Working with Text-Based Tables

When you want to do hinting not possible with Visual TrueType, you can open text-based windows that contain font file information, tables, and hints. Some windows display information about the entire font, and others display information or programming code relating to a single glyph.

Other topics in this help file discuss:

Using the graphical interface of the main window, character set, and snapshot windows to do visual hinting (for details, see “Working in the Main Window”).

Reviewing text in the Font Error window for runtime errors detected by the rasterizer (for details, see “Using the Font Error Window”).

As an advanced user, you might want to open windows to work directly with the text-based content of the three tables used by Visual TrueType: the control value table (‘cvt’), font program table (‘fpgm’), and pre-program table (‘prep’).

In addition, Visual TrueType has other text-based windows you can open to work with OpenType Layout data. All the text-based windows are available as commands on the Views menu, or you can use keyboard shortcuts:

Command

Shortcut

What It Displays

VTT Talk

Ctrl + 5

Uncompiled text source of the program, VTT Talk.

Glyph Program

Ctrl + 2

Low-level TrueType instructions (derived from VTT Talk, stored in the ‘glyf’ table.

Control Program

Ctrl + 4

Uncompiled text source of the Control Value table (‘cvt’). See “Using the Control Value Table”.

Pre-program

Ctrl + 3

Uncompiled text source of the pre-program ‘prep’ table.

Font Program

Ctrl + 7

Uncompiled text source of the font program table (‘fpgm’).

Font Error Window

 

Runtime errors that occur when the font is rasterized.

Once a text-based window is open, you can use conventional word-processing techniques to click an insertion point, to select text, and to cut, copy, and paste text. You also can search for text, go to a specific line, and import or export text.

To open a text-based window

1.       On the View menu, click the window name. OR press its keyboard shortcut (if any).

To close a text-based window

Select the window by clicking on it or pressing its associated keyboard shortcut.

On the File menu, select Close, or press Ctrl + W.