fstobdf

fstobdf pcf_font_file

pcf_font_file
    The path to the PCF format font file to be converted.

The fstobdf command is a utility in Linux systems used to convert font files from the PCF (Portable Compiled Format) format to the BDF (Glyph Bitmap Distribution Format) format.

PCF is a compiled, binary format primarily used by X Window System, while BDF is a human-readable, text-based format. Converting to BDF can be useful for examining font glyphs, modifying font definitions, or porting fonts to systems that do not directly support PCF.

The output of fstobdf is typically directed to standard output, often redirected to a file. The resulting BDF file can then be used by font editing tools or other applications that understand the BDF format. This conversion can be useful to analyze the font data, making changes, or converting to different formats.

The output is a BDF formatted font file, written to standard output. It's common practice to redirect this output to a file using '>'.

To convert 'myfont.pcf' to a BDF file named 'myfont.bdf', the command would be: fstobdf myfont.pcf > myfont.bdf

The fstobdf command has been a part of the X Window System utilities for a long time. It was created to facilitate the conversion between PCF (a space-efficient binary format) and BDF (a human-readable text format). This conversion aids in font manipulation and analysis. Its usage has decreased with the rise of more modern font formats, but it remains a useful tool for dealing with legacy X Window System fonts.

bdftopcf(1), xlsfonts(1)