---
name: "pfbtops"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "groff"
version: "1.24.2-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pfbtops"
---

# pfbtops(1)

translate PostScript Printer Font Binary files to Printer Font ASCII

## Name

pfbtops - translate PostScript Printer Font Binary files to Printer Font ASCII

## Synopsis

**pfbtops** \[*pfb-file*\]

**pfbtops** **--help**

**pfbtops** **-v**

**pfbtops** **--version**

## Description

*pfbtops* translates a PostScript Type 1 font in Printer Font Binary (PFB) format to Printer Font ASCII (PFA) format, splitting overlong lines in text packets into smaller chunks. If *pfb-file* is omitted, the PFB file will be read from the standard input stream. The PFA font will be written on the standard output stream. PostScript fonts for MS-DOS were historically supplied in PFB format. Use of a PostScript Type 1 font with *groff* requires conversion of its metrics (AFM file) to a *groff* font description file; see [*afmtodit*(1)](/afmtodit/1.md).

The **--help** option displays a usage message, while **-v** and **--version** show version information; all exit afterward.

## See also

[*grops*(1)](/grops/1.md), [*gropdf*(1)](/gropdf/1.md)