About the Tool
Microsoft Font Validator is a tool that evaluates how closely
a TrueType or OpenType font adheres to the current font format specification, as well as whether
the font meets basic recommendations and deliverable guidelines from Microsoft. The Font Validator
can be useful to developers creating or modifying fonts, or to developers who are creating tools
to generate valid fonts. The Validator performs tests of 'static' data as well as tests for
run-time errors.
Microsoft Font Validator
The Validator identifies 'static' errors in a font by evaluating the font file and its component
tables for their structural adherence to the spec, as well as for encoding inconsistencies within
the font, errors with glyph contours, and out-of-range and unlikely values.
The Validator performs detailed checks of run-time errors (invalid instructions, stack overflow,
IF without ENDIF, etc.) by rasterizing and hinting glyphs.
Microsoft Font Validator help
The Validator generates errors when it finds a problem that may cause the font to either function
in an unexpected fashion, or not function at all. The Validator generates warnings when it finds
something that is inconsistent with Microsoft recommendations. These inconsistencies may not
prevent the font from working with current or previous Windows operating systems, but may compromise
the usefulness of the font in the future.
Getting the Font Validator
To download Microsoft Font Validator, click on the link below and save the .msi file to your hard disk. Uninstall any existing version of Font Validator before installing this version.
The download is 2.7MB in size and can be installed on Windows Vista, Windows XP and Windows 2000. Microsoft Font Validator requires '.NET Framework' be installed.
The Microsoft Font Validator Community site on MSN groups has been retired. An archive can be found here. A new forum has been established that will replace the MSN group.
Last updated 21 August 2014.
