VMS Help FONT  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

    Converts an ASCII bitmap distribution format (BDF) into
    binary portable compiled format (PCF) on Alpha systems and
    into binary server natural form (SNF) on VAX systems. The
    DECwindows server uses a PCF or SNF file to display a font. In
    addition to converting the BDF file to binary form, the font
    compiler provides statistical information about the font and the
    compilation process.

    For more information about using the font compiler, refer to the
    the OpenVMS DECwindows programming documentation or online help.

    Format

      FONT  filespec

1 - Parameter

 filespec

    Specifies the BDF file to be converted. A file name is required.
    The default value of the optional file type is DECW$BDF.

2 - Qualifiers

 2.1 - /MINBOX

       /MINBOX
       /NOMINBOX

    On VAX only, specifies that the compiler produce the minimum
    bounding box for each character in the font and adjust values
    for the left bearing, right bearing, ascent, and descent of
    each character accordingly. Character width is not affected.
    Specifying the /MINBOX qualifier is equivalent to converting a
    fixed font to a monospaced font.

    Using the /MINBBOX qualifier has two advantages. Because the font
    compiler produces minimum instead of fixed bounding boxes, the
    resulting SNF file is significantly smaller than the comparable
    fixed font SNF file. Consequently, both disk requirements for
    storing the font and server memory requirements when a client
    loads the font are reduced. Also, because the resulting font
    comprises minimum inkable characters, server performance when
    writing text is increased as much as 20 percent.

 2.2 - /OUTPUT

       /OUTPUT[=filename]
       /NOOUTPUT

    Specifies the file name and type of the resulting PCF (Alpha) or
    SNF (VAX) file. The default output file name is the file name of
    the BDF file being converted. The default output PCF file type is
    .PCF. The default output SNF file type is .DECW$FONT.

    Compiler output consists of a header file that contains font
    information, character metrics, amd the image of each character
    in the font.

 2.3 - /REPORT

       /REPORT
       /NOREPORT

    On VAX only, directs the compiler to report information about
    the font and the conversion process, including BDF information,
    font properties, compiler generation information, and metrics.
    The /REPORT qualifier also causes the compiler to illustrate each
    glyph in the font.