Condensed ExtraLight (+ Italic) and Condensed SemiBold (+ Italic) .otf files won't install on Windows

[synchronos-t]

Tried installing the OpenType (.otf) files on Windows 10 (version 1709), but four font files won't install. Opening them with the built-in font viewer gives an error: "The requested file [...]\IBMPlexSansCondensed-SemiBold.otf is not a valid font file."

The fonts in question are:

• IBMPlexSansCondensed-ExtraLight.otf
• IBMPlexSansCondensed-ExtraLightItalic.otf
• IBMPlexSansCondensed-SemiBold.otf
• IBMPlexSansCondensed-SemiBoldItalic.otf

Thankfully the .ttf files as well have OpenType layouts, so unless somebody needs PostScript outlines, the .ttf files will do for now.

The issue exists with all the existing releases from 1.0.0 to 1.0.2.

[BoldMonday]

Thank you for the detailed report. We will investigate how this issue can be resolved.

In general, TrueType fonts are the recommended format for Windows. And I’m happy to hear these are working fine for you.

[synchronos-t]

As a designer using a lot of Adobe's software, I usually default to using PostScript OpenType. But don't actually know whether there's much of a difference any more in any usage. In the days of yore some offset printing shop rasterizers didn't like TrueType, but I believe we're past those times already.

[BoldMonday]

Current rasterizers, also the ones used in the graphic industry, hardly have problems anymore with TrueType. Yet most designers still default to OpenType PostScript fonts, which I can understand given the experiences in the past.

[davelab6]

Also I think designers prefer OTF because when they "convert to outlines" the curves are not converted (and maybe distorted)

[BoldMonday]

FYI -- we've been able to replicate the bug. It seems to affect multiple Windows versions.

Apparently OTF fonts have stricter limitations with regards to font naming than TTF fonts on Windows. :/

[twardoch]

Paul,
if you locate the details of the problem, I'd love to hear what it was and how you resolved it.

[BoldMonday]

The problem lies in the name table ID 1 (Font Family name), and in particular entry (1, 3, 1, 1033).

For OTF fonts on Windows this entry should not be longer than 31 characters, otherwise the font will not install.