Font Validation (System Profiler versus Font Book)

Hello, everyone!
Just a little problem. Font Book tells me that some of my fonts are invalid and shouldn't be used (some of them came with the OS). I used System Profiler to countercheck, and it turns out that none of them are invalid. I'm inclined to believe System Profiler since Font Book is known to have some "quirks".
So, my question is, should I leave the fonts as they are and trust System Profiler or should I trust Font Book and delete the supposed invalid fonts?
Many Thanks.

Hi, hihlordjp.
That's an interesting question as there is no documentation as to what System Profiler means when it states a font is "valid." I suspect this is quite different from what Font Book's Validation function checks.
Some of the font characteristics examined by Font Book are documented on page 3 of the PDF Fonts in Mac OS X, specifically:• Glyph Location Table
• Horizontal Metrics Table
• PostScript Compatibility Table
• Character Code Mapping Table Directory
• Intercharacter Spacing Table
• Font Name TableI suspect System Profiler considers a font "valid" if the key data elements in the font file match corresponding attributes specified in the latest Receipt referencing that font in the /Library/Receipts directory. It may also be something as simple as it is one of the font types compatible with Mac OS X. For example, bitmap fonts are incompatible with Mac OS X. These are simply educated guesses, again based on the absence of documentation. However, I don't believe it's running the same "tests" as Font Book.
System Profiler only lists fonts installed in the Mac OS X default font locations, whereas Font Book's Validate Font function can be used to check fonts installed anywhere on your Mac, such as in application-specific font folders.
Since you're getting different results from each, I'd personally trust Font Book. You can always try using the fonts to see if problems occur. Font Book tells you if the issue is a Warning or an Error. While you want to see neither, an Error indicates a more severe problem with the font than a Warning.
You could also get a "second opinion" by trying a third-party font verification and repair utility, such as Font Doctor X.
Good luck!
Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

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