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Why can't I replace some fonts?

Anonymous
2017-05-16T21:25:57+00:00

The Format > Replace Font feature is not working for some fonts.

I am unable to remove (or replace) some fonts from a presentation with a custom theme, but can replace others.

In the Replace Font window, next to replace: I select Replace (font I want deleted) With (anything else) hit Replace, nothing happens. (font I want deleted) is still in the Replace dropdown menu.

Video of the Replace Font feature not working.

The fonts I want to replace (Helvetica Neue and Helvetica Light) are not used visibly on any of the slides. I am using the Lato fonts, half of which I am able to replace, the other half I can't replace (see video).

Tried:

  • Creating a new document
    • Helvetica does not appear in the Replace Font window of the new blank document, Arial and Calibri do. A similar issue happens with other fonts, I am able to replace Calibri, but not arial, even when the theme font is set to Calibri.
    • When I select the custom theme I created in the new document, Helvetica Neue and Helvetica Light do appear in the Replace Font window, so the issue seems to be related to the theme settings.
      • The theme fonts are set to Calibri
  • Clicking into all text boxes on both presentation slides and master slides to verify Helvetica Neue and Helvetica Light are not being used
  • Clearing font cache and restarting
  • Converting the fonts to .ttf, disabling my font manager, and installing them locally
  • Adding the TTF font to the Microsoft assets font folder
  • Deleting all of the slides and master slides. The font still remains in the document.
  • Offering my computer a beer

Suggestions online that don't apply to this version:

  1. Save the file as a webpage (this feature was dropped after 2008) and open the HTML in a text editor to locate any span classes containing the font name, then delete and recreate that text box in PPT.
  2. Open the PPT with Word to isolate the font usage, then delete and recreate that text box in PPT. This feature is also no longer available.

Why?

The reason I want to remove the fonts is because 1) they are not used in the presentation and 2) they are not .ttf fonts. I am sharing the presentation with a Windows user using a mac imbedding application that requires only .ttf fonts. All fonts used in the presentation are transferring and embedding properly except for these fonts I can't replace, so the Windows user gets an error message when saving saying these fonts cannot be saved. Trying to avoid that error message by deleting these unused fonts from the document itself.

Any help is appreciated.

Microsoft 365 and Office | PowerPoint | For home | Windows

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Answer accepted by question author

Steve Rindsberg 99,161 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2017-05-20T17:39:43+00:00

Thanks for emailing the example files.

I've replied with and without the "fixed" version of the file attached, but haven't heard back from you.

I'll give it a week then consider the matter closed, delete the files, Keep Calm and Keep Moving On.  ;-)

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-05-18T09:34:56+00:00

    Hi Troy,

    You can send the email to replace them as suggested.

    In addition, from your last reply, it appears the issue is not related to the embed font.

    I tried multiple themes and fonts, found that:

    1. Different theme does have different font list.
    2. Just like you mentioned above, it won't allow you to replace specific font (e.g. Arial) in the specific theme, but you can replace it in other themes.

    However, it seems the Helvetica Light font cannot be replaced all the time. While investigating on our side, I'd like to ask few questions:

    1. Can you replace the fonts in older version of PowerPoint 2016 for Mac?

    I tested some versions and got the same results. I'd like to confirm if the issue has no relationship to Office updates.

    1. What's the actual impact of remaining the Helvetica Light font? As I cannot find the characters which using that font in the example file, could you please share a related screenshot for our reference?

    Best Regards,

    Jim

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-05-17T17:52:04+00:00

    Hi Tina,

    When I open a new Powerpoint presentation with the Office default theme, the fonts Arial, Calibri and Calibri Light are in the file (no Helvetica). I am able to replace Calibri and Calibri Light with Lato in the file. Unable to replace Arial.

    After imbedding the font with Presentation Font Embedder, the fonts are imbedded in the Powerpoint, but I am unable to replace Arial.

    Same result with both methods.

    However, when I apply the custom theme (a theme I saved based on revising Office theme's colors, fonts and master slides), Arial is no longer in the font list, but Helvetica Light is, and I am unable to replace Helvetica Light.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-05-17T04:10:31+00:00

    Hi Tina,

    Thanks for your response.

    The theme is a custom theme I created and saved from the default Office theme.

    I created and saved the theme to be able to reuse the master slide backgrounds, custom colors, and custom tabbed heading levels.

    Answers to your questions below:

    1. Microsoft PPT for Mac Version 15.34 (170515) Retail License
    2. Mac OS Sierra Version 10.12.2, MacBook Pro

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  4. Steve Rindsberg 99,161 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2017-05-17T14:45:10+00:00

    Hi Troy,

    I've been working on a program that helps replace unwanted fonts with other fonts when PPT itself won't do the job.

    It's a Windows program, so you wouldn't be able to use it on your Mac (unless you've got a Windows virtual machine available) but I'd be happy to have a go at cleaning your presentation up.  I'd need a copy of the presentation file and a list of the fonts you want to be rid of + the font you want each of them replaced with. 

    Shoot me an email if you'd like me to have a look.

    steve a-with-a-circle-round-it pptools dot com

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