How can I clear my font caches using Smasher?

When you are having font cache problems, the easiest solution is to smash (clear) your Mac OS X caches. To do so, follow these steps:

1    Save all your work in your open applications and then close them.
2    Click the Caches toolbar button or select Smash Font Caches (Command+K) in the Tools menu.
3    Click the Mac OS X option in the Caches options sheet.
4    Click the Smash Selected Caches button.
5    You are prompted to authenticate as an Administrator. Type your user name and password into the Authenticate dialog box and click OK.
6    Smasher will then tell you that the system, local, and user font caches have been deleted, and that you must either Shut down or Restart your system.

When you restart, your system rebuilds the caches from those fonts that are active in the various system fonts folders or in your font manager.

Note: Clearing Mac OS font caches removes cache files that keep track of deactivated fonts in Apple Font Book. If you are using Font Book, after your system restarts, you should open Font Book and deactivate the fonts you do not plan to use in your applications.

Cleaning Application Caches with Smasher

To clean application font, file and preference caches in Smasher, follow these steps:

1    Click the Caches toolbar button or select Smash Font Caches (Command+K) under the Tools menu.
2    Click any or all of the application options in the Caches options sheet.
3    Click the Smash Selected Caches button.
4    You are prompted by a Warning dialog box to quit the applications that correspond to the selected caches you have chosen to delete. When you have done so, click the Proceed button.
5    You are prompted to authenticate as an administrator. Type your user name and password into the Authenticate dialog box and click the OK button.

Smashing CUPS Spool Caches

Smasher lets you clear CUPS print file caches and maintain the printing performance of your Macintosh. To do so, follow these steps:

1    Click the Caches toolbar button or select Smash Font Caches (Command+K) in the Tools menu.
2    Click the CUPS spool files option in the Caches options sheet.
3    Click the Smash Selected Caches button.
4    You are prompted to authenticate as an Administrator. Type your user name and password into the Authenticate dialog box and click OK.

There is no need to restart applications or your Macintosh after smashing CUPS print file caches. You can continue to work and print files normally.