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Scribus => Beginner Talk => Topic started by: jsandoval on July 16, 2017, 04:15:53 AM

Title: Scribus can't find Dejavu fonts
Post by: jsandoval on July 16, 2017, 04:15:53 AM
Hi everyone.

I'm using Scribus 1.4.6 on a Debian 9 machine. I had a document that used mainly Dejavu fonts. I recently opened it but it asks for font substitution when I start Scribus and I can't see those fonts if I try to change them in the text boxes.

The dejavu packages are installed and I can use those fonts in LIbreoffice. Any help here?, I have no clue as to why the fonts are not working. They appear in the Available fonts dialog (but as Bitstream Charter Family, which I find weird) and they're enabled.

Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Scribus can't find Dejavu fonts
Post by: a.l.e on July 16, 2017, 10:32:31 AM
the problem is with the freetype version shipped with debian.

freetype is the library used by scribus to parse fonts and the version currently in debian has a bug that produces errors with some glyphs in the dejavu font.

newer versions of the library do not show the issue. you're welcome to fill a ticket (or +1 an existing ticket) on the freetype package for debian!

ciao
a.l.e
Title: Re: Scribus can't find Dejavu fonts
Post by: jsandoval on July 16, 2017, 09:28:39 PM
Thanks for the answer. I'll check the bugs for a +1.

¿Is there any workaround?. I tried downloading the fonts and messing a little with the path but I haven't solved anything.
Title: Re: Scribus can't find Dejavu fonts
Post by: a.l.e on July 17, 2017, 10:47:24 AM
the workaround would be to compile the newest freetype and then scribus by linking to it.

personally, i would not do it.

i can try to ping our debian maintainer and see if he has a clue, why the update of freetype has not been accepted yet...
Title: Re: Scribus can't find Dejavu fonts
Post by: a.l.e on July 17, 2017, 11:24:16 AM
ok, after a few tests, i have an update:

- debian testing has freetype 2.8.0, which does not has the bug affecting the way dejavu is seen by scribus.
- scribus will not automatically recognize again dejavu, you first have to manually force scribus to re-create the font cache by
  - quitting scribus,
  - removing (or, better renaming) the ~/.config/scribus/checkfonts150.xml file
  - starting scribus
- debian stable (stretch, debian 9) still has 2.6.3 and i'm not sure if it will ever get 2.6.5+ (the ones without the bug)
- the relevant bug in debian was https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=837800 ... closed.

personally, if you're not using your computer as a server, i would suggest you to use debian testing instead of debian stable for desktop usage.

hope that helps...
a.l.e
Title: Re: Scribus can't find Dejavu fonts
Post by: jsandoval on July 19, 2017, 06:02:33 AM
Thanks for the help. I just recently upgraded to stretch, hehe, but as this es my personal computer so I can go with testing (I usually wait a little before going to testing, but I'll do it to have the bug in freetype fixed).

Again, thanks. You're really kind.