Building font cache

[princesseve]

Nope. Didn't work. I installed 1.0.5, went in and unchecked the option you said, and tried playing a movie and got the font cache error again. Now I have to uninstall VLC and reboot again. Is this a prevalent error or is it just a few of us that have it?

Since VLC is now completely unusable for me and I can't even go back to an earlier version that worked, I guess I will just move on to something else. Maybe I will try again with the next version. I really liked VLC . . . I'm really going to miss it.

[tandrewm]

This error still occurs with VLC 1.1.1. The font cache file is never created on the network drive. The files %APPDATA%\vlc\vlc-qt-interface.ini and %APPDATA%\vlc\ml.xspf, however, are created and they are updated when vlc is closed. Off hand, it sounds like the code used to locate the %APPDATA% directory to create the font cache file is different than the code to locate the %APPDATA% directory for the .ini and the .xspf.

[Apostrophe84]

I also have this problem. I believe it started when I installed Open Office. I assume that Open Office adds some fonts to Windows and that fonts are somehow at the core of this issue.

Every time I try to open any file in VLC, I get the message about "building font cache". This message does not go away. It never finished building anything. It just hangs there. If I try to cancel it, VLC stops responding, but doesn't stop this eternal process of building nothing that takes up all system resources, so summoning up Task Manager to cancel the damn thing takes the better part of 5 minutes. This is HIGHLY ANNOYING.

I've tried disabling plugins cache. This did nothing.

I've tried to delete the VLC folder under AppData -> Roaming. This did nothing.

I've tried completely uninstalling VLC and removing all VLC-related files from the computer, and then reinstalling. This did nothing. (How that is possible, I have no idea. It just did not work, though I can think of no worldly reason for why it wouldn't.)

So, at the moment I can't think of any way to get VLC to work...

Could it be that VLC and OpenOffice can't be used on the same computer together with this version of VLC?

Right now I am going to uninstall VLC and completely purge my system of any VLC-related files, again. Them I am going to try installing 1.0.5. (From here: http://download.videolan.org/pub/videol ... 0.5/win32/)

Wish me luck.

P.S. This latest version of VLC has been highly odd. The video playback has developed weird blocky artefacts that were never there and the audio playback has weird choppy errors in it. What's up? I assume the video artefacts have something to do with GPU-acceleration. (Which I haven't found a way to disable yet.)

[Apostrophe84]

I also have this problem. I believe it started when I installed Open Office. I assume that Open Office adds some fonts to Windows and that fonts are somehow at the core of this issue.

Every time I try to open any file in VLC, I get the message about "building font cache". This message does not go away. It never finished building anything. It just hangs there. If I try to cancel it, VLC stops responding, but doesn't stop this eternal process of building nothing that takes up all system resources, so summoning up Task Manager to cancel the damn thing takes the better part of 5 minutes. This is HIGHLY ANNOYING.

I've tried disabling plugins cache. This did nothing.

I've tried to delete the VLC folder under AppData -> Roaming. This did nothing.

I've tried completely uninstalling VLC and removing all VLC-related files from the computer, and then reinstalling. This did nothing. (How that is possible, I have no idea. It just did not work, though I can think of no worldly reason for why it wouldn't.)

So, at the moment I can't think of any way to get VLC to work...

Could it be that VLC and OpenOffice can't be used on the same computer together with this version of VLC?

Right now I am going to uninstall VLC and completely purge my system of any VLC-related files, again. Them I am going to try installing 1.0.5. (From here: http://download.videolan.org/pub/videol ... 0.5/win32/)

Wish me luck.

P.S. This latest version of VLC has been highly odd. The video playback has developed weird blocky artefacts that were never there and the audio playback has weird choppy errors in it. What's up? I assume the video artefacts have something to do with GPU-acceleration. (Which I haven't found a way to disable yet.)

I have returned to report my success. While removing VLC and reinstalling 1.1.1 did not help, removing VLC and installing 1.0.5. did help! The building font cache -problem has disappeared!

[borat]Great Success![/borat]

[surfingtom]

I would just like to concur with the previous couple of posts. Now back to 1.0.5 and it works again. This issue is a serious problem for VLC IMHO and should be a priority fix - I can no longer recommend this player to my clients . What made this player fantastic was its robust ability to play almost anything on all its supported platforms with a simplicity that even a technophobe can cope with. Wondering which player to recommend in the meanwhile.... I really hope you listen to your users and find the resource to fix it. If team VLC need some help accurately identifying this bug through testing, I am happy to help...

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

The problem is in your font-cache file that isn't created... Either because your %appdata%/vlc isn't accessible to fontconfig, or because you added fonts (it will run once) or because you don't let it do what it should...

[Apostrophe84]

The problem is in your font-cache file that isn't created... Either because your %appdata%/vlc isn't accessible to fontconfig, or because you added fonts (it will run once) or because you don't let it do what it should...

On my computer, the VLC AppData is at C: -> Users ->UserName -> AppData -> Roaming -> vlc
I see no reason why this folder would be inaccessible. It isn't on a network drive.

I also believe that adding new fonts causes the problem to emerge. Sadly, the Building Font Cache -prompt never finishes. I'm running an AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition overclocked to 3.8 Ghz with 8192 Mbytes of RAM. When the prompt first emerged I left it running for about 40 minutes (I went grocery-shopping) but it didn't finish. On numerous attempts I left it running for between 5 and 10 minutes with no success. It might be that the program requires even longer to accomplish its task, but I doubt giving it more time would have helped.

[VLC_help]

If it runs that long, there are prolly broken fonts that fontconfig cannot handle.

[tandrewm]

Any ideas on the problem that DJX and I have? Our issue is that our %appdata% directory is redirected to a network drive and the font cache file is never created. I am logged in to the network when I install VLC. Clearly, %appdata% on the network drive is accessible because the .ini and .xpsf files are created and I can click Start->Run and type in %appdata% and the it brings up the %appdata% directory on the network drive. This is obviously a bug but, because I am only a casual user of VLC, I can live with it for awhile. I'm not sure others will feel the same way.

[DJX]

Thanks for getting us back on track here, tandrewm.
This is really the problem here.

[tandrewm]

I just did a little test and it appears the problem is that VLC does not handle the UNC name correctly. I opened a Command Prompt window and typed SET. The APPDATA environment variable is set to a UNC similar to this APPDATA=\\servername\users\username\Application Data. In the Command Prompt window I typed SET APPDATA=H:\Application Data <return> (my home directory is mapped to H:). Then, still in the Command Prompt window, I typed "C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\vlc.exe". VLC launches using the environment of the Command Prompt window and I do not receive the Building Font Cache message. It is strange to me that the font cache file is still not created in the H:\Application Data\vlc directory but each video loads and begins playing right away.

I hope this helps the programmers in finding the bug.

[DJX]

Excellent troubleshooting, tandrewm.

I figured it was UNC path problems...
I just thought, since I have stated this many times that some one could pick it up.

Interesting that the cache is still not created though...

[sopron]

hello. on vista32 after installing vlc 1.1.1 the font cache has been rebuilded. but only the first time i opened a file. all the next times it opens without rebuilding font cache. the first time only. then it works well

[fleamo]

Not sure if I should be posting in this thread, but here goes.

Experiencing a similar issue with Building Font Cache. It hangs at 20%. I've tried deleting the %appdata%/Roaming/VLC directory, but that doesn't fix anything. I don't actually see a font cache file in that directory, though.

I noticed this problem first with 1.1.1. I tried installing older versions (1.0.5, 1.0.2) but now nothing works.

VLC used to work fine. What the heck happened?

[DJX]

I don't know what good it will do, but I created a bug report:
http://trac.videolan.org/vlc/ticket/3950

[IamZombie]

Same exact issue here as well.
Every time I open VLC I get the "Building Font Cache"

My application data is also stored on a network drive.

What is the purpose of the font cache anyway?
Is it for subtitles?

[VLC_help]

What is the purpose of the font cache anyway?
Is it for subtitles?

Yes, it is for subtitles and other text rendering options.

[blank]

im having the same problem, and its damn annoying.
Sometimes it can take longer than 2 min.

hope it gets fixed soon. love VLC player. would hate to look for another.

[JDCorley]

I'm on Windows XP SP3, completely updated, and the latest VLC version (1.1.1), and it says it is building a new font cache, then it closes itself abruptly with no error message, not even in the Messages board with verbosity set to max. It closes like I alt-F4-ed. This only happens with movie files.

[secarica]

What is the purpose of the font cache anyway?
Is it for subtitles?

Yes, it is for subtitles and other text rendering options.

I wish it were only for that, but that dialog shows up even for my own .avi files, transferred from my DV camera, where no text/translation/whatever text exists. It is extremely annoying specially because if I click "Cancel" right away, the program hangs or appears to do nothing more. I have to close VLC, restart it, see that stupid dialog again, click Cancel again and hopefully after a few cancel/kill/restart cycles the movie eventually starts without asking about a font for nothing.

Cristi

[JDCorley]

This problem does persist into 1.1.2.

[IamZombie]

What is the purpose of the font cache anyway?
Is it for subtitles?

Yes, it is for subtitles and other text rendering options.

If it's only for subtitles and text rendering, why can't it be disabled?

What is the purpose of the font cache anyway?
Is it for subtitles?

Yes, it is for subtitles and other text rendering options.

I wish it were only for that, but that dialog shows up even for my own .avi files, transferred from my DV camera, where no text/translation/whatever text exists. It is extremely annoying specially because if I click "Cancel" right away, the program hangs or appears to do nothing more. I have to close VLC, restart it, see that stupid dialog again, click Cancel again and hopefully after a few cancel/kill/restart cycles the movie eventually starts without asking about a font for nothing.

Cristi

Exactly!

I should be able to disable the cache and at least select a static font I would use in the event I ever need subtitles or text rendering.

[hermitx]

Yeah, this cache thing is getting on my nerves. VLC is as far as I know the only program that needs a cache for fonts.
I install new fonts all the time. I can't have this 10min font caching thing showing up every single time.

[VLC_help]

Does it help if you disable Show media title on video (Tools -> Preferences and Show settings: All, Video) then press Save and restart VLC?

[azthai]

Error:
Buidling font Cache pop-up

Solution:

Open VLC player.

On Menu Bar:

Tools
Preferences

(at bottom - left side)
Show settings -- ALL

Open: Video
Click: Subtitles/OSD (This is now highlited, not opened)
Text rendering module - change this to "Dummy font renderer function"

Save
Exit

Re-open - done.
Progy will no longer look outside self for fonts
Please post reply, I'll debug more if not working.