Double-click font files to display the font

Previously, we lamented the fact that you cannot double-click a font file in the OS X Finder and open up a display of what the font looks like - as you could do in OS 9. We asked for help in finding an alternative solution for this. As it turns out, a third party application provides the answer we were seeking. Here's what to do:

1. Download the freeware X Font Info (OS X 10.1.1 required).
2. Open Show Info for a font and select Open With Application. The default application listed there will likely be either Finder or (amazingly!) the ancient Font/DA Mover 4.1.
3. Click on the icon box next to this name and select Other from the popup menu.
4. Select X Font Info to be the new application.
5. Click the Change All button so that all font files of the same type will also open with this application.

Now, any font file you double-click should launch X Font Info and display the font. It will even open a font suitcase and allow you to select each separate font to display - via a popup menu. Very nice!