t1ascii

t1ascii [options] fontfile.pfa [fontfile.pfb ...]

fontfile.pfa/fontfile.pfb
    The path to the Type 1 font file in either ASCII (.pfa) or binary (.pfb) format.

The `t1ascii` command converts Type 1 fonts into a human-readable ASCII representation. This allows users to inspect the font's character set, glyph outlines (though simplified), and other metadata without requiring specialized font rendering software. The primary purpose of `t1ascii` is to provide a convenient way to examine and debug Type 1 fonts. The command extracts key font information, translates the typically binary font data into ASCII, and prints this information to standard output. It's particularly useful for developers working with fonts or troubleshooting font-related issues.
The ASCII representation simplifies analysis by providing a textual overview of the font's structure and contents. The output is easier to search and compare, which can be beneficial for identifying problems or understanding the font's characteristics. Note that the output is not a full representation of the Type 1 font, some loss of information occurs.

The output of `t1ascii` is a simplified ASCII representation and doesn't contain all the information present in the original Type 1 font file. The glyph outlines are approximations, and certain advanced features of Type 1 fonts may not be fully represented.

The output of `t1ascii` is designed to be readable, presenting a textual representation of the font's glyphs and metadata. This includes character names, bounding boxes, and simplified outlines. The exact format may vary slightly depending on the font and the version of `t1ascii` used.

t1ascii was created as a utility to examine fonts for debugging and other reasons. No specific history is available beyond that. The command is provided as part of a variety of TeX related distributions.

afm2tfm(1), dvips(1), gs(1)