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Questions and answers apply to Visual TrueType version 4.2. If you have question please send them on to us.

Q How do I get VTT 4.2?
A To receive Microsoft Visual TrueType 4.2, please fax us the following;

Completed, signed copy of the Visual TrueType license agreement - Updated for VTT 4.2
A covering letter outlining your involvement in font production. This is a requirement if this is your first VTT application.
The version you require, Windows, MacOS (please state which version of MacOS you are using) or both.

Q How long does it take to receive the software?
A You should receive an invitation to join the VTT community Web site within five business days from the time we receive your signed license agreement. The VTT downloads are hosted on the community site.

Q I have already signed and sent a license for VTT 4.0 do I need to do it again?
A Yes. The license has been revised for this release in response to user feedback. The old license restricted the use of the tool to sixty days and for evaluation purposes only. The new license is less restrictive.

Q I ran Prepare font in VTT 4.2. I then started hinting but no control values are selected for my links, I only get a question mark. I thought VTT created a Control Program? What does VTT's Prepare font do other than strip hints and import templates?
A VTT does not auto hint or auto measure your control values in the Control Program for you. Prepare font in VTT only removes any old instructions (such as those automatically generated by commercial programs) and imports basic templates to start the hinting process. To continue the hinting process you need to measure your glyphs and decide the height and stem/feature control values for your font. Then fill out and compile the Control Program with this specific font information. Then you can start hinting.

Q I'm using the latest release of VTT and have filled out my Control Program and compiled it. I now go to hint my Cap H visually and find that no CVT's are picked for me automatically. Any ideas why?
A Control values (CVTs) are automatically selected based on a few parameters. In the case of the Cap H the glyph has an uppercase classification (Chargrp.txt has defined it as such). Your link then sets the next parameter. If you select the correct style of link, in this case a 'StraightStroke with CVT' Xlink and you have a CVT classified as Uppercase, Black, X, StraightStroke in your Control Program, the CVT with the closest value and correct classification will be selected automatically. You probably haven't selected the proper style of link. To select different styles of links with the Xlink icon selected use the right mouse button on Windows, cmd+click on the Mac and pick a square shaped arrowhead.
UpperCase Black X StraightStroke 68: 200 = 66 @46

Q In VTT 4.2 I am using the new Control Program's 'inheritance' I get an error 'PPEM size out of range (must be in range 101..255)' What does this mean and why can't I set CVT 100? This is the part of the Control Program with the problem.
Figure Grey X ItalicRun 24: 0 Y ItalicRise 25: 0 Black X StraightStroke 97: 170 = 66 @41 98: 0 RoundStroke 99: 200 = 97 @100 100: 215 = 99 @85

A In your Control Program CVT 100 is the child of CVT 99. CVT 99 is set free from its parent at 100ppem. You can not set a child CVT free before its parent is set free from the grandparent CVT. There are two solutions. You can let CVT 100 free from the parent CVT 99 at 101ppem only or greater or, if you want CVT 100 to be free earlier, you should make its parent CVT 97; then it could be set free at 42ppem or greater.

QI opened a source font file that was created in TypeMan. Now I get an error. Why?
A VTT 4.2 catches errors in low level TrueType font instructions that early predecessors to VTT or TypeSolution's TypeMan did not catch. An example is if a CVT value is used in low level TrueType instructions and it is not defined in the Control Program or the font's CVT table, VTT 4.2 will display an error 'CVT out of range'. If these instructions exist in an old source file, an error will be displayed in the Font errors window as the rasterizer tries to interpret the instructions.
It is important for VTT 4.2 to catch these errors because font instructions are also used to calculate other values in TrueType tables. If there are bad instructions these calculations could be incorrect. Microsoft's TrueType rasterizer does not allow fonts with bad instructions to be used.

Q I want to add a link but when I select Xlink and have Display X direction tools checked I can't select the link? Why?
A You must have the outline points displayed to insert links or any other type of visual hint. In the future we intend to disable visual linking when points aren't displayed.

Q I want to add a hint for Grey Scale only. I selected the X Delta tool but I only see two options for Deltas, Deltas that are always used and Black and White only Deltas. Where are the grey only deltas?
AYou can only use Grey Scale Only deltas when you are viewing the glyph with grey scale pixels. This is set with the menu item Display: GreyScale selected and this menu item unselected for Black and White Only deltas.

Q What does Ship Font do?
A Ship Font is the last step in final font production. After all testing and hinting are complete, and after running Recalc maxp, run Ship Font. All Ship Font does is it removes the ASCII text tables that allow you to view the hint information. When hinting, VTT creates tables in the font file so the hint data in the font can be viewed. It is easiest to think of this file with these added tables as a VTT work file or source file (MyFont_source.ttf is a source or work file). When you run Ship Font the extra tables in this 'work file' are removed. These tables are only necessary to edit or add hint information but it is accentual to always keep source files for fonts that you intend to work on in the future. Hence, when you run Ship Font, be sure to give the shipped font a different name (its final name, such as MyFont.ttf) to keep the work file around.

this page was last updated 3 May 2001
© 2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of use.
comments to the MST group: how to contact us

Microsoft Typography | Developer information | Developer FAQ | Visual TrueType



	Microsoft Typography \| Developer information \| Developer FAQ \| Visual TrueType

		Visual TrueType Questions and answers apply to Visual TrueType version 4.2. If you have question please send them on to us. Q How do I get VTT 4.2? A To receive Microsoft Visual TrueType 4.2, please fax us the following; Completed, signed copy of the Visual TrueType license agreement - Updated for VTT 4.2 A covering letter outlining your involvement in font production. This is a requirement if this is your first VTT application. The version you require, Windows, MacOS (please state which version of MacOS you are using) or both. Q How long does it take to receive the software? A You should receive an invitation to join the VTT community Web site within five business days from the time we receive your signed license agreement. The VTT downloads are hosted on the community site. Q I have already signed and sent a license for VTT 4.0 do I need to do it again? A Yes. The license has been revised for this release in response to user feedback. The old license restricted the use of the tool to sixty days and for evaluation purposes only. The new license is less restrictive. Q I ran Prepare font in VTT 4.2. I then started hinting but no control values are selected for my links, I only get a question mark. I thought VTT created a Control Program? What does VTT's Prepare font do other than strip hints and import templates? A VTT does not auto hint or auto measure your control values in the Control Program for you. Prepare font in VTT only removes any old instructions (such as those automatically generated by commercial programs) and imports basic templates to start the hinting process. To continue the hinting process you need to measure your glyphs and decide the height and stem/feature control values for your font. Then fill out and compile the Control Program with this specific font information. Then you can start hinting. Q I'm using the latest release of VTT and have filled out my Control Program and compiled it. I now go to hint my Cap H visually and find that no CVT's are picked for me automatically. Any ideas why? A Control values (CVTs) are automatically selected based on a few parameters. In the case of the Cap H the glyph has an uppercase classification (Chargrp.txt has defined it as such). Your link then sets the next parameter. If you select the correct style of link, in this case a 'StraightStroke with CVT' Xlink and you have a CVT classified as Uppercase, Black, X, StraightStroke in your Control Program, the CVT with the closest value and correct classification will be selected automatically. You probably haven't selected the proper style of link. To select different styles of links with the Xlink icon selected use the right mouse button on Windows, cmd+click on the Mac and pick a square shaped arrowhead. UpperCase Black X StraightStroke 68: 200 = 66 @46 Q In VTT 4.2 I am using the new Control Program's 'inheritance' I get an error 'PPEM size out of range (must be in range 101..255)' What does this mean and why can't I set CVT 100? This is the part of the Control Program with the problem. Figure Grey X ItalicRun 24: 0 Y ItalicRise 25: 0 Black X StraightStroke 97: 170 = 66 @41 98: 0 RoundStroke 99: 200 = 97 @100 100: 215 = 99 @85 A In your Control Program CVT 100 is the child of CVT 99. CVT 99 is set free from its parent at 100ppem. You can not set a child CVT free before its parent is set free from the grandparent CVT. There are two solutions. You can let CVT 100 free from the parent CVT 99 at 101ppem only or greater or, if you want CVT 100 to be free earlier, you should make its parent CVT 97; then it could be set free at 42ppem or greater. QI opened a source font file that was created in TypeMan. Now I get an error. Why? A VTT 4.2 catches errors in low level TrueType font instructions that early predecessors to VTT or TypeSolution's TypeMan did not catch. An example is if a CVT value is used in low level TrueType instructions and it is not defined in the Control Program or the font's CVT table, VTT 4.2 will display an error 'CVT out of range'. If these instructions exist in an old source file, an error will be displayed in the Font errors window as the rasterizer tries to interpret the instructions. It is important for VTT 4.2 to catch these errors because font instructions are also used to calculate other values in TrueType tables. If there are bad instructions these calculations could be incorrect. Microsoft's TrueType rasterizer does not allow fonts with bad instructions to be used. Q I want to add a link but when I select Xlink and have Display X direction tools checked I can't select the link? Why? A You must have the outline points displayed to insert links or any other type of visual hint. In the future we intend to disable visual linking when points aren't displayed. Q I want to add a hint for Grey Scale only. I selected the X Delta tool but I only see two options for Deltas, Deltas that are always used and Black and White only Deltas. Where are the grey only deltas? AYou can only use Grey Scale Only deltas when you are viewing the glyph with grey scale pixels. This is set with the menu item Display: GreyScale selected and this menu item unselected for Black and White Only deltas. Q What does Ship Font do? A Ship Font is the last step in final font production. After all testing and hinting are complete, and after running Recalc maxp, run Ship Font. All Ship Font does is it removes the ASCII text tables that allow you to view the hint information. When hinting, VTT creates tables in the font file so the hint data in the font can be viewed. It is easiest to think of this file with these added tables as a VTT work file or source file (MyFont_source.ttf is a source or work file). When you run Ship Font the extra tables in this 'work file' are removed. These tables are only necessary to edit or add hint information but it is accentual to always keep source files for fonts that you intend to work on in the future. Hence, when you run Ship Font, be sure to give the shipped font a different name (its final name, such as MyFont.ttf) to keep the work file around. this page was last updated 3 May 2001 © 2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of use. comments to the MST group: how to contact us


	Microsoft Typography \| Developer information \| Developer FAQ \| Visual TrueType