HMs DIY #1-6

font file was already in the same directory.

Then I'm stumped. We'll have to wait for one of the experts to show up.

Thanks anyway!

If the file fonts.txt is missing, the layout in the designertool would be distorted, but the designertool does show the layout without problems. As far as I can see - after sending the datastring to the Edge 1000 the layout does not show up correctly on the device (right picture).

What I would do (and I have not looked at your layout XML so far):
Plug in your device to the PC, start Garmin Express, go to the DIY clone which contains the string. Copy that (whole) string to the clipboard and then paste the string into the designertool - there is a button to do so.

What does the layout now look like in the designer?

I did not see any installed datafield in Garmin Express. I only get listed a widget.
I have installed all the datafields and the widget using Garmin Connect on my smartphone.

So I've done it 'my way':

• take a copy of the string from the app
• paste it into an email to myself
• copy the string from email to notepad++ (just to check for linebreaks)
• copy the string from notepad++ to the desinger
• designer crashes

I work on a Linux PC using a Windows VM. I do it this way since the beginning of this year. And it works all the time.

GE is already installed at my Windows vm and my edge device is registered - but I did not get listed the installed datafields, only a widget (which also was installed usinfg GC at my smartphone). I don't no why. If I ever had installed apps using GE I can not configure some (or all) of them using GC at my smartphone and vice versa.

I did another test:

• copy from designer to clipboard
• send it to my smartphone using email
• copy the string into a text editor on my smartphone
• copy the string from text editor to HMs DIY datafield -> garbled screen
• take another copy from text editor and send it back to myself using email
• copy the email content to the designer - works

It seems to be a problem using the Setting option in GC.

Unfortunately I never used GC for entering the DIY string.

What you should try is:
-copy the string into DIY datafield by GC as you do your way
-boot your Edge -> check DIY - probably it is distorted
-now connect your device again to GC and go to DIY datafield
-instead of pasting a string into the stringfield do it the other way round: I assume, you see the string in CG (or is that field empty?).
copy the string shown in GC and send it back to your PC. Then load it into the designer. 

Another idea:
I myself experienced the problem, that on the device installed IQs are not shown in G Express. This might happen, when IQs were installed by other ways than by G Express.

Just for testing purpose: on GExpress install one of the other clones you haven‘t on your device yet. GE right bottom „weitere apps herunterladen“

This one should appear then. Chose that clone for transferring.

To stop guessing I loaded your layout into my Edge 1000 (normal Edge).
It seems to work.
Here is a screenshot:

It seems, your string transfer is not ok!