Symbols not showing Correctly.

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09-30-2014 02:30 PM
GaryFields
New Contributor II

ArcGIS Desktop symbols not showing correctly after new install on a Win 7, 64 bit desktop.  Anyone else run into this?

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V_StuartFoote
MVP Frequent Contributor

Gary Fields‌, *,

ArcGIS Symbols are defined making use of installed fonts. If the installation was complete, you will have TrueType font libraries TTF installed into C:\Windows\Fonts directory.

For ArcGIS 10.x should be 73 named esri_1.ttf --> esri_837.ttf.  These font/symbol libraries will have a Title associated with them, e.g. esri_1.tif is Titled: ESRI Cartography  and esri_837.ttf is Titled: ESRI ERS Operations S1.

If they are missing, or can't be read the system will substitute a replacement from an available font/symbol library on the system.  A common one that causes issues for folks is the esri_40.ttf library titled: ESRI North--those are the North arrow symbols that don't exist on most systems and sometime are not embedded into PDF printouts from ArcMap -- the arrow is missing and a weird character is shown instead.

So, take a moment to look in C:\Windows\Fonts and check that the ESRI fonts are present, and also that in the Properties --> Security tab Users are able to Read & Execute, and Read the fonts/symbols. Be sure to check a few of them.  If not present, try the repair install. If present and incorrect permissions, should be able to assign correctly (or rerun the installation "Run as Administrator").

Stuart

Edit note: adjusted first sentence--symbols are defined making use of installed fonts, rather than symbols are installed as fonts. They aren't but they need the fonts available to structure the symbols.

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V_StuartFoote
MVP Frequent Contributor

Gary Fields‌, *,

That is a bit obscure. What symbols are you referring to?  Program shortcut on the Desktop are never created by default, but not sure that is what you mean.

A screen clip perhaps...

Stuart

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GaryFields
New Contributor II

I added a bad symbol screen shot.  Not sure how to attach it here.

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V_StuartFoote
MVP Frequent Contributor

Actions drop down menu, and Edit. Then use the Insert Image button as highlighted here:

insertImageGeoNet.PNG

GaryFields
New Contributor II

Bad Symbols.PNG

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HemantAngarkar2
Occasional Contributor

There you go

Bad Symbols.PNG

when you reply in Geonet forum you will see following symbol in your reply textbox;

bad symb.JPG

if you click on that you get an option to browse to the location of your screenshot.

bad symb1.JPG

Select and insert the image.

Now, back to your question, may I know which layer properties have you opened? Is it a point line or polygon? If you open up another layer do you see the same symbol option?

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GaryFields
New Contributor II

This was for points on a meter layer.  I opened another layer, same options.  All the symbols are incorrect.  This mxd works fine on other computers - same version of desktop, etc.  The only difference is this is a new install on a new computer.

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JorgeOrellana
Occasional Contributor II

Have you checked the the C:\Windows\Fonts folder and see if you have any fonts that start with the word ESRI? If they are not there something might have gone screwy in the installation, you can always copy the fonts from a computer that you know they work on and dump them in the the Fonts folder.

Cheers

DavidBarnes
Occasional Contributor III

Definitely a font issue. Sometimes it just requires a reboot of the machine after installing. Otherwise the fonts may be missing entirely. A repair to the install may fix that or maybe uninstall/reinstall.

GaryFields
New Contributor II

All the style files are in the proper folder.  The machine is interpreting them wrong for some reason.

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