TFM or installed font not found with fontawesome5 (on Overleaf v2 with XeLaTeX)

Question

UPDATE

My question relies on the result of compiling the test project I made (which I linked below), which clearly indicates that the fonts are not being found. While having the fontawesome5 package as part of the TeX distribution used by Overleaf is customer-service related, having this particular problem I described here is not. This could happen apart from Overleaf. For instance, if I wanted to use a custom-made package with included fonts, or a CTAN zip of the same sort, in a local, per-project fashion, without installing it to the computer. That's why I consider this question important and not eligible for closing.

Furthermore, I admit the phrase "I don't think they would respond. Look, if they would, the package would've been added ages ago!" was totally unfair for the Overleaf team, who have made an excellent work. So I apologize publicly here for those words I said.

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UPDATE #2

Unless people with more knowledge and experience about using this website decide other options, and considering the question was indeed answered, I'll leave this question as it is for the record, to show other users and myself how to and how not to interact with others here.

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I tried the procedure described in the answer of this question on Overleaf v2 (as the fontawesome5 package is still missing in there) to no avail.

The small document I made to test this is available here (read only).

Let me note though, that the only difference between that question and this one, is I'm using XeLaTeX.

In particular, the two errors related to the package are:

Error #1.- /fontawesome5/tex/fontawesome5-utex-helper.sty, line 59

Font TU/fontawesomefree/solid/n/12=[FontAwesome5Free-Solid-900.otf]:script=latn; at 12.0pt not loadable: Metric (TFM) file or installed font not found.

<to be read again> 
                   relax 
l.59 ...ze_font:nn{\c__fontawesome_kind_tl}{solid}

I wasn't able to read the size data for this font,
so I will ignore the font specification.
[Wizards can fix TFM files using TFtoPL/PLtoTF.]
You might try inserting a different font spec;
e.g., type `I\font<same font id>=<substitute font name>'.

Error #2.- /fontawesome5/tex/fontawesome5-utex-helper.sty, line 60

Font TU/fontawesomebrands/regular/n/12=[FontAwesome5Brands-Regular-400.otf]:script=latn; at 12.0pt not loadable: Metric (TFM) file or installed font not found.

<to be read again> 
                   relax 
l.60 ...ntawesome_analyze_font:nn{brands}{regular}

I wasn't able to read the size data for this font,
so I will ignore the font specification.
[Wizards can fix TFM files using TFtoPL/PLtoTF.]
You might try inserting a different font spec;
e.g., type `I\font<same font id>=<substitute font name>'.

And then, I'm unable to use the package at all, because commands like \faCircle aren't recognized.

I'm pretty sure I'm missing something for this particular configuration. What would it be?

What do I need to do to make this package work on Overleaf when using XeLaTeX?

Answer 1

(Disclaimer: I'm a support personnel at Overleaf.)

One extra line needs to be added to your latexmkrc file to try using the fontawesome5 package with XeLaTeX:

$ENV{'OPENTYPEFONTS'}='./fontawesome5/opentype/:' . $ENV{'OPENTYPEFONTS'};

such that the .otf files can be found: the lines at Configuring fontawesome5 on overleaf are about using fontawesome5 with pdflatex, so did not include OPENTYPEFONTS.

Somehow there's still an error arising from the test project you posted (which has since been purged so no further debugging can be done), but fontawesome5 and XeLaTeX does work find in this small test project that I created: https://www.overleaf.com/read/fpcpdkswcrrb

If you're using fontawesome5 v5.6.3 or later, though, then on Overleaf you'll then get another error:

Undefined control sequence.
\__fontawesome_glyphindex:n ...D "\str_if_eq:eeTF 
                                              {stop}{#1}{square}{#1}"\sc...
l.8 Something more... \faAddressBook

This is because the command \str_if_eq:eeTF is not available on the version of TeX Live 2017 used on Overleaf at present. Therefore at present (March 2019), fontawesome5 version 5.6.3 and later can't be used with XeLaTeX on Overleaf -- until v5.8.0 that is, that does work.

A few other points to clarify:

1. We do respond to queries and support requests at welcome@overleaf.com and support@overleaf.com and we do try to respond as quickly as we can :-) though there may be longer delays during weekends... ;-)

2. After opening a project in read-only mode (e.g. https://www.overleaf.com/read/wmrmtcgstjth) you can click on the Overleaf menu icon above the file list panel, and then "Download - Source" to download a .zip of the source files. Or if you're already signed into your own Overleaf account, you can click on "Copy project" in the menu, to clone it into your own account for an editable copy of your own.

I hope that helps a bit.