This doesn't answer the original Q, but I'm glad the topic came up, b/c I just went through an irritating experience with files that use outlines. I work in publishing, and because our graphics dept. has been so busy, we outsourced two flyer projects recently.

The first one we got back was in a pdf format, and after discovering a small text error, I next discovered that I couldn't edit the pdf as I normally can with the Adobe text tool, and I couldn't work on the file in indd (well, on the second flyer I ended up layering correct text over the old text, but of course I couldn't match the font exactly). However regarding the Adobe program, there was no error msg. when I tried to use the text tool, so I didn't have a clue as to what was going on, just that the text tool wasn't working. With the first flyer I had the guy send the original indd file so I could work on it.

I later described the prob. to our main graphics guy who responded with "Easy, all text is converted to outlines."

So thanks for the topic to further explain the function of outlines-- I'd had to move on to other projects and hadn't yet done any research to find out more about the function of outlines. Now I know a bit more, and also know I need to be specific with the format we need to receive back when we outsource. I don't mind dealing with fonts-- I'd rather have the option of being able to easily alter the file as needed. I can see why this would be done when sending to a printer though. Had a talk about the problem of fonts with a printer in Sept. actually. He had a lot to say on the topic.

~Lisa