Extensis Font Reserve 1.7 Server FRS-19870 User Manual

white paper

To ensure that each user has access to the correct fonts for each job, administrators often store 

the fonts on a server. However, unless the users get new fonts each time they work on a job, 

the fonts on their machines can still become out-of-date or corrupt. For example, if Linotype 

releases a new version of Helvetica Neue and the administrator put it on the server, users need 

to be notified to update their fonts. Some users may accidentally keep outdated versions around 

and some may keep the previous version for a document that is in progress. Even though the 

fonts originate from one location, there is no way for the administrator to ensure that everyone 

continues to use the same fonts—without reviewing the fonts on each machine. 

While storing fonts on a server solves some management issues by centralizing fonts, it also 

introduces legal issues. For example, companies often have a site license that allows them to use 

20, 40, 60, or more copies of a font. When fonts are placed on a server, users can grab them at 

will. The administrator cannot track font usage, determine how many licenses are required, or 

control violations. In addition, employees may introduce unauthorized fonts into the company. 

Sometimes a designer will bring in a copy of a font from home or a client and use it in a company 

job. If the font is not legally licensed by the company, this copyright infringement represents a 

significant liability to the company. 

Since the introduction of Font Reserve and its unique database architecture, many publishers, 

design firms, ad agencies, and production houses have clamored for the next logical step in font 

management: client-server access to fonts. Publishers and other creative organizations need to 

centralize the management of fonts, all the while ensuring a flexible design environment and 

smooth production process. Font Reserve Server meets these challenges head-on. Font Reserve 

Server retains all the excellent features of the award-winning Font Reserve product—such as 

version-conflict handling, instant font access, previews, and sets—while incorporating true client-

server technology for comprehensive, workgroup font management. 

With Font Reserve Server, all of the fonts in a company are stored in a central location on a server. 

An administrator manages the fonts, and controls the access to and usage of those fonts. Users 

ranging from graphic designers and prepress operators to writers and copy editors access fonts 

through Font Reserve Clients, which update in real time to reflect changes to the fonts on the