Strange Display Problems in Firefox

digitaloxygen.ca · September 28th, 2006, 9:06 pm

I am unsure how or when this started, but Firefox on my Macbook (running OS 10.4.7) has some very strange graphical issues now.

Sees to be that when there is text on a webpage that is bolded it will be "floated" over to the left and will cover part of the previous word.

In addition (and this is the really annoying part) when I type text into text area boxes such as when I am composing a message in Gmail or typing in this box right now the cursor does not follow the text properly and when I delete the text it causes very strange graphics issues. It seems the text area boxes do not "refresh" properly.

This issue is very had to explain, but I do have screenshots posted here for you to view. http://digitaloxygen.ca/ff_problem/index.php

Here are a couple examples (see the link above for the rest)
<img src="http://digitaloxygen.ca/ff_problem/img/gmail%20-%20backspaced.png">
<img src="http://digitaloxygen.ca/ff_problem/img/digg.com.png">

Really hope somebody has some ideas.

So far I have tried uninstalling Firefox (including removing all references to it such as preference files etc) and I even tried the RC1 beta and it had the same issue.

So far this problem seems to be restricted to firefox only. None of my other browsers such as Safari or IE for Mac have this issue.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » September 29th, 2006, 12:34 am

bump?

vl · Post by vl » September 29th, 2006, 12:57 am

For a possible fix:
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=462985
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=457485

digitaloxygen.ca · September 29th, 2006, 2:32 pm

That didn't seem to do it. Tried a few different font setups with no change. Plus since I have reinstalled FF a few times all the settings have been reset to defaults and since it was working in the past I would assume the defaults are sufficient.

Any other suggestions?

the-edmeister · Post by **the-edmeister** » September 29th, 2006, 4:12 pm

You wouldn't per chance have Runescape or any other Java-based game running in another window or Tab would you? I don't know if that is a problem that is cross-OS or Windows only.

Ed

digitaloxygen.ca · September 29th, 2006, 6:17 pm

Nope. Doesn't seem to matter which other programs I have open or how many websites I have open in tabs. Results seem to be the same where I have just done a fresh reboot and FF is the only thing open or whether I am running 20 other applications.

Also, the issue with text on the web pages seems to be only with bolded text or links. Normal text is fine, but bolded or hyperlink text seems to shift left and overlap with the previous text.

Honestly the form thing bugs me the most. Text area boxes on website aren't even usable they are so screwy and I have to type everything in a text document and then paste it in.

digitaloxygen.ca · September 30th, 2006, 5:06 pm

anyone from the mozilla team want to tackle this one?

digitaloxygen.ca · Post by **digitaloxygen.ca** » October 1st, 2006, 5:54 pm

BUMP...

Any other suggestions? I am still unable to use text area boxes properly and certain webpage text is not displaying correctly.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » October 1st, 2006, 8:32 pm

have you tried testing with a new profile?
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_Manager

digitaloxygen.ca · Post by **digitaloxygen.ca** » October 2nd, 2006, 8:09 am

Bummer, I thought that would work, but no luck. Created a new profile and same issue. Kind of makes sense that it did not work I supposed because I have already tried completely uninstalling the app and removing all traces of it including pref files and everything.

digitaloxygen.ca · Post by **digitaloxygen.ca** » October 2nd, 2006, 8:31 am

Jumping Jimminy Christmas! I got it fixed!!! For some reason I ended up overlooking the first suggestion by vl_email. The first article that he listed gave me the solution (http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic ... 91#2514091). Apparently I had some duplicate fonts in my "font book". After disabling them Firefox now displayed webpage text and text area text correctly!!!

FYI when you have duplicate fonts in the font book you will get a little black dot next to the name of the font. If you expand the view you will see another dot next to the "sub font" (for lack of a better term) that has been duplicated.

Example:
<img src="http://digitaloxygen.ca/ff_problem/img/font%20book%20duplicates.png">

To disable the duplicates command click on the sub items that have the black dots, then right-click (CTRL+click for those of you still using 1 button) and choose the disable fonts option. Repeat for any fonts in the book that have a black dot.

starspeedr · Post by **starspeedr** » October 2nd, 2006, 9:55 am

I've been dealing with this issue for over a year. The duplicate font thing worked at first, but after restarting the computer, the issue returned. Does anyone have any permanent fixes to this problem? I've long since given up and switched to Safari. I would like to use firefox ...

dickvl · Post by **dickvl** » October 2nd, 2006, 12:40 pm

http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic ... 14#1913014
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=361376

starspeedr · Post by **starspeedr** » October 5th, 2006, 8:37 am

Thanks for the links. It looks as if the problem affects people who have imported their PC fonts into their Mac (i.e. TrueType fonts). While I could just erase all of the fonts (found in User/Library/Fonts), the reason I imported the fonts in the first place is because I need them for other applications. I wish Firefox would come up with a fix, and unless someone out there has a suggestion I am stuck with Safari.

IMac2 · Post by **IMac2** » October 8th, 2006, 8:23 pm

I am using an IMac G5 runing OS 10.3.9. Firefox does not display either part or all of the graphics on many webpages while the same webpages appear fine in Safari. Instead of the graphic only a small icon representing a page containing two blue squares and a pink triangle appears. Sometimes the graphic box is blank.

Would appreciate any help in resolving this issue.