper is similar to that is included in the back of the write now book. I can see using this when I get a new fountain pen and just want to play with how the nib works and writes without scribbling in my journal.

Technorati Tags: Fountain+Pen, Fountain, pen, Ink, writing, free, worksheet, pdf, print, practice, help, guide, cursive, handwriting, writing

1 comment.

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