VMS DECwindows includes a font compiler that enables programmers
   to convert an ASCII bitmap distribution format (BDF) into binary
   server natural form (SNF). The server uses an SNF file to display
   a font. In addition to converting the BDF file to binary form,
   the compiler provides statistical information about the font and
   the compilation process. For more information about using the font
   compiler, refer to the VMS DECwindows Xlib Programming Volume.

   Format

     FONT file-spec

Additional information available:

PARAMETERQUALIFIERS

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

Additional information available:

/MINBOX/OUTPUT/REPORT

      /MINBOX
      /NOMINBOX

   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 /MINBBOX 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.

      /OUTPUT[=filename]
      /NOOUTPUT

   Specifies the file name and type of the resulting SNF file. The
   default output file name is the file name of the BDF file being
   converted. The default output SNF file type is DECW$FONT.

   Compiler output consists of a header file that contains font
   information, character metrics, and the image of each character in
   the font. Font information in the header file is essentially the
   same as information stored in the font struct data structure.

      /REPORT
      /NOREPORT

   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.