Glyphs.app Python Scripting API Documentation¶

This is the documentation for the Python Scripting API for Glyphs.app (glyphsapp.com)

About this Document¶

This document covers all methods that are implemented in the Python wrapper. There are many more functions and objects available via the PyObjC bridge. For more details, please have a look at the Core part of the documentation.

Changes in the API¶

These changes could possibly break your code, so you need to keep track of them. Please see GSApplication.versionNumber for how to check for the app version in your code. Really, read it. There’s a catch.

`GSApplication`¶

The mothership. Everything starts here.

print(Glyphs)

<Glyphs.app>

class GSApplication¶

Properties

`currentDocument`
`documents`
`font`
`fonts`
`reporters`
`activeReporters`
`filters`
`defaults`
`scriptAbbreviations`
`scriptSuffixes`
`languageScripts`
`languageData`
`unicodeRanges`
`editViewWidth`
`handleSize`
`versionString`
`versionNumber`
`buildNumber`
`menu`

Functions

`open()`
`showMacroWindow()`
`clearLog()`
`showGlyphInfoPanelWithSearchString()`
`glyphInfoForName()`
`glyphInfoForUnicode()`
`niceGlyphName()`
`productionGlyphName()`
`ligatureComponents()`
`addCallback()`
`removeCallback()`
`redraw()`
`showNotification()`
`localize()`
`activateReporter()`
`deactivateReporter()`

Properties

currentDocument¶

The active GSDocument object or None.

Type: GSDocument

# topmost open document
document = Glyphs.currentDocument

documents¶

An array of open GSDocument objects.

Type: list

font¶

The active GSFont object or None.

Type: GSFont

fonts¶

Be aware that the order is defined by last used font. Append and extend generally don’t insert at the end of the list.

Type: list

# access all open fonts
for font in Glyphs.fonts:
	print(font.familyName)

# add a font
font = GSFont()
font.familyName = "My New Fonts"
Glyphs.fonts.append(font)

reporters¶

List of available reporter plug-ins (same as bottom section in the ‘View’ menu). These are the actual objects. You can get hold of their names using object.__class__.__name__.

Also see GSApplication.activateReporter() and GSApplication.deactivateReporter() methods below to activate/deactivate them.

Type: list

# List of all reporter plug-ins
print(Glyphs.reporters)

# Individual plug-in class names
for reporter in Glyphs.reporters:
	print(reporter.__class__.__name__)

# Activate a plugin
Glyphs.activateReporter(Glyphs.reporters[0]) # by object
Glyphs.activateReporter('GlyphsMasterCompatibility') # by class name

activeReporters¶

List of activated reporter plug-ins.

Type: list

# Activate a plugin
Glyphs.activateReporter(Glyphs.reporters[0])

# list of currently active reporter plug-ins
activeReporters = Glyphs.activeReporters

filters¶

List of available filters (same as ‘Filter’ menu). These are the actual objects.

Below sample code shows how to get hold of a particular filter and use it. You invoke it using the processFont_withArguments_() function for old plugins, or the filter() function for newer plugins. As arguments you use the list obtained by clicking on ‘Copy Custom Parameter’ button in the filter’s dialog (gear icon) and convert it to a list. In the include option you can supply a comma-separated list of glyph names.

Type: list

# Helper function to get filter by its class name
def filterForName(name):
	for filter in Glyphs.filters:
		if filter.__class__.__name__ == name:
			return filter

# Get the filter
offsetCurveFilter = filterForName('GlyphsFilterOffsetCurve')

# Run the filter (old plugins)
# The arguments came from the 'Copy Custom Parameter' as:
# Filter = "GlyphsFilterOffsetCurve;10;10;1;0.5;"
offsetCurveFilter.processFont_withArguments_(font, ['GlyphsFilterOffsetCurve', '10', '10', '1', '0.5', 'include:%s' % glyph.name])

# If the plugin were a new filter, the same call would look like this:
# (run on a specific layer, not the first layer glyphs in the include-list)
# The arguments list is a dictionary with either incrementing integers as keys or names (as per 'Copy Custom Parameter' list)
offsetCurveFilter.filter(layer, False, {0: 10, 1: 10, 2: 1, 3: 0.5})

New in version After: 2.4.2

defaults¶

A dict like object for storing preferences. You can get and set key-value pairs.

Please be careful with your keys. Use a prefix that uses the reverse domain name. e.g. com.MyName.foo.bar.

Type: dict

# Check for whether or not a preference exists
if "com.MyName.foo.bar" in Glyphs.defaults:
	# do stuff

# Get and set values
value = Glyphs.defaults["com.MyName.foo.bar"]
Glyphs.defaults["com.MyName.foo.bar"] = newValue

# Remove value
# This will restore the default value
del(Glyphs.defaults["com.MyName.foo.bar"])

boolDefaults¶

Access to default settings cast to a bool.

Type: bool

if Glyphs.boolDefaults["com.MyName.foo.bar"]:
	print('"com.MyName.foo.bar" is set')

scriptAbbreviations¶

A dictionary with script name to abbreviation mapping, e.g., ‘arabic’: ‘arab’

Type: dict

scriptSuffixes¶

A dictionary with glyphs name suffixes for scripts and their respective script names, e.g., ‘cy’: ‘cyrillic’

Type: dict

languageScripts¶

A dictionary with language tag to script tag mapping, e.g., ‘ENG’: ‘latn’

Type: dict

languageData¶

A list of dictionaries with more detailed language informations.

Type: list

unicodeRanges¶

Names of unicode ranges.

Type: list

editViewWidth¶

Width of glyph Edit view. Corresponds to the “Width of editor” setting from the Preferences.

Type: int

handleSize¶

Size of Bezier handles in Glyph Edit view. Possible value are 0–2. Corresponds to the ‘Handle size’ setting from the Preferences.

To use the handle size for drawing in reporter plugins, you need to convert the handle size to a point size, and divide by the view’s scale factor. See example below.

Type: int

# Calculate handle size
handSizeInPoints = 5 + Glyphs.handleSize * 2.5 # (= 5.0 or 7.5 or 10.0)
scaleCorrectedHandleSize = handSizeInPoints / Glyphs.font.currentTab.scale

# Draw point in size of handles
point = NSPoint(100, 100)
NSColor.redColor.set()
rect = NSRect((point.x - scaleCorrectedHandleSize * 0.5, point.y - scaleCorrectedHandleSize * 0.5), (scaleCorrectedHandleSize, scaleCorrectedHandleSize))
bezierPath = NSBezierPath.bezierPathWithOvalInRect_(rect)
bezierPath.fill()

versionString¶

String containing Glyph.app’s version number. May contain letters also, like ‘2.3b’. To check for a specific version, use Glyphs.versionNumber below.

Type: string

versionNumber¶

Glyph.app’s version number. Use this to check for version in your code.

Type: float

buildNumber¶

Glyph.app’s build number.

Especially if you’re using preview builds, this number may be more important to you than the version number. The build number increases with every released build and is the most significant evidence of new Glyphs versions, while the version number is set arbitrarily and stays the same until the next stable release.

Type: float

menu¶

Add menu items to Glyphs’ main menus.

Following constants for accessing the menus are defined: APP_MENU, FILE_MENU, EDIT_MENU, GLYPH_MENU, PATH_MENU, FILTER_MENU, VIEW_MENU, SCRIPT_MENU, WINDOW_MENU, HELP_MENU

def doStuff(sender):
	# do stuff

newMenuItem = NSMenuItem('My menu title', doStuff)
Glyphs.menu[EDIT_MENU].append(newMenuItem)

Functions

open(Path[, showInterface=True])¶

Opens a document

Parameters

Path (str) – The path where the document is located.
showInterface (bool) – If a document window should be opened. Default: True

Returns

The opened document object or None.

Return type

GSFont

showMacroWindow()¶: Opens the macro window

clearLog()¶: Deletes the content of the console in the macro window

showGlyphInfoPanelWithSearchString(String)¶

Shows the Glyph Info window with a preset search string

Parameters: String – The search term

glyphInfoForName(String)¶

Generates GSGlyphInfo object for a given glyph name.

Parameters

String – Glyph name
font – if you add a font, and the font has a local glyph info, it will be used instead of the global info data.

Returns

GSGlyphInfo

glyphInfoForUnicode(Unicode)¶

Generates GSGlyphInfo object for a given hex unicode.

Parameters

String – Hex unicode
font – if you add a font, and the font has a local glyph info, it will be used instead of the global info data.

Returns

GSGlyphInfo

niceGlyphName(Name)¶

Converts glyph name to nice, human-readable glyph name (e.g. afii10017 or uni0410 to A-cy)

Parameters

string – glyph name
font – if you add a font, and the font has a local glyph info, it will be used instead of the global info data.

Returns

string

productionGlyphName(name[, font=None])¶

Converts glyph name to production glyph name (e.g. afii10017 or A-cy to uni0410)

Parameters

name – glyph name
font – if you add a font, and the font has a local glyph info, it will be used instead of the global info data.

Returns

string

ligatureComponents(String)¶

If defined as a ligature in the glyph database, this function returns a list of glyph names that this ligature could be composed of.

Parameters

string – glyph name
font – if you add a font, and the font has a local glyph info, it will be used instead of the global info data.

Return type

list

print(Glyphs.ligatureComponents('allah-ar'))

(
    "alef-ar",
    "lam-ar.init",
    "lam-ar.medi",
    "heh-ar.fina"
)

addCallback(function, hook)¶

Add a user-defined function to the glyph window’s drawing operations, in the foreground and background for the active glyph as well as in the inactive glyphs.

The function names are used to add/remove the functions to the hooks, so make sure to use unique function names.

Your function needs to accept two values: layer which will contain the respective GSLayer object of the layer we’re dealing with and info which is a dictionary and contains the value Scale (for the moment).

For the hooks these constants are defined: DRAWFOREGROUND, DRAWBACKGROUND, DRAWINACTIVE, DOCUMENTWASSAVED, DOCUMENTOPENED, TABDIDOPEN, TABWILLCLOSE, UPDATEINTERFACE, MOUSEMOVED. For more information check the constants section.

def drawGlyphIntoBackground(layer, info):

	# Due to internal Glyphs.app structure, we need to catch and print exceptions
	# of these callback functions with try/except like so:
	try:

		# Your drawing code here
		NSColor.redColor().set()
		layer.bezierPath.fill()

	# Error. Print exception.
	except:
		import traceback
		print(traceback.format_exc())

# add your function to the hook
Glyphs.addCallback(drawGlyphIntoBackground, DRAWBACKGROUND)

removeCallback(function)¶

Remove the function you’ve previously added.

# remove your function to the hook
Glyphs.removeCallback(drawGlyphIntoBackground)

redraw()¶: Redraws all Edit views and Preview views.

showNotification(title, message)¶

Shows the user a notification in Mac’s Notification Center.

Glyphs.showNotification('Export fonts', 'The export of the fonts was successful.')

localize(localization)¶

Return a string in the language of Glyphs.app’s UI locale, which must be supplied as a dictionary using language codes as keys.

The argument is a dictionary in the languageCode: translatedString format.

You don’t need to supply strings in all languages that the Glyphs.app UI supports. A subset will do. Just make sure that you add at least an English string to default to next to all your other translated strings. Also don’t forget to mark strings as unicode strings ('öäüß') when they contain non-ASCII content for proper encoding, and add a # encoding: utf-8 to the top of all your .py files.

Tip: You can find Glyphs’ localized languages here Glyphs.defaults["AppleLanguages"].

print(Glyphs.localize({
	'en': 'Hello World',
	'de': 'Hallöle Welt',
	'fr': 'Bonjour tout le monde',
	'es': 'Hola Mundo',
}))

# Given that your Mac’s system language is set to German
# and Glyphs.app UI is set to use localization (change in preferences),
# it will print:
> Hallöle Welt

activateReporter(reporter)¶

Activate a reporter plug-in by its object (see Glyphs.reporters) or class name.

Glyphs.activateReporter('GlyphsMasterCompatibility')

deactivateReporter(reporter)¶

Deactivate a reporter plug-in by its object (see Glyphs.reporters) or class name.

Glyphs.deactivateReporter('GlyphsMasterCompatibility')

`GSDocument`¶

The document class

class GSDocument¶

Properties

`font`
`filePath`

Properties

font¶

The active GSFont

Type: GSFont

filePath¶

The last save location

Type: str

`GSFont`¶

Implementation of the font object. This object is host to the masters used for interpolation. Even when no interpolation is involved, for the sake of object model consistency there will still be one master and one instance representing a single font.

Also, the glyphs are attached to the Font object right here, not one level down to the masters. The different masters’ glyphs are available as layers attached to the glyph objects which are attached here.

class GSFont¶

Properties

Functions

`save()`
`close()`
`show()`
`disableUpdateInterface()`
`enableUpdateInterface()`
`kerningForPair()`
`setKerningForPair()`
`removeKerningForPair()`
`newTab()`
`updateFeatures()`
`compileFeatures()`

Properties

parent¶

Returns the internal NSDocument document. Read-only.

Type: NSDocument

masters¶

Collection of GSFontMaster objects.

Type: list

instances¶

Collection of GSInstance objects.

Type: list

axes¶

Collection of GSAxis:

Type: list

New in version 2.5.

Changed in version 3.

properties¶

Holds the fonts info properties. Can be instances of GSFontInfoValueSingle and GSFontInfoValueLocalized.

The localised values use language tags defined in the middle column of Language System Tags table: <https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/typography/opentype/spec/languagetags>.

To find specific values, use font.propertyForName_(name) or font.propertyForName_languageTag_(name, languageTag).

Type: list

New in version 3.

metrics¶

a list of all GSMetric objects.

Type: list

stems¶

The stems. A list of GSMetric objects. For each metric, there is a metricsValue in the masters, linked by the id.

Type: list, dict

font.stems[0].horizontal = False

glyphs¶

Collection of GSGlyph objects. Returns a list, but you may also call glyphs using index or glyph name or character as key.

Type: list, dict

# Access all glyphs
for glyph in font.glyphs:
	print(glyph)
<GSGlyph "A" with 4 layers>
<GSGlyph "B" with 4 layers>
<GSGlyph "C" with 4 layers>
...

# Access one glyph
print(font.glyphs['A'])
<GSGlyph "A" with 4 layers>

# Access a glyph by character (new in v2.4.1)
print(font.glyphs['Ư'])
<GSGlyph "Uhorn" with 4 layers>

# Access a glyph by unicode (new in v2.4.1)
print(font.glyphs['01AF'])
<GSGlyph "Uhorn" with 4 layers>

# Access a glyph by index
print(font.glyphs[145])
<GSGlyph "Uhorn" with 4 layers>

# Add a glyph
font.glyphs.append(GSGlyph('adieresis'))

# Duplicate a glyph under a different name
newGlyph = font.glyphs['A'].copy()
newGlyph.name = 'A.alt'
font.glyphs.append(newGlyph)

# Delete a glyph
del(font.glyphs['A.alt'])

classes¶

Collection of GSClass objects, representing OpenType glyph classes.

Type: list

# add a class
font.classes.append(GSClass('uppercaseLetters', 'A B C D E'))

# access all classes
for class in font.classes:
	print(class.name)

# access one class
print(font.classes['uppercaseLetters'].code)

# delete a class
del(font.classes['uppercaseLetters'])

features¶

Collection of GSFeature objects, representing OpenType features.

Type: list

# add a feature
font.features.append(GSFeature('liga', 'sub f i by fi;'))

# access all features
for feature in font.features:
	print(feature.code)

# access one feature
print(font.features['liga'].code)

# delete a feature
del(font.features['liga'])

featurePrefixes¶

Collection of GSFeaturePrefix objects, containing stuff that needs to be outside of the OpenType features.

Type: list

# add a prefix
font.featurePrefixes.append(GSFeaturePrefix('LanguageSystems', 'languagesystem DFLT dflt;'))

# access all prefixes
for prefix in font.featurePrefixes:
	print(prefix.code)

# access one prefix
print(font.featurePrefixes['LanguageSystems'].code)

# delete
del(font.featurePrefixes['LanguageSystems'])

copyright¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSFont.properties

Type: str

copyrights¶

This accesses all localised copyright values. For details GSFont.properties

Type: dict

Font.copyrights["ENG"] = "All rights reserved"

New in version 3.0.3.

license¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSFont.properties

Type: str

New in version 3.0.3.

licenses¶

This accesses all localised license values. For details GSFont.properties

Type: dict

Font.licenses["ENG"] = "This font may be installed on all of your machines and printers, but you may not sell or give these fonts to anyone else."

New in version 3.0.3.

compatibleFullName¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSFont.properties

Type: str

New in version 3.0.3.

compatibleFullNames¶

This accesses all localised designer values. For details GSFont.properties

Type: dict

Font.compatibleFullNames["ENG"] = "MyFont Condensed Bold"

New in version 3.0.3.

sampleText¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSFont.properties

Type: str

New in version 3.0.3.

sampleTexts¶

This accesses all localised designer values. For details GSFont.properties

Type: dict

Font.sampleTexts["ENG"] = "This is my sample text"

New in version 3.0.3.

description¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSFont.properties

Type: str

New in version 3.0.3.

descriptions¶

This accesses all localised designer values. For details GSFont.properties

Type: dict

Font.descriptions["ENG"] = "This is my description"

New in version 3.0.3.

designer¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSFont.properties

Type: str

designers¶

This accesses all localised designer values. For details GSFont.properties

Type: dict

Font.designers["ENG"] = "John Smith"

New in version 3.0.3.

trademark¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSFont.properties

Type: str

New in version 3.0.3.

trademarks¶

This accesses all localised trademark values. For details GSFont.properties

Type: dict

Font.trademarks["ENG"] = "ThisFont is a trademark by MyFoundry.com"

New in version 3.0.3.

designerURL¶

Type: str

manufacturer¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSFont.properties

Type: str

manufacturers¶

This accesses all localised manufacturer values. For details GSFont.properties

Type: dict

Font.manufacturers["ENG"] = "My English Corporation"

New in version 3.0.3.

manufacturerURL¶

Type: str

versionMajor¶

Type: int

versionMinor¶

Type: int

date¶

Type: datetime.datetime

print(font.date)
2015-06-08 09:39:05

# set date to now
font.date = datetime.datetime.now()
# using NSDate
font.date = NSDate.date()
# or in seconds since Epoch
font.date = time.time()

familyName¶

Family name of the typeface.

Type: str

familyNames¶

This accesses all localised family name values. For details GSFont.properties

Type: dict

Font.familyNames["ENG"] = "MyFamilyName"

New in version 3.0.3.

upm¶

Units per Em

Type: int

note¶

Type: str

kerning¶

Kerning for LTR writing A multi-level dictionary. The first level’s key is the GSFontMaster.id (each master has its own kerning), the second level’s key is the GSGlyph.id or class id (@MMK_L_XX) of the first glyph, the third level’s key is a glyph id or class id (@MMK_R_XX) for the second glyph. The values are the actual kerning values.

To set a value, it is better to use the method GSFont.setKerningForPair(). This ensures a better data integrity (and is faster).

Type: dict

kerningRTL¶

Kerning for RTL writing A multi-level dictionary. The first level’s key is the GSFontMaster.id (each master has its own kerning), the second level’s key is the GSGlyph.id or class id (@MMK_L_XX) of the first glyph, the third level’s key is a glyph id or class id (@MMK_R_XX) for the second glyph. The values are the actual kerning values.

To set a value, it is better to use the method GSFont.setKerningForPair(). This ensures a better data integrity (and is faster).

Type: dict

kerningVertical¶

Kerning for vertical writing A multi-level dictionary. The first level’s key is the GSFontMaster.id (each master has its own kerning), the second level’s key is the GSGlyph.id or class id (@MMK_L_XX) of the first glyph, the third level’s key is a glyph id or class id (@MMK_R_XX) for the second glyph. The values are the actual kerning values.

To set a value, it is better to use the method GSFont.setKerningForPair(). This ensures a better data integrity (and is faster).

Type: dict

userData¶

A dictionary to store user data. Use a unique key and only use objects that can be stored in a property list (string, list, dict, numbers, NSData) otherwise the data will not be recoverable from the saved file.

Type: dict

# set value
font.userData['rememberToMakeCoffee'] = True

# delete value
del font.userData['rememberToMakeCoffee']

tempData¶

A dictionary to store data temporarily. Use a unique key. This will not be saved to file. If you need the data persistent, use layer.userData

Type: dict

# set value
layer.tempData['rememberToMakeCoffee'] = True

# delete value
del layer.tempData['rememberToMakeCoffee']

disablesNiceNames¶

Corresponds to the “Don’t use nice names” setting from the Font Info dialog.

Type: bool

customParameters¶

The custom parameters. List of GSCustomParameter objects. You can access them by name or by index.

Type: list, dict

# access all parameters
for parameter in font.customParameters:
	print(parameter)

# set a parameter
font.customParameters['glyphOrder'] = ["a", "b", "c"]

# delete a parameter
del(font.customParameters['glyphOrder'])

grid¶

Corresponds to the “Grid spacing” setting from the Info dialog.

Type: int

gridSubDivisions¶

Corresponds to the “Grid sub divisions” setting from the Info dialog.

Type: int

gridLength¶

Ready calculated size of grid for rounding purposes. Result of division of grid with gridSubDivisions.

Type: float

disablesAutomaticAlignment¶

Type: bool

keyboardIncrement¶

Distance of movement by arrow keys. Default:1

Type: float

keyboardIncrementBig¶

Distance of movement by arrow plus Shift key. Default:10

Type: float

New in version 3.0.

keyboardIncrementHuge¶

Distance of movement by arrow plus Command key. Default:100

Type: float

New in version 3.0.

snapToObjects¶

disable snapping to nodes and background

Type: bool

New in version 3.0.1.

previewRemoveOverlap¶

disable preview remove overlap

Type: bool

New in version 3.0.1.

selection¶

Returns a list of all selected glyphs in the Font View.

Type: list

selectedLayers¶

Returns a list of all selected layers in the active tab.

If a glyph is being edited, it will be the only glyph returned in this list. Otherwise the list will contain all glyphs selected with the Text tool.

Type: list

selectedFontMaster¶

Returns the active master (selected in the toolbar).

Type: GSFontMaster

masterIndex¶

Returns the index of the active master (selected in the toolbar).

Type: int

currentText¶

The text of the current Edit view.

Unencoded and none ASCII glyphs will use a slash and the glyph name. (e.g: /a.sc). Setting unicode strings works.

Type: str

tabs¶

List of open Edit view tabs in UI, as list of GSEditViewController objects.

Type: list

# open new tab with text
font.newTab('hello')

# access all tabs
for tab in font.tabs:
	print(tab)

# close last tab
font.tabs[-1].close()

fontView¶

Type: GSFontViewController

currentTab¶

Active Edit view tab.

Type: GSEditViewController

filepath¶

On-disk location of GSFont object.

Type: str

tool¶

Name of tool selected in toolbar.

For available names including third-party plug-ins that come in the form of selectable tools, see GSFont.tools below.

Type: string

font.tool = 'SelectTool' # Built-in tool
font.tool = 'GlyphsAppSpeedPunkTool' # Third party plug-in

tools¶

Returns a list of available tool names, including third-party plug-ins.

Type: list, string

appVersion¶: Returns the version that the file was last saved

New in version 2.5.

formatVersion¶

The file-format the font should be written. possible values are ‘2’ and ‘3’

Type: int

New in version 3.

Functions

save([path=None, formatVersion=3, makeCopy])¶

Saves the font.

If no path is given, it saves to the existing location.

Parameters

path (str) – Optional file path
formatVersion (int) – the format of the file
makeCopy (bool) – saves a new file without changeing the documents file paths

close([ignoreChanges=True])¶

Closes the font.

Parameters: ignoreChanges (bool) – Optional. Ignore changes to the font upon closing

disableUpdateInterface()¶: Disables interface updates and thus speeds up glyph processing. Call this before you do big changes to the font, or to its glyphs. Make sure that you call font.enableUpdateInterface() when you are done.

enableUpdateInterface()¶: This re-enables the interface update. Only makes sense to call if you have disabled it earlier.

show()¶: Makes font visible in the application, either by bringing an already open font window to the front or by appending a formerly invisible font object (such as the result of a copy() operation) as a window to the application.

New in version 2.4.1.

kerningForPair(fontMasterId, leftKey, rightKey[, direction = LTR])¶

This returns the kerning value for the two specified glyphs (leftKey or rightKey is the glyph name) or a kerning group key (@MMK_X_XX).

Parameters

fontMasterId (str) – The id of the FontMaster
leftKey (str) – either a glyph name or a class name
rightKey (str) – either a glyph name or a class name
direction (int) – optional writing direction (see Constants; ‘LTR’ (0) or ‘RTLTTB’). Default is LTR.

Returns

The kerning value

Return type

float

# print(kerning between w and e for currently selected master)
font.kerningForPair(font.selectedFontMaster.id, 'w', 'e')
-15.0

# print(kerning between group T and group A for currently selected master)
# ('L' = left side of the pair and 'R' = left side of the pair)
font.kerningForPair(font.selectedFontMaster.id, '@MMK_L_T', '@MMK_R_A')
-75.0

# in the same font, kerning between T and A would be zero, because they use group kerning instead.
font.kerningForPair(font.selectedFontMaster.id, 'T', 'A')
9.22337203685e+18 # (this is the maximum number for 64 bit. It is used as an empty value)

setKerningForPair(fontMasterId, leftKey, rightKey, value[, direction = LTR])¶

This sets the kerning for the two specified glyphs (leftKey or rightKey is the glyphname) or a kerning group key (@MMK_X_XX).

Parameters

fontMasterId (str) – The id of the FontMaster
leftKey (str) – either a glyph name or a class name
rightKey (str) – either a glyph name or a class name
value (float) – kerning value
direction (str) – optional writing direction (see Constants). Default is LTR.

# set kerning for group T and group A for currently selected master
# ('L' = left side of the pair and 'R' = left side of the pair)
font.setKerningForPair(font.selectedFontMaster.id, '@MMK_L_T', '@MMK_R_A', -75)

removeKerningForPair(FontMasterId, LeftKey, RightKey, direction=LTR)¶

Removes the kerning for the two specified glyphs (LeftKey or RightKey is the glyphname) or a kerning group key (@MMK_X_XX).

Parameters

FontMasterId (str) – The id of the FontMaster
LeftKey (str) – either a glyph name or a class name
RightKey (str) – either a glyph name or a class name
direction (int) – optional writing direction (see Constants; ‘LTR’ (0) or ‘RTLTTB’). Default is LTR. (added in 2.6.6)

# remove kerning for group T and group A for all masters
# ('L' = left side of the pair and 'R' = left side of the pair)
for master in font.masters:
	font.removeKerningForPair(master.id, '@MMK_L_T', '@MMK_R_A')

newTab([tabText])¶

Opens a new tab in the current document window, optionally with text, and return that tab object

Parameters: tabText – Text or glyph names escaped with ‘/’ OR list of layers

# open new tab
tab = font.newTab('abcdef')
print(tab)

# or
tab = font.newTab([layer1, layer2])
print(tab)

updateFeatures()¶: Updates all OpenType features and classes at once, including generating necessary new features and classes. Equivalent to the “Update” button in the features panel. This already includes the compilation of the features (see font.compileFeatures()).

New in version 2.4.

compileFeatures()¶: Compiles the features, thus making the new feature code functionally available in the editor. Equivalent to the “Test” button in the features panel.

New in version 2.5.

`GSAxis`¶

Implementation of the axis object.

class GSAxis¶

Properties

`name`
`axisTag`
`axisId`
`hidden`
`font`

Properties

font¶

Reference to the GSFont object that contains the axis. Normally that is set by the app.

Type: GSFont

name¶

The name of the axis

Type: str

axisTag¶

The axisTag. this is a four letter string. see OpenType Design-Variation Axis Tag Registry.

Type: str

id¶

The id to link the values in the masters

Type: str

hidden¶

If the axis should be shown to the user

Type: bool

`GSMetric`¶

Implementation of the metric object. It is used to link the metrics and stems in the masters.

class GSMetric¶

Properties

`name`
`id`
`filter`
`type`
`horizontal`

Properties

font¶

Reference to the GSFont object that contains the metric. Normally that is set by the app.

Type: GSFont

name¶

The name of the metric or stem

Type: str

id¶

The id to link the values in the masters

Type: str

type¶

The metrics type

Type: int

filter¶

A filter to limit the scope of the metric.

Type: NSPredicate

horizontal¶

This is used for stem metrics. so only use this for font.stems

Type: bool

`GSFontMaster`¶

Implementation of the master object. This corresponds with the “Masters” pane in the Font Info. In Glyphs.app, the glyphs of each master are reachable not here, but as layers attached to the glyphs attached to the font object. See the infographic on top for better understanding.

class GSFontMaster¶

`id`
`name`
`axes`
`properties`
`ascender`
`capHeight`
`xHeight`
`descender`
`italicAngle`
`alignmentZones`
`blueValues`
`otherBlues`
`guides`
`stems`
`userData`
`customParameters`
`font`

Properties

id¶

Used to identify Layers in the Glyph

see GSGlyph.layers

Type: str

# ID of first master
print(font.masters[0].id)
3B85FBE0-2D2B-4203-8F3D-7112D42D745E

# use this master to access the glyph’s corresponding layer
print(glyph.layers[font.masters[0].id])
<GSLayer "Light" (A)>

font¶

Reference to the GSFont object that contains the master. Normally that is set by the app, only if the instance is not actually added to the font, then set this manually.

Type: GSFont

New in version 2.5.2.

name¶

The human-readable identification of the master, e.g., “Bold Condensed”.

Type: string

axes¶

List of floats specifying the positions for each axis

Type: list

# setting a value for a specific axis
master.axes[2] = 12
# setting all values at once
master.axes = [100, 12, 3.5]

New in version 2.5.2.

properties¶

Holds the fonts info properties. Can be instances of GSFontInfoValueSingle and GSFontInfoValueLocalized

The localised values use language tags defined in the middle column of Language System Tags table: <https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/typography/opentype/spec/languagetags>.

To find specific values, use master.propertyForName_(name) or master.propertyForName_languageTag_(name, languageTag).

Type: list

New in version 3.

metrics¶

a list of all GSMetricValue objects.

Type: list

ascender¶

This is the default ascender of the master. There might be other values that are for specific glyphs. See layer.metrics

Type: float

capHeight¶

This is the default capHeight of the master. There might be other values that are for specific glyphs. See layer.metrics

Type: float

xHeight¶

This is the default xHeight of the master. There might be other values that are for specific glyphs. See layer.metrics

Type: float

descender¶

This is the default descender of the master. There might be other values that are for specific glyphs. See layer.metrics

Type: float

italicAngle¶

Type: float

stems¶

The stems. This is a list of numbers. For the time being, this can be set only as an entire list at once.

Type: list

# Set stems
TODO: Not updated yet
font.masters[0].stems = [10, 11, 20]

alignmentZones¶

Collection of GSAlignmentZone objects. Read-only.

Type: list

blueValues¶

PS hinting Blue Values calculated from the master’s alignment zones. Read-only.

Type: list

otherBlues¶

PS hinting Other Blues calculated from the master’s alignment zones. Read-only.

Type: list

guides¶

Collection of GSGuide objects. These are the font-wide (actually master-wide) red guidelines. For glyph-level guidelines (attached to the layers) see GSLayer.guides

Type: list

userData¶

A dictionary to store user data. Use a unique key, and only use objects that can be stored in a property list (bool, string, list, dict, numbers, NSData), otherwise the data will not be recoverable from the saved file.

Type: dict

# set value
font.masters[0].userData['rememberToMakeTea'] = True

# delete value
del font.masters[0].userData['rememberToMakeTea']

customParameters¶

The custom parameters. List of GSCustomParameter objects. You can access them by name or by index.

Type: list, dict

# access all parameters
for parameter in font.masters[0].customParameters:
	print(parameter)

# set a parameter
font.masters[0].customParameters['underlinePosition'] = -135

# delete a parameter
del(font.masters[0].customParameters['underlinePosition'])

`GSAlignmentZone`¶

Implementation of the alignmentZone object.

There is no distinction between Blue Zones and Other Zones. All negative zones (except the one with position 0) will be exported as Other Zones.

The zone for the baseline should have position 0 (zero) and a negative width.

class GSAlignmentZone([pos, size])¶

Parameters

pos – The position of the zone
size – The size of the zone

Properties

`position`
`size`

Properties

position¶

Type: float

size¶

Type: float

`GSInstance`¶

Implementation of the instance object. This corresponds with the “Instances” pane in the Font Info.

class GSInstance¶

Properties

`active`
`name`
`visible`
`weightClass`
`widthClass`
`axes`
`properties`
`isItalic`
`isBold`
`linkStyle`
`preferredFamily`
`preferredSubfamilyName`
`windowsFamily`
`windowsStyle`
`windowsLinkedToStyle`
`fontName`
`fullName`
`compatibleFullName`
`compatibleFullNames`
`copyright`
`copyrights`
`description`
`descriptions`
`designer`
`designers`
`designerURL`
`familyName`
`familyNames`
`license`
`licenses`
`manufacturer`
`manufacturers`
`manufacturerURL`
`preferredFamilyName`
`preferredFamilyNames`
`preferredSubfamilyName`
`preferredSubfamilyNames`
`sampleText`
`sampleTexts`
`styleMapFamilyName`
`styleMapFamilyNames`
`styleMapStyleName`
`styleMapStyleNames`
`styleName`
`styleNames`
`trademark`
`trademarks`
`variableStyleName`
`variableStyleNames`
`font`
`customParameters`
`instanceInterpolations`
`manualInterpolation`
`interpolatedFontProxy`
`interpolatedFont`
`lastExportedFilePath`

Functions

`generate()`
`addAsMaster()`

Properties

active¶

Type: bool

visible¶

if visible in the preview in edit view

Type: bool

name¶

Name of instance. Corresponds to the “Style Name” field in the font info. This is used for naming the exported fonts.

Type: string

type¶

the type of the instance. Can be either INSTANCETYPESINGLE or INSTANCETYPEVARIABLE.

Type: int

weightClass¶

Weight class, as set in Font Info, as an integer. Values from 1 to 1000 are supported but 100–900 is recommended.

For actual position in interpolation design space, use GSInstance.axes.

Type: int

weightClassName¶

Human readable name corresponding to the value of GSInstance.weightClass. This attribute is read-only.

Can be None if GSInstance.weightClass is not a multiple of 100.

Type: string

widthClass¶

Width class, as set in Font Info, as an integer. Values from 1 to 9 are supported.

For actual position in interpolation design space, use GSInstance.axes.

Type: int

widthClassName¶

Human readable name corresponding to the value of GSInstance.widthClass. This attribute is read-only.

Type: string

axes¶

List of floats specifying the positions for each axis

Type: list

# setting a value for a specific axis
instance.axes[2] = 12
# setting all values at once
instance.axes = [100, 12, 3.5] # make sure that the count of numbers matches the count of axes

New in version 2.5.2.

properties¶

Holds the fonts info properties. Can be instances of GSFontInfoValueSingle and GSFontInfoValueLocalized

The localised values use language tags defined in the middle column of Language System Tags table: <https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/typography/opentype/spec/languagetags>.

To find specific values, use instance.propertyForName_(name) or instance.propertyForName_languageTag_(name, languageTag).

Type: list

New in version 3.

isItalic¶

Italic flag for style linking

Type: bool

isBold¶

Bold flag for style linking

Type: bool

linkStyle¶

Linked style

Type: string

preferredFamily¶

preferredFamily

Type: string

windowsFamily¶

windowsFamily

Type: string

windowsStyle¶

This is computed from “isBold” and “isItalic”. Read-only.

Type: string

windowsLinkedToStyle¶

windowsLinkedToStyle. Read-only.

Type: string

fontName¶

fontName (postscriptFontName)

Type: string

fullName¶

fullName (postscriptFullName)

Type: string

compatibleFullName¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSInstance.properties

Type: str

New in version 3.0.3.

compatibleFullNames¶

This accesses all localised compatibleFullNames values. For details GSInstance.properties

Type: dict

Instance.compatibleFullNames["ENG"] = "MyFont Condensed Bold"

New in version 3.0.3.

copyright¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSInstance.properties

Type: str

New in version 3.0.2.

copyrights¶

This accesses all localised copyright values. For details GSInstance.properties

Type: dict

Instance.copyrights["ENG"] = "All rights reserved"

New in version 3.0.3.

description¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSInstance.properties

Type: str

New in version 3.0.3.

descriptions¶

This accesses all localised description values. For details GSInstance.properties

Type: dict

Instance.descriptions["ENG"] = "This is my description"

New in version 3.0.3.

designer¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSInstance.properties

Type: str

New in version 3.0.2.

designerURL¶

Type: str

New in version 3.0.2.

designers¶

This accesses all localised designer values. For details GSInstance.properties

Type: dict

Instance.designers["ENG"] = "John Smith"

New in version 3.0.3.

familyName¶

familyName

Type: string

familyNames¶

This accesses all localised family name values. For details GSInstance.properties

Type: dict

Instance.familyNames["ENG"] = "MyFamilyName"

New in version 3.0.3.

license¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSInstance.properties

Type: str

New in version 3.0.3.

licenses¶

This accesses all localised family name values. For details GSInstance.properties

Type: dict

Instance.licenses["ENG"] = "This font may be installed on all of your machines and printers, but you may not sell or give these fonts to anyone else."

New in version 3.0.3.

manufacturer¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSInstance.properties

Type: str

New in version 3.0.2.

manufacturers¶

This accesses all localised family name values. For details GSInstance.properties

Type: dict

Instance.manufacturers["ENG"] = "My English Corporation"

New in version 3.0.3.

preferredFamilyName¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSInstance.properties

Type: str

New in version 3.0.3.

preferredFamilyNames¶

This accesses all localised designer values. For details GSInstance.properties

Type: dict

Instance.preferredFamilyNames["ENG"] = "MyFamilyName"

New in version 3.0.3.

preferredSubfamilyName¶

preferredSubfamilyName

Type: string

preferredSubfamilyNames¶

This accesses all localised designer values. For details GSInstance.properties

Type: dict

Instance.preferredSubfamilyNames["ENG"] = "Regular"

New in version 3.0.3.

sampleText¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSInstance.properties

Type: str

New in version 3.0.3.

sampleTexts¶

This accesses all localised designer values. For details GSInstance.properties

Type: dict

Instance.sampleTexts["ENG"] = "This is my sample text"

New in version 3.0.3.

styleMapFamilyName¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSInstance.properties

Type: str

New in version 3.0.3.

styleMapFamilyNames¶

This accesses all localised designer values. For details GSInstance.properties

Type: dict

Instance.styleMapFamilyNames["ENG"] = "MyFamily Bold"

New in version 3.0.3.

styleMapStyleName¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSInstance.properties

Type: str

New in version 3.0.3.

styleMapStyleNames¶

This accesses all localised designer values. For details GSInstance.properties

Type: dict

Instance.styleMapStyleNames["ENG"] = "Bold"

New in version 3.0.3.

styleName¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSInstance.properties

Type: str

New in version 3.0.3.

styleNames¶

This accesses all localised styleName values. For details GSInstance.properties

Type: dict

Instance.styleNames["ENG"] = "Regular"

New in version 3.0.3.

trademark¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSInstance.properties

Type: str

New in version 3.0.3.

trademarks¶

This accesses all localised trademark values. For details GSInstance.properties

Type: dict

Instance.trademarks["ENG"] = "ThisFont is a trademark by MyFoundry.com"

New in version 3.0.3.

variableStyleName¶

This accesses the default value only. The localisations can be accessed by GSInstance.properties

Type: str

New in version 3.0.3.

variableStyleNames¶

This accesses all localised variableStyleName values. For details GSInstance.properties

Type: dict

Instance.variableStyleNames["ENG"] = "Roman"

New in version 3.0.3.

manufacturerURL¶

Type: str

New in version 3.0.2.

font¶

Reference to the GSFont object that contains the instance. Normally that is set by the app, only if the instance is not actually added to the font, then set this manually.

Type: GSFont

New in version 2.5.1.

customParameters¶

The custom parameters. List of GSCustomParameter objects. You can access them by name or by index.

Type: list, dict

# access all parameters
for parameter in font.instances[0].customParameters:
	print(parameter)

# set a parameter
font.instances[0].customParameters['hheaLineGap'] = 10

# delete a parameter
del(font.instances[0].customParameters['hheaLineGap'])

userData¶

A dictionary to store user data. Use a unique key and only use objects that can be stored in a property list (string, list, dict, numbers, NSData) otherwise the data will not be recoverable from the saved file.

Type: dict

# set value
instance.userData['rememberToMakeCoffee'] = True

# delete value
del instance.userData['rememberToMakeCoffee']

tempData¶

A dictionary to store data temporarily. Use a unique key. This will not be saved to file. If you need the data persistent, use instance.userData

Type: dict

# set value
instance.tempData['rememberToMakeCoffee'] = True

# delete value
del instance.tempData['rememberToMakeCoffee']

instanceInterpolations¶

A dict that contains the interpolation coefficients for each master. This is automatically updated if you change interpolationWeight, interpolationWidth, interpolationCustom. It contains FontMaster IDs as keys and coefficients for that master as values. Or, you can set it manually if you set manualInterpolation to True. There is no UI for this, so you need to do that with a script.

Type: dict

manualInterpolation¶

Disables automatic calculation of instanceInterpolations This allows manual setting of instanceInterpolations.

Type: bool

interpolatedFontProxy¶

a proxy font that acts similar to a normal font object but only interpolates the glyphs you ask it for.

It is not properly wrapped yet. So you need to use the ObjectiveC methods directly.

interpolatedFont¶

Returns a ready interpolated GSFont object representing this instance. Other than the source object, this interpolated font will contain only one master and one instance.

Note: When accessing several properties of such an instance consecutively, it is advisable to create the instance once into a variable and then use that. Otherwise, the instance object will be completely interpolated upon each access. See sample below.

Type: GSFont

# create instance once
interpolated = Glyphs.font.instances[0].interpolatedFont

# then access it several times
print(interpolated.masters)
print(interpolated.instances)

(<GSFontMaster "Light" width 100.0 weight 75.0>)
(<GSInstance "Web" width 100.0 weight 75.0>)

Functions

generate([Format, FontPath, AutoHint, RemoveOverlap, UseSubroutines, UseProductionNames, Containers, DecomposeSmartStuff])¶

Exports the instance. All parameters are optional.

Parameters

The format of the outlines (str) – OTF or TTF. Default: OTF
FontPath (str) – The destination path for the final fonts. If None, it uses the default location set in the export dialog
AutoHint (bool) – If autohinting should be applied. Default: True
RemoveOverlap (bool) – If overlaps should be removed. Default: True
UseSubroutines (bool) – If to use subroutines for CFF. Default: True
UseProductionNames (bool) – If to use production names. Default: True
Containers (bool) – list of container formats. Use any of the following constants: PLAIN, WOFF, WOFF2, EOT. Default: PLAIN
DecomposeSmartStuff (bool) – If smart components should be decomposed. Default: True

Returns

On success, True; on failure, error message.

Return type

bool/list

# export all instances as OpenType (.otf) and WOFF2 to user’s font folder

exportFolder = '/Users/myself/Library/Fonts'

for instance in Glyphs.font.instances:
	instance.generate(FontPath = exportFolder, Containers = [PLAIN, WOFF2])

Glyphs.showNotification('Export fonts', 'The export of %s was successful.' % (Glyphs.font.familyName))

lastExportedFilePath¶

Returns a ready interpolated GSFont object representing this instance. Other than the source object, this interpolated font will contain only one master and one instance.

Note: When accessing several properties of such an instance consecutively, it is advisable to create the instance once into a variable and then use that. Otherwise, the instance object will be completely interpolated upon each access. See sample below.

Type: str

# create instance once
interpolated = Glyphs.font.instances[0].interpolatedFont

# then access it several times
print(interpolated.masters)
print(interpolated.instances)

(<GSFontMaster "Light" width 100.0 weight 75.0>)
(<GSInstance "Web" width 100.0 weight 75.0>)

addAsMaster()¶: Add this instance as a new master to the font. Identical to “Instance as Master” menu item in the Font Info’s Instances section.

New in version 2.6.2.

`GSCustomParameter`¶

Implementation of the Custom Parameter object. It stores a name/value pair.

You can append GSCustomParameter objects for example to GSFont.customParameters, but this way you may end up with duplicates. It is best to access the custom parameters through its dictionary interface like this:

# access all parameters
for parameter in font.customParameters:
	print(parameter)

# set a parameter
font.customParameters['trademark'] = 'ThisFont is a trademark by MyFoundry.com'

# delete a parameter
del(font.customParameters['trademark'])

class GSCustomParameter([name, value])¶

Parameters

name – The name
value – The value

Properties

`name`
`value`

Properties

name¶

Type: str

value¶

Type: str, list, dict, int, float

parent¶

Type: GSFont, GSFontMaster or GSInstance

`GSClass`¶

Implementation of the class object. It is used to store OpenType classes.

For details on how to access them, please look at GSFont.classes

class GSClass([tag, code])¶

Parameters

tag – The class name
code – A list of glyph names, separated by space or newline

`name`
`code`	Utilities needed to emulate Python’s interactive interpreter.
`automatic`
`active`

Properties

name¶

The class name

Type: str

code¶

A string with space separated glyph names.

Type: str

automatic¶

Define whether this class should be auto-generated when pressing the ‘Update’ button in the Font Info.

Type: bool

active¶

Type: bool

New in version 2.5.

tempData¶

A dictionary to store data temporarily. Use a unique key. This will not be saved to file. If you need the data persistent, use class.userData

Type: dict

# set value
class.tempData['rememberToMakeCoffee'] = True

# delete value
del class.tempData['rememberToMakeCoffee']

`GSFeaturePrefix`¶

Implementation of the featurePrefix object. It is used to store things that need to be outside of a feature like standalone lookups.

For details on how to access them, please look at GSFont.featurePrefixes

class GSFeaturePrefix([tag, code])¶

Parameters

tag – The Prefix name
code – The feature code in Adobe FDK syntax

`name`
`code`	Utilities needed to emulate Python’s interactive interpreter.
`automatic`
`active`

Properties

name¶

The FeaturePrefix name

Type: str

code¶

A String containing feature code.

Type: str

automatic¶

Define whether this should be auto-generated when pressing the ‘Update’ button in the Font Info.

Type: bool

active¶

Type: bool

New in version 2.5.

`GSFeature`¶

Implementation of the feature object. It is used to implement OpenType Features in the Font Info.

For details on how to access them, please look at GSFont.features

class GSFeature([tag, code])¶

Parameters

tag – The feature name
code – The feature code in Adobe FDK syntax

Properties

`name`
`code`	Utilities needed to emulate Python’s interactive interpreter.
`automatic`
`notes`
`active`

Functions

update()

Properties

name¶

The feature name

Type: str

code¶

The Feature code in Adobe FDK syntax.

Type: str

automatic¶

Define whether this feature should be auto-generated when pressing the ‘Update’ button in the Font Info.

Type: bool

notes¶

Some extra text. Is shown in the bottom of the feature window. Contains the stylistic set name parameter

Type: str

active¶

Type: bool

New in version 2.5.

Functions

update()¶

Calls the automatic feature code generator for this feature. You can use this to update all OpenType features before export.

# first update all features
for feature in font.features:
	if feature.automatic:
		feature.update()

# then export fonts
for instance in font.instances:
	if instance.active:
		instance.generate()

tempData¶

A dictionary to store data temporarily. Use a unique key. This will not be saved to file. If you need the data persistent, use feature.userData

Type: dict

# set value
feature.tempData['rememberToMakeCoffee'] = True

# delete value
del feature.tempData['rememberToMakeCoffee']

`GSGlyph`¶

Implementation of the glyph object.

For details on how to access these glyphs, please see GSFont.glyphs

class GSGlyph([name, autoName=True])¶

Parameters

name – The glyph name
autoName – if the name should be converted to nice name

Properties

Functions

`beginUndo()`
`endUndo()`
`updateGlyphInfo()`
`duplicate()`

Properties

parent¶

Reference to the GSFont object.

Type: GSFont

layers¶

The layers of the glyph, collection of GSLayer objects. You can access them either by index or by layer ID, which can be a GSFontMaster.id. The layer IDs are usually a unique string chosen by Glyphs.app and not set manually. They may look like this: 3B85FBE0-2D2B-4203-8F3D-7112D42D745E

Type: list, dict

# get active layer
layer = font.selectedLayers[0]

# get glyph of this layer
glyph = layer.parent

# access all layers of this glyph
for layer in glyph.layers:
	print(layer.name)

# access layer of currently selected master of active glyph ...
# (also use this to access a specific layer of glyphs selected in the Font View)
layer = glyph.layers[font.selectedFontMaster.id]

# directly access 'Bold' layer of active glyph
for master in font.masters:
	if master.name == 'Bold':
		id = master.id
		break
layer = glyph.layers[id]

# add a new layer
newLayer = GSLayer()
newLayer.name = '{125, 100}' # (example for glyph-level intermediate master)
# you may set the master ID that this layer will be associated with, otherwise the first master will be used
newLayer.associatedMasterId = font.masters[-1].id # attach to last master
font.glyphs['a'].layers.append(newLayer)

# duplicate a layer under a different name
newLayer = font.glyphs['a'].layers[0].copy()
newLayer.name = 'Copy of layer'
# FYI, this will still be the old layer ID (in case of duplicating) at this point
print(newLayer.layerId)
font.glyphs['a'].layers.append(newLayer)
# FYI, the layer will have been assigned a new layer ID by now, after having been appended
print(newLayer.layerId)

# replace the second master layer with another layer
newLayer = GSLayer()
newLayer.layerId = font.masters[1].id # Make sure to sync the master layer ID
font.glyphs['a'].layers[font.masters[1].id] = newLayer

# delete last layer of glyph
# (Also works for master layers. They will be emptied)
del(font.glyphs['a'].layers[-1])

# delete currently active layer
del(font.glyphs['a'].layers[font.selectedLayers[0].layerId])

name¶

The name of the glyph. It will be converted to a “nice name” (afii10017 to A-cy) (you can disable this behavior in font info or the app preference)

Type: str

unicode¶

String with the hex Unicode value of glyph, if encoded.

Type: str

unicodes¶

List of Strings‚ with the hex Unicode values of glyph, if encoded.

Type: list

string¶

String representation of glyph, if encoded. This is similar to the string representation that you get when copying glyphs into the clipboard.

Type: str

id¶

An unique identifier for each glyph

Type: string

locked¶

If the glyph is locked TODO

Type: bool

category¶

The category of the glyph. e.g. ‘Letter’, ‘Symbol’ Setting only works if GSGlyph.storeCategory is set (see below).

Type: str

storeCategory¶

Set to True in order to manipulate the GSGlyph.category of the glyph (see above). Makes it possible to ship custom glyph data inside a .glyphs file without a separate GlyphData file. Same as Cmd-Alt-i dialog in UI.

Type: bool

subCategory¶

The subCategory of the glyph. e.g. ‘Currency’, ‘Math’ Setting it only works if GSGlyph.storeSubCategory is set (see below).

Type: str

storeSubCategory¶

Set to True in order to manipulate the GSGlyph.subCategory of the glyph (see above). Makes it possible to ship custom glyph data inside a .glyphs file without a separate GlyphData file. Same as Cmd-Alt-i dialog in UI.

Type: bool

case¶

e.g: GSUppercase, GSLowercase, GSSmallcaps

Type: int

New in version 3.

storeCase¶

Set to True in order to manipulate the GSGlyph.case of the glyph (see above). Makes it possible to ship custom glyph data inside a .glyphs file without a separate GlyphData file. Same as Cmd-Alt-i dialog in UI.

Type: bool

New in version 3.

direction¶

Writing direction.

Defined constants are: LTR (left to right), RTL (right to left), LTRTTB (left to right, vertical, top to bottom e.g. Mongolian), and RTLTTB (right to left, vertical, top to bottom e.g. Chinese, Japanese, Korean)

Type: integer

glyph.direction = RTL

New in version 3.

storeDirection¶

Set to True in order to manipulate the GSGlyph.direction of the glyph (see above). Makes it possible to ship custom glyph data inside a .glyphs file without a separate GlyphData file. Same as Cmd-Alt-i dialog in UI.

Type: bool

New in version 3.

script¶

The script of the glyph, e.g., ‘latin’, ‘arabic’. Setting only works if GSGlyph.storeScript is set (see below).

Type: str

storeScript¶

Set to True in order to manipulate the GSGlyph.script of the glyph (see above). Makes it possible to ship custom glyph data inside a .glyphs file without a separate GlyphData file. Same as Cmd-Alt-i dialog in UI.

Type: bool

productionName¶

The productionName of the glyph. Setting only works if GSGlyph.storeProductionName is set (see below).

Type: str

storeProductionName¶

Set to True in order to manipulate the GSGlyph.productionName of the glyph (see above). Makes it possible to ship custom glyph data inside a .glyphs file without a separate GlyphData file. Same as Cmd-Alt-i dialog in UI.

Type: bool

tags¶

store strings that can be used to filter glyphs or build OT-classes with token filters

Type: list

glyphInfo¶

GSGlyphInfo object for this glyph with detailed information.

Type: GSGlyphInfo

sortName¶

Alternative name of glyph used for sorting in UI.

Type: str

sortNameKeep¶: Alternative name of glyph used for sorting in UI, when using ‘Keep Alternates Next to Base Glyph’ from Font Info. see GSGlyph.storeSortName :type: str

storeSortName¶

Set to True in order to manipulate the GSGlyph.sortName and GSGlyph.sortNameKeep of the glyph (see above). Makes it possible to ship custom glyph data inside a .glyphs file without a separate GlyphData file. Same as Cmd-Alt-i dialog in UI.

Type: bool

leftKerningGroup¶

The leftKerningGroup of the glyph. All glyphs with the same text in the kerning group end up in the same kerning class.

Type: str

rightKerningGroup¶

The rightKerningGroup of the glyph. All glyphs with the same text in the kerning group end up in the same kerning class.

Type: str

topKerningGroup¶

The topKerningGroup of the glyph. All glyphs with the same text in the kerning group end up in the same kerning class.

Type: str

bottomKerningGroup¶

The bottomKerningGroup of the glyph. All glyphs with the same text in the kerning group end up in the same kerning class.

Type: str

leftKerningKey¶

The key to be used with the kerning functions (GSFont.kerningForPair(), GSFont.setKerningForPair(), GSFont.removeKerningForPair()).

If the glyph has a leftKerningGroup attribute, the internally used @MMK_R_xx notation will be returned (note that the R in there stands for the right side of the kerning pair for LTR fonts, which corresponds to the left kerning group of the glyph). If no group is given, the glyph’s name will be returned.

Type: string

# Set kerning for 'T' and all members of kerning class 'a'
# For LTR fonts, always use the .rightKerningKey for the first (left) glyph of the pair, .leftKerningKey for the second (right) glyph.
font.setKerningForPair(font.selectedFontMaster.id, font.glyphs['T'].rightKerningKey, font.glyphs['a'].leftKerningKey, -60)

# which corresponds to:
font.setKerningForPair(font.selectedFontMaster.id, 'T', '@MMK_R_a', -60)

rightKerningKey¶

The key to be used with the kerning functions (GSFont.kerningForPair(), GSFont.setKerningForPair()GSFont.removeKerningForPair()).

If the glyph has a rightKerningGroup attribute, the internally used @MMK_L_xx notation will be returned (note that the L in there stands for the left side of the kerning pair for LTR fonts, which corresponds to the right kerning group of the glyph). If no group is given, the glyph’s name will be returned.

See above for an example.

Type: string

New in version 2.4.

topKerningKey¶: The key to be used with the kerning functions (GSFont.kerningForPair(), GSFont.setKerningForPair(), GSFont.removeKerningForPair()).

New in version 3.

bottomKerningKey¶: The key to be used with the kerning functions (GSFont.kerningForPair(), GSFont.setKerningForPair(), GSFont.removeKerningForPair()).

New in version 3.

leftMetricsKey¶

The leftMetricsKey of the glyph. This is a reference to another glyph by name or formula. It is used to synchronize the metrics with the linked glyph.

Type: str

rightMetricsKey¶

The rightMetricsKey of the glyph. This is a reference to another glyph by name or formula. It is used to synchronize the metrics with the linked glyph.

Type: str

widthMetricsKey¶

The widthMetricsKey of the glyph. This is a reference to another glyph by name or formula. It is used to synchronize the metrics with the linked glyph.

Type: str

export¶

Defines whether glyph will export upon font generation

Type: bool

color¶

Color marking of glyph in UI

Type: int

glyph.color = 0	 # red
glyph.color = 1	 # orange
glyph.color = 2	 # brown
glyph.color = 3	 # yellow
glyph.color = 4	 # light green
glyph.color = 5	 # dark green
glyph.color = 6	 # light blue
glyph.color = 7	 # dark blue
glyph.color = 8	 # purple
glyph.color = 9	 # magenta
glyph.color = 10	# light gray
glyph.color = 11	# charcoal
glyph.color = None      # not colored, white (before version 1235, use -1)

colorObject¶

NSColor object of glyph color, useful for drawing in plugins.

Type: NSColor

# use glyph color to draw the outline
glyph.colorObject.set()

# Get RGB (and alpha) values (as float numbers 0..1, multiply with 256 if necessary)
R, G, B, A = glyph.colorObject.colorUsingColorSpace_(NSColorSpace.genericRGBColorSpace()).getRed_green_blue_alpha_(None, None, None, None)

print(R, G, B)
0.617805719376 0.958198726177 0.309286683798

print(round(R * 256), int(G * 256), int(B * 256))
158 245 245

# Draw layer
glyph.layers[0].bezierPath.fill()

# set the glyph color.

glyph.colorObject = NSColor.colorWithDeviceRed_green_blue_alpha_(247.0 / 255.0, 74.0 / 255.0, 62.9 / 255.0, 1)

new in 2.4.2:
glyph.colorObject = (247.0, 74.0, 62.9) #
or
glyph.colorObject = (247.0, 74.0, 62.9, 1) #
or
glyph.colorObject = (0.968, 0.29, 0.247, 1) #

note¶

Type: str

selected¶

Return True if the Glyph is selected in the Font View. This is different to the property font.selectedLayers which returns the selection from the active tab.

Type: bool

# access all selected glyphs in the Font View
for glyph in font.glyphs:
	if glyph.selected:
		print(glyph)

mastersCompatible¶

Return True when all layers in this glyph are compatible (same components, anchors, paths etc.)

Type: bool

userData¶

A dictionary to store user data. Use a unique key and only use objects that can be stored in a property list (string, list, dict, numbers, NSData) otherwise the data will not be recoverable from the saved file.

Type: dict

# set value
glyph.userData['rememberToMakeCoffee'] = True

# delete value
del glyph.userData['rememberToMakeCoffee']

smartComponentAxes¶

A list of GSSmartComponentAxis objects.

These are the axis definitions for the interpolations that take place within the Smart Components. Corresponds to the ‘Properties’ tab of the glyph’s ‘Show Smart Glyph Settings’ dialog.

Also see https://glyphsapp.com/tutorials/smart-components for reference.

Type: list

# Adding two interpolation axes to the glyph

axis1 = GSSmartComponentAxis()
axis1.name = 'crotchDepth'
axis1.topValue = 0
axis1.bottomValue = -100
g.smartComponentAxes.append(axis1)

axis2 = GSSmartComponentAxis()
axis2.name = 'shoulderWidth'
axis2.topValue = 100
axis2.bottomValue = 0
g.smartComponentAxes.append(axis2)

# Deleting one axis
del g.smartComponentAxes[1]

lastChange¶

Change date when glyph was last changed as datetime.

Check Python’s time module for how to use the timestamp.

Functions

beginUndo()¶: Call this before you do a longer running change to the glyph. Be extra careful to call glyph.endUndo() when you are finished.

endUndo()¶: This closes a undo group that was opened by a previous call of glyph.beginUndo() Make sure that you call this for each beginUndo() call.

updateGlyphInfo(changeName=True)¶: Updates all information like name, unicode etc. for this glyph.

duplicate([name])¶

Duplicate the glyph under a new name and return it.

If no name is given, .00n will be appended to it.

`GSLayer`¶

Implementation of the layer object.

For details on how to access these layers, please see GSGlyph.layers

class GSLayer¶

Properties

Functions

Properties

parent¶

Reference to the glyph object that this layer is attached to.

Type: GSGlyph

name¶

Name of layer

Type: str

master¶

Master that this layer is connected to. Read only.

Type: GSFontMaster

associatedMasterId¶

The ID of the fontMaster this layer belongs to, in case this isn’t a master layer. Every layer that isn’t a master layer needs to be attached to one master layer.

# add a new layer
newLayer = GSLayer()
newLayer.name = '{125, 100}' # (example for glyph-level intermediate master)

# you may set the master ID that this layer will be associated with, otherwise the first master will be used
newLayer.associatedMasterId = font.masters[-1].id # attach to last master
font.glyphs['a'].layers.append(newLayer)

Type: str

layerId¶

The unique layer ID is used to access the layer in the glyphs layer dictionary.

For master layers this should be the id of the fontMaster. It could look like this: FBCA074D-FCF3-427E-A700-7E318A949AE5

Type: str

# see ID of active layer
id = font.selectedLayers[0].layerId
print(id)
FBCA074D-FCF3-427E-A700-7E318A949AE5

# access a layer by this ID
layer = font.glyphs['a'].layers[id]
layer = font.glyphs['a'].layers['FBCA074D-FCF3-427E-A700-7E318A949AE5']

# for master layers, use ID of masters
layer = font.glyphs['a'].layers[font.masters[0].id]

attributes¶

layer attributes like axisRules, coordinates, colorPalette, sbixSize, color, svg

axis = font.axes[0]

layer.attributes['axisRules'] = {axis.axisId: {'min': 100}}

layer.attributes['coordinates'] = {axis.axisId: 99}

Type: dict

color¶

Color marking of glyph in UI

Type: int

glyph.color = 0	 # red
glyph.color = 1	 # orange
glyph.color = 2	 # brown
glyph.color = 3	 # yellow
glyph.color = 4	 # light green
glyph.color = 5	 # dark green
glyph.color = 6	 # light blue
glyph.color = 7	 # dark blue
glyph.color = 8	 # purple
glyph.color = 9	 # magenta
glyph.color = 10	# light gray
glyph.color = 11	# charcoal
glyph.color = None      # not colored, white (before version 1235, use -1)

colorObject¶

NSColor object of layer color, useful for drawing in plugins.

Type: NSColor

# use layer color to draw the outline
layer.colorObject.set()

# Get RGB (and alpha) values (as float numbers 0..1, multiply with 256 if necessary)
R, G, B, A = layer.colorObject.colorUsingColorSpace_(NSColorSpace.genericRGBColorSpace()).getRed_green_blue_alpha_(None, None, None, None)

print(R, G, B)
0.617805719376 0.958198726177 0.309286683798

print(round(R * 256), int(G * 256), int(B * 256))
158 245 245

# Draw layer
layer.bezierPath.fill()

# set the layer color.
layer.colorObject = NSColor.colorWithDeviceRed_green_blue_alpha_(247.0 / 255.0, 74.0 / 255.0, 62.9 / 255.0, 1)

components¶

Collection of GSComponent objects. This is only a helper proxy to iterate all components (without paths). To add/remove items, use GSLayer.shapes.

Type: list

for component in layer.components:
	print(component)

guides¶

List of GSGuide objects.

Type: list

# access all guides
for guide in layer.guides:
	print(guide)

# add guide
newGuide = GSGuide()
newGuide.position = NSPoint(100, 100)
newGuide.angle = -10.0
layer.guides.append(newGuide)

# delete guide
del(layer.guides[0])

# copy guides from another layer
import copy
layer.guides = copy.copy(anotherlayer.guides)

annotations¶

List of GSAnnotation objects.

Type: list

# access all annotations
for annotation in layer.annotations:
	print(annotation)

# add new annotation
newAnnotation = GSAnnotation()
newAnnotation.type = TEXT
newAnnotation.text = 'Fuck, this curve is ugly!'
layer.annotations.append(newAnnotation)

# delete annotation
del(layer.annotations[0])

# copy annotations from another layer
import copy
layer.annotations = copy.copy(anotherlayer.annotations)

hints¶

List of GSHint objects.

Type: list

# access all hints
for hint in layer.hints:
	print(hint)

# add a new hint
newHint = GSHint()
# change behaviour of hint here, like its attachment nodes
layer.hints.append(newHint)

# delete hint
del(layer.hints[0])

# copy hints from another layer
import copy
layer.hints = copy.copy(anotherlayer.hints)
# remember to reconnect the hints' nodes with the new layer’s nodes

anchors¶

List of GSAnchor objects.

Type: list, dict

# access all anchors:
for a in layer.anchors:
	print(a)

# add a new anchor
layer.anchors['top'] = GSAnchor()

# delete anchor
del(layer.anchors['top'])

# copy anchors from another layer
import copy
layer.anchors = copy.copy(anotherlayer.anchors)

shapes¶

List of GSShape objects. That are most likely GSPath or GSComponent

Type: list

# access all shapes
for shape in layer.shapes:
	print(shape)

# delete shape
del(layer.shapes[0])

# copy shapes from another layer
import copy
layer.shapes = copy.copy(anotherlayer.shapes)

paths¶

List of GSPath objects. This is only a helper proxy to iterate all paths (without components). To add/remove items, use GSLayer.shapes.

Type: list

# access all paths
for path in layer.paths:
	print(path)

# delete path
del(layer.paths[0])

# copy paths from another layer
import copy
layer.paths = copy.copy(anotherlayer.paths)

selection¶

List of all selected objects in the glyph. Read-only.

This list contains all selected items, including nodes, anchors, guides etc. If you want to work specifically with nodes, for instance, you may want to cycle through the nodes (or anchors etc.) and check whether they are selected. See example below.

Type: list

# access all selected nodes
for path in layer.paths:
	for node in path.nodes: # (or path.anchors etc.)
		print(node.selected)

# clear selection
layer.clearSelection()

LSB¶

Left sidebearing

Type: float

RSB¶

Right sidebearing

Type: float

TSB¶

Top sidebearing

Type: float

BSB¶

Bottom sidebearing

Type: float

width¶

Layer width

Type: float

vertWidth¶

Layer vertical width

set it to None to reset it to default

Type: float

New in version 2.6.2.

vertOrigin¶

Layer vertical origin

set it to None to reset it to default

Type: float

New in version 2.6.2.

ascender¶

The ascender for this layer.

Type: float

New in version 3.0.2.

descender¶

The descender for this layer.

Type: float

New in version 3.0.2.

leftMetricsKey¶

The leftMetricsKey of the layer. This is a reference to another glyph by name or formula. It is used to synchronize the metrics with the linked glyph.

Type: str

rightMetricsKey¶

The rightMetricsKey of the layer. This is a reference to another glyph by name or formula. It is used to synchronize the metrics with the linked glyph.

Type: str

widthMetricsKey¶

The widthMetricsKey of the layer. This is a reference to another glyph by name or formula. It is used to synchronize the metrics with the linked glyph.

Type: str

bounds¶

Bounding box of whole glyph as NSRect. Read-only.

Type: NSRect

# origin
print(layer.bounds.origin.x, layer.bounds.origin.y)

# size
print(layer.bounds.size.width, layer.bounds.size.height)

selectionBounds¶

Bounding box of the layer’s selection (nodes, anchors, components etc). Read-only.

Type: NSRect

metrics¶

The metrics layer are a list of horizontal metrics filtered specifically for this layer. Use this instead of master.alignmentZones.

Type: GSMetricValue

New in version 3.0.1.

background¶

The background layer

Type: GSLayer

# copy layer to its background
layer.background = layer.copy()

# remove background layer
layer.background = None

backgroundImage¶

The background image. It will be scaled so that 1 em unit equals 1 of the image’s pixels.

Type: GSBackgroundImage

# set background image
layer.backgroundImage = GSBackgroundImage('/path/to/file.jpg')

# remove background image
layer.backgroundImage = None

bezierPath¶

The layer as an NSBezierPath object. Useful for drawing glyphs in plug-ins.

Type: NSBezierPath

# draw the path into the Edit view
NSColor.redColor().set()
layer.bezierPath.fill()

openBezierPath¶

All open paths of the layer as an NSBezierPath object. Useful for drawing glyphs as outlines in plug-ins.

Type: NSBezierPath

# draw the path into the Edit view
NSColor.redColor().set()
layer.openBezierPath.stroke()

completeBezierPath¶

The layer as an NSBezierPath object including paths from components. Useful for drawing glyphs in plug-ins.

Type: NSBezierPath

# draw the path into the Edit view
NSColor.redColor().set()
layer.completeBezierPath.fill()

completeOpenBezierPath¶

All open paths of the layer as an NSBezierPath object including paths from components. Useful for drawing glyphs as outlines in plugins.

Type: NSBezierPath

# draw the path into the Edit view
NSColor.redColor().set()
layer.completeOpenBezierPath.stroke()

isAligned¶

Indicates if the components are auto aligned.

Type: bool

isSpecialLayer¶

If the layer is a brace, bracket or a smart component layer

Type: bool

isMasterLayer¶

If it is a master layer

Type: bool

italicAngle¶

The italic angle that applies to this layer

Type: float

userData¶

A dictionary to store user data. Use a unique key and only use objects that can be stored in a property list (string, list, dict, numbers, NSData) otherwise the data will not be recoverable from the saved file.

Type: dict

# set value
layer.userData['rememberToMakeCoffee'] = True

# delete value
del layer.userData['rememberToMakeCoffee']

tempData¶

A dictionary to store data temporarily. Use a unique key. This will not be saved to file. If you need the data persistent, use layer.userData

Type: dict

# set value
layer.tempData['rememberToMakeCoffee'] = True

# delete value
del layer.tempData['rememberToMakeCoffee']

smartComponentPoleMapping¶

Maps this layer to the poles on the interpolation axes of the Smart Glyph. The dictionary keys are the names of the GSSmartComponentAxis objects. The values are 1 for bottom pole and 2 for top pole. Corresponds to the ‘Layers’ tab of the glyph’s ‘Show Smart Glyph Settings’ dialog.

Also see https://glyphsapp.com/tutorials/smart-components for reference.

Type: dict, int

# Map layers to top and bottom poles:
crotchDepthAxis = glyph.smartComponentAxes['crotchDepth']
shoulderWidthAxis = glyph.smartComponentAxes['shoulderWidth']

for layer in glyph.layers:

	# Regular layer
	if layer.name == 'Regular':
		layer.smartComponentPoleMapping[crotchDepthAxis.id] = 2
		layer.smartComponentPoleMapping[shoulderWidthAxis.id] = 2

	# NarrowShoulder layer
	elif layer.name == 'NarrowShoulder':
		layer.smartComponentPoleMapping[crotchDepthAxis.id] = 2
		layer.smartComponentPoleMapping[shoulderWidthAxis.id] = 1

	# LowCrotch layer
	elif layer.name == 'LowCrotch':
		layer.smartComponentPoleMapping[crotchDepthAxis.id] = 1
		layer.smartComponentPoleMapping[shoulderWidthAxis.id] = 2

Functions

decomposeComponents()¶: Decomposes all components of the layer at once.

decomposeCorners()¶: Decomposes all corners of the layer at once.

New in version 2.4.

compareString()¶

Returns a string representing the outline structure of the glyph, for compatibility comparison.

Returns: The comparison string
Return type: string

print(layer.compareString())
oocoocoocoocooc_oocoocoocloocoocoocoocoocoocoocoocooc_

connectAllOpenPaths()¶: Closes all open paths when end points are further than 1 unit away from each other.

copyDecomposedLayer()¶

Returns a copy of the layer with all components decomposed.

Returns: A new layer object
Return type: GSLayer

syncMetrics()¶

Take over LSB and RSB from linked glyph.

# sync metrics of all layers of this glyph
for layer in glyph.layers:
	layer.syncMetrics()

correctPathDirection()¶: Corrects the path direction.

removeOverlap()¶

Joins all contours.

Parameters: checkSelection – if the selection will be considered. Default: False

roundCoordinates()¶: Round the positions of all coordinates to the grid (size of which is set in the Font Info).

addNodesAtExtremes()¶: Add nodes at layer’s extrema, e.g., top, bottom etc.

applyTransform()¶

Apply a transformation matrix to the layer.

layer.applyTransform([
5, # x scale factor
0, # x skew factor
0, # y skew factor
5, # y scale factor
0, # x position
0  # y position
			])

transform()¶

Apply a NSAffineTransform to the layer.

Parameters

Point1 – one point
Point2 – the other point

transformation = NSAffineTransform()
transformation.rotate(45, (200, 200))
layer.transform(transformation)

beginChanges()¶: Call this before you do bigger changes to the Layer. This will increase performance and prevent undo problems. Always call layer.endChanges() if you are finished.

endChanges()¶: Call this if you have called layer.beginChanges before. Make sure to group bot calls properly.

cutBetweenPoints(Point1, Point2)¶

Cuts all paths that intersect the line from Point1 to Point2

Parameters

Point1 – one point
Point2 – the other point

# cut glyph in half horizontally at y=100
layer.cutBetweenPoints(NSPoint(0, 100), NSPoint(layer.width, 100))

intersectionsBetweenPoints(Point1, Point2, components=False)¶

Return all intersection points between a measurement line and the paths in the layer. This is basically identical to the measurement tool in the UI.

Normally, the first returned point is the starting point, the last returned point is the end point. Thus, the second point is the first intersection, the second last point is the last intersection.

Parameters

Point1 – one point
Point2 – the other point
components – if components should be measured. Default: False
ignoreLocked – ignore locked or unfocused paths. Default: False

# show all intersections with glyph at y=100
intersections = layer.intersectionsBetweenPoints((-1000, 100), (layer.width+1000, 100))
print(intersections)

# left sidebearing at measurement line
print(intersections[1].x)

# right sidebearing at measurement line
print(layer.width - intersections[-2].x)

addMissingAnchors()¶: Adds missing anchors defined in the glyph database.

clearSelection()¶: Unselect all selected items in this layer.

clear()¶: Remove all elements from layer.

swapForegroundWithBackground()¶: Swap Foreground layer with Background layer.

reinterpolate()¶

Re-interpolate a layer according the other layers and its interpolation values.

Applies to both master layers as well as brace layers and is equivalent to the ‘Re-Interpolate’ command from the Layers palette.

`GSAnchor`¶

Implementation of the anchor object.

For details on how to access them, please see GSLayer.anchors

class GSAnchor([name, pt])¶

Parameters

name – the name of the anchor
pt – the position of the anchor

Properties

`position`
`name`
`selected`

Properties

position¶

The position of the anchor

Type: NSPoint

# read position
print(layer.anchors['top'].position.x, layer.anchors['top'].position.y)

# set position
layer.anchors['top'].position = NSPoint(175, 575)

# increase vertical position by 50 units
layer.anchors['top'].position = NSPoint(layer.anchors['top'].position.x, layer.anchors['top'].position.y + 50)

name¶

The name of the anchor

Type: str

selected¶

Selection state of anchor in UI.

# select anchor
layer.anchors[0].selected = True

# log selection state
print(layer.anchors[0].selected)

Type: bool

userData¶

A dictionary to store user data. Use a unique key and only use objects that can be stored in a property list (string, list, dict, numbers, NSData) otherwise the data will not be recoverable from the saved file.

Type: dict

# set value
anchor.userData['rememberToMakeCoffee'] = True

# delete value
del component.userData['rememberToMakeCoffee']

New in version 3.

`GSComponent`¶

Implementation of the component object. For details on how to access them, please see GSLayer.components

class GSComponent(glyph[, position])¶

Parameters

glyph – a GSGlyph object or the glyph name
position – the position of the component as NSPoint

Properties

`position`
`scale`
`rotation`
`componentName`
`component`
`layer`
`transform`
`bounds`
`automaticAlignment`
`anchor`
`selected`
`smartComponentValues`
`bezierPath`
`userData`

Functions

`decompose()`
`applyTransform()`

Properties

position¶

The position of the component.

Type: NSPoint

scale¶

Scale factor of the component.

A tuple containing the horizontal and vertical scale.

Type: tuple

rotation¶

Rotation angle of the component.

Type: float

componentName¶

The glyph name the component is pointing to.

Type: str

name¶

The glyph name the component is pointing to.

Type: str

New in version 2.5.

component¶

The GSGlyph the component is pointing to. This is read-only. In order to change the referenced base glyph, set componentName to the new glyph name.

Type: GSGlyph

componentLayer¶

The GSLayer the component is pointing to. This is read-only. In order to change the referenced base glyph, set componentName to the new glyph name.

For Smart Components, the componentLayer contains the interpolated result.

Type: GSLayer

New in version 2.5.

transform¶

Transformation matrix of the component. If Glyphs 3, this is computed from the scale, rotation and position.

Type: NSAffineTransformStruct

component.transform = ((
5, # x scale factor
0, # x skew factor
0, # y skew factor
5, # y scale factor
0, # x position
0  # y position
))

bounds¶

Bounding box of the component, read-only

Type: NSRect

component = layer.components[0] # first component

# origin
print(component.bounds.origin.x, component.bounds.origin.y)

# size
print(component.bounds.size.width, component.bounds.size.height)

automaticAlignment¶

Defines whether the component is automatically aligned.

Type: bool

alignment¶: New in version 2.5.

TODO

locked¶

New in version 2.5.

If the component is locked TODO

Type: bool

anchor¶

If more than one anchor/_anchor pair would match, this property can be used to set the anchor to use for automatic alignment

This can be set from the anchor button in the component info box in the UI

Type: str

selected¶

Selection state of component in UI.

Type: bool

# select component
layer.components[0].selected = True

# print(selection state)
print(layer.components[0].selected)

attributes¶

attributes attributes like mask or reversePaths

component.attributes['mask'] = True

component.attributes['reversePaths'] = True

Type: dict

smartComponentValues¶

Dictionary of interpolations values of the Smart Component. Key are the names, values are between the top and the bottom value of the corresponding GSSmartComponentAxis objects. Corresponds to the values of the ‘Smart Component Settings’ dialog. Returns None if the component is not a Smart Component.

Also see https://glyphsapp.com/tutorials/smart-components for reference.

Type: dict, int

# Narrow shoulders of m
glyph = font.glyphs['m']
glyph.layers[0].components[1].smartComponentValues['shoulderWidth'] = 30 # First shoulder. Index is 1, given that the stem is also a component with index 0
glyph.layers[0].components[2].smartComponentValues['shoulderWidth'] = 30 # Second shoulder. Index is 2, given that the stem is also a component with index 0

# Low crotch of h
glyph = font.glyphs['h']
crotchDepthAxis = glyph.smartComponentAxes['crotchDepth']
glyph.layers[0].components[1].smartComponentValues[crotchDepthAxis.id] = -77  # Shoulder. Index is 1, given that the stem is also a component with index 0

# Check whether a component is a smart component
for component in layer.components:
	if component.smartComponentValues is not None:
		# do stuff

bezierPath¶

The component as an NSBezierPath object. Useful for drawing glyphs in plugins.

Type: NSBezierPath

# draw the path into the Edit view
NSColor.redColor().set()
layer.components[0].bezierPath.fill()

userData¶

A dictionary to store user data. Use a unique key and only use objects that can be stored in a property list (string, list, dict, numbers, NSData) otherwise the data will not be recoverable from the saved file.

Type: dict

# set value
component.userData['rememberToMakeCoffee'] = True

# delete value
del component.userData['rememberToMakeCoffee']

New in version 2.5.

tempData¶

A dictionary to store data temporarily. Use a unique key. This will not be saved to file. If you need the data persistent, use component.userData

Type: dict

# set value
component.tempData['rememberToMakeCoffee'] = True

# delete value
del component.tempData['rememberToMakeCoffee']

Functions

decompose([doAnchors=True, doHints=True])¶

Decomposes the component.

Parameters

doAnchors – get anchors from components
doHints – get hints from components

applyTransform()¶

Apply a transformation matrix to the component.

component = layer.components[0]

component.applyTransform((
    0.5, # x scale factor
    0.0, # x skew factor
    0.0, # y skew factor
    0.5, # y scale factor
    0.0, # x position
    0.0  # y position
))

`GSGlyphReference`¶

a small helper class to store a reference to a glyph in userData that will keep track of changes to the glyph name.

New in version 3.0.4.

class GSGlyphReference¶

Properties

glyph

Properties

glyph¶

the GSGlyph to keep track of

Type: GSGlyph

glyphReference = GSGlyphReference(Font.glyphs["A"])

`GSSmartComponentAxis`¶

Implementation of the Smart Component interpolation axis object. For details on how to access them, please see GSGlyph.smartComponentAxes

New in version 2.3.

class GSSmartComponentAxis¶

Properties

`name`
`topValue`
`bottomValue`

Properties

name¶

Name of the axis. The name is for display purpose only.

Type: str

id¶

Id of the axis. This Id will be used to map the Smart Glyph’s layers to the poles of the interpolation. See GSLayer.smartComponentPoleMapping

Type: str

New in version 2.5.

topValue¶

Top end (pole) value on interpolation axis.

Type: int, float

bottomValue¶

Bottom end (pole) value on interpolation axis.

Type: int, float

`GSShape`¶

Implementation of the shape object.

For details on how to access them, please see GSLayer.shapes

class GSShape¶

Properties

`position`
`locked`
`shapeType`

locked¶

Locked

Type: bool

shapeType¶

the type of the shapes. can be GSShapeTypePath or GSShapeTypeComponent

Type: int

`GSPath`¶

Implementation of the path object.

For details on how to access them, please see GSLayer.paths

If you build a path in code, make sure that the structure is valid. A curve node has to be preceded by two off-curve nodes. And an open path has to start with a line node.

class GSPath¶

Properties

`parent`
`nodes`
`segments`
`closed`
`direction`
`bounds`
`selected`
`bezierPath`
`attributes`
`tempData`

Functions

`reverse()`
`addNodesAtExtremes()`
`applyTransform()`

Properties

parent¶

Reference to the layer object.

Type: GSLayer

nodes¶

A list of GSNode objects

Type: list

# access all nodes
for path in layer.paths:
	for node in path.nodes:
		print(node)

segments¶

A list of segments as NSPoint objects. Two objects represent a line, four represent a curve. Start point of the segment is included.

Type: list

# access all segments
for path in layer.paths:
	for segment in path.segments:
		print(segment)

closed¶

Returns True if the the path is closed

Type: bool

direction¶

Path direction. -1 for counter clockwise, 1 for clockwise.

Type: int

bounds¶

Bounding box of the path, read-only

Type: NSRect

path = layer.paths[0] # first path

# origin
print(path.bounds.origin.x, path.bounds.origin.y)

# size
print(path.bounds.size.width, path.bounds.size.height)

selected¶

Selection state of path in UI.

Type: bool

# select path
layer.paths[0].selected = True

# print(selection state)
print(layer.paths[0].selected)

bezierPath¶

The same path as an NSBezierPath object. Useful for drawing glyphs in plugins.

Type: NSBezierPath

# draw the path into the Edit view
NSColor.redColor().set()
layer.paths[0].bezierPath.fill()

Functions

reverse()¶: Reverses the path direction

attributes¶

path attributes like fill, mask, strokeWidth, strokeHeight, strokeColor', strokePos

# in B/W layers:

path.attributes['fill'] = True

path.attributes['mask'] = True

path.attributes['strokeWidth'] = 100

path.attributes['strokeHeight'] = 80

# in color layers:

path.attributes['strokeColor'] = NSColor.redColor()

path.attributes['fillColor'] = NSColor.blueColor()

path.attributes['strokePos'] = 1 # or 0, -1

Type: dict

tempData¶

A dictionary to store data temporarily. Use a unique key. This will not be saved to file. If you need the data persistent, use path.userData

Type: dict

# set value
path.tempData['rememberToMakeCoffee'] = True

# delete value
del path.tempData['rememberToMakeCoffee']

draw the object with a fontTools pen

addNodesAtExtremes()¶

Add nodes at path’s extrema, e.g., top, bottom etc.
applyTransform()¶
Apply a transformation matrix to the path.
path = layer.paths[0]

path.applyTransform((
    0.5, # x scale factor
    0.0, # x skew factor
    0.0, # y skew factor
    0.5, # y scale factor
    0.0, # x position
    0.0  # y position
))

`GSNode`¶

Implementation of the node object.

For details on how to access them, please see GSPath.nodes

class GSNode([pt, type = type])¶

Parameters

pt – The position of the node.
type – The type of the node, LINE, CURVE or OFFCURVE

Properties

`position`
`type`
`connection`
`selected`
`index`
`nextNode`
`prevNode`
`name`

Functions

`makeNodeFirst()`
`toggleConnection()`

Properties

position¶

The position of the node.

Type: NSPoint

type¶

The type of the node, LINE, CURVE or OFFCURVE

Always compare against the constants, never against the actual value.

Type: str

smooth¶

If it is a smooth connection or not

Type: BOOL

connection¶

The type of the connection, SHARP or SMOOTH

Type: string

Deprecated since version 2.3: Use smooth instead.

selected¶

Selection state of node in UI.

Type: bool

# select node
layer.paths[0].nodes[0].selected = True

# print(selection state)
print(layer.paths[0].nodes[0].selected)

index¶

Returns the index of the node in the containing path or maxint if it is not in a path.

Type: int

nextNode¶

Returns the next node in the path.

Please note that this is regardless of the position of the node in the path and will jump across the path border to the beginning of the path if the current node is the last.

If you need to take into consideration the position of the node in the path, use the node’s index attribute and check it against the path length.

Type: GSNode

print(layer.paths[0].nodes[0].nextNode # returns the second node in the path (index 0 + 1))
print(layer.paths[0].nodes[-1].nextNode # returns the first node in the path (last node >> jumps to beginning of path))

# check if node is last node in path (with at least two nodes)
print(layer.paths[0].nodes[0].index == (len(layer.paths[0].nodes) - 1)) # returns False for first node
print(layer.paths[0].nodes[-1].index == (len(layer.paths[0].nodes) - 1)) # returns True for last node

prevNode¶

Returns the previous node in the path.

Please note that this is regardless of the position of the node in the path, and will jump across the path border to the end of the path if the current node is the first.

If you need to take into consideration the position of the node in the path, use the node’s index attribute and check it against the path length.

Type: GSNode

print(layer.paths[0].nodes[0].prevNode) # returns the last node in the path (first node >> jumps to end of path)
print(layer.paths[0].nodes[-1].prevNode) # returns second last node in the path

# check if node is first node in path (with at least two nodes)
print(layer.paths[0].nodes[0].index == 0) # returns True for first node
print(layer.paths[0].nodes[-1].index == 0) # returns False for last node

name¶

Attaches a name to a node.

Type: str

userData¶

A dictionary to store user data. Use a unique key and only use objects that can be stored in a property list (string, list, dict, numbers, NSData) otherwise the data will not be recoverable from the saved file.

Type: dict

# set value
node.userData['rememberToMakeCoffee'] = True

# delete value
del node.userData['rememberToMakeCoffee']

New in version 2.4.1.

Functions

makeNodeFirst()¶: Turn this node into the start point of the path.

toggleConnection()¶: Toggle between sharp and smooth connections.

`GSPathSegment`¶

Implementation of the segment object.

For details on how to access them, please see GSPath.segments

class GSPathSegment¶

Properties

`type`
`bounds`
`count`
`points`
`length`

type¶

The type of the node, LINE, CURVE or QCURVE

Always compare against the constants, never against the actual value.

Type: str

`GSGuide`¶

Implementation of the guide object.

For details on how to access them, please see GSLayer.guides

class GSGuide¶

Properties

`position`
`angle`
`name`
`filter`
`selected`
`locked`
`userData`

lockAngle¶

locks the angle

Type: bool

angle¶

Angle

Type: float

name¶

a optional name

Type: str

selected¶

Selection state of guide in UI.

Type: bool

# select guide
layer.guides[0].selected = True

# print(selection state)
print(layer.guides[0].selected)

locked¶

Locked

Type: bool

filter¶

A filter to only show the guide in certain glyphs. Only relevant in global guides

Type: NSPredicate

userData¶

A dictionary to store user data. Use a unique key and only use objects that can be stored in a property list (string, list, dict, numbers, NSData) otherwise the data will not be recoverable from the saved file.

Type: dict

# set value
guide.userData['rememberToMakeCoffee'] = True

# delete value
del guide.userData['rememberToMakeCoffee']

`GSAnnotation`¶

Implementation of the annotation object.

For details on how to access them, please see GSLayer.annotations

class GSAnnotation¶

`position`
`type`
`text`
`angle`
`width`

Properties

position¶

The position of the annotation.

Type: NSPoint

type¶

The type of the annotation.

Available constants are: TEXT ARROW CIRCLE PLUS MINUS

Type: int

text¶

The content of the annotation. Only useful if type == TEXT

Type: str

angle¶

The angle of the annotation.

Type: float

width¶

The width of the annotation.

Type: float

`GSHint`¶

Implementation of the hint object.

For details on how to access them, please see GSLayer.hints

class GSHint¶

`parent`
`originNode`
`targetNode`
`otherNode1`
`otherNode2`
`type`
`horizontal`
`selected`
`isTrueType`
`isPostScript`
`isCorner`
`name`
`stem`

Properties

parent¶

Parent layer of hint.

Type: GSLayer

originNode¶

The first node the hint is attached to.

Type: GSNode or GSHandle (e.g. when attached to intersections)

targetNode¶

The the second node this hint is attached to. In the case of a ghost hint, this value will be empty.

Type: GSNode or GSHandle (e.g. when attached to intersections)

otherNode1¶

A third node this hint is attached to. Used for Interpolation or Diagonal hints.

Type: GSNode or GSHandle (e.g. when attached to intersections)

otherNode2¶

A fourth node this hint is attached to. Used for Diagonal hints.

Type: GSNode or GSHandle (e.g. when attached to intersections)

type¶

See Constants section at the bottom of the page.

Type: int

options¶

Stores extra options for the hint. For TT hints, that might be the rounding settings. See Constants section at the bottom of the page.

For corner components, it stores the alingment settings: left = 0, center = 2, right = 1, auto (for caps) = alignment | 8

Type: int

horizontal¶

True if hint is horizontal, False if vertical.

Type: bool

selected¶

Selection state of hint in UI.

Type: bool

# select hint
layer.hints[0].selected = True

# print(selection state)
print(layer.hints[0].selected)

name¶

Name of the hint. This is the referenced glyph for corner and cap components.

Type: string

stem¶

Index of TrueType stem that this hint is attached to. The stems are defined in the custom parameter “TTFStems” per master.

For no stem, value is -1.

For automatic, value is -2.

Type: int

isTrueType¶

if it is a TrueType instruction

Type: bool

New in version 3.

isPostScript¶

if it is a PostScript hint

Type: bool

New in version 3.

isCorner¶

if it is a Corner (or Cap, Brush…) component

Type: bool

New in version 3.

tempData¶

A dictionary to store data temporarily. Use a unique key. This will not be saved to file. If you need the data persistent, use hint.userData

Type: dict

# set value
hint.tempData['rememberToMakeCoffee'] = True

# delete value
del hint.tempData['rememberToMakeCoffee']

`GSBackgroundImage`¶

Implementation of background image.

For details on how to access it, please see GSLayer.backgroundImage

class GSBackgroundImage([path])¶

Parameters: path – Initialize with an image file (optional)

Properties

`path`
`image`
`crop`
`locked`
`position`
`scale`
`rotation`
`transform`
`alpha`

Functions

`resetCrop()`
`scaleWidthToEmUnits()`
`scaleHeightToEmUnits()`

Properties

path¶

Path to image file.

Type: str

image¶

NSImage object of background image, read-only (as in: not settable)

Type: NSImage

crop¶

Crop rectangle. This is relative to the image size in pixels, not the font’s em units (just in case the image is scaled to something other than 100%).

Type: NSRect

# change cropping
layer.backgroundImage.crop = NSRect(NSPoint(0, 0), NSPoint(1200, 1200))

locked¶

Defines whether image is locked for access in UI.

Type: bool

alpha¶

Defines the transparence of the image in the Edit view. Default is 50%, possible values are 10–100.

To reset it to default, set it to anything other than the allowed values.

Type: int

position¶

Position of image in font units.

Type: NSPoint

# change position
layer.backgroundImage.position = NSPoint(50, 50)

scale¶

Scale factor of image.

A scale factor of 1.0 (100%) means that 1 font unit is equal to 1 point.

Set the scale factor for x and y scale simultaneously with an integer or a float value. For separate scale factors, please use a tuple.

Type: tuple

# change scale
layer.backgroundImage.scale = 1.2 # changes x and y to 120%
layer.backgroundImage.scale = (1.1, 1.2) # changes x to 110% and y to 120%

rotation¶

Rotation angle of image.

Type: float

transform¶

Transformation matrix.

Type: NSAffineTransformStruct

# change transformation
layer.backgroundImage.transform = ((
    1.0, # x scale factor
    0.0, # x skew factor
    0.0, # y skew factor
    1.0, # y scale factor
    0.0, # x position
    0.0  # y position
))

Functions

resetCrop()¶: Resets the cropping to the image’s original dimensions.

scaleWidthToEmUnits()¶

Scale the image’s cropped width to a certain em unit value, retaining its aspect ratio.

# fit image in layer’s width
layer.backgroundImage.scaleWidthToEmUnits(layer.width)

scaleHeightToEmUnits()¶

Scale the image’s cropped height to a certain em unit value, retaining its aspect ratio.

# position image’s origin at descender line
layer.backgroundImage.position = NSPoint(0, font.masters[0].descender)

# scale image to UPM value
layer.backgroundImage.scaleHeightToEmUnits(font.upm)

`GSEditViewController`¶

Implementation of the GSEditViewController object, which represents Edit tabs in the UI.

For details on how to access them, please look at GSFont.tabs

class GSEditViewController¶

Properties

`parent`
`text`
`layers`
`composedLayers`
`scale`
`viewPort`
`bounds`
`selectedLayerOrigin`
`textCursor`
`textRange`
`direction`
`features`
`previewInstances`
`previewHeight`
`bottomToolbarHeight`
`masterIndex`

Functions

`close()`
`saveToPDF()`
`redraw()`

Properties

parent¶

The GSFont object that this tab belongs to.

Type: GSFont

text¶

The text of the tab, either as text, or slash-escaped glyph names, or mixed. OpenType features will be applied after the text has been changed.

Type: str

masterIndex¶

The index of the active master (selected in the toolbar).

Type: int

New in version 2.6.1.

layers¶

Alternatively, you can set (and read) a list of GSLayer objects. These can be any of the layers of a glyph. OpenType features will be applied after the layers have been changed.

Type: list

font.tabs[0].layers = []

# display all layers of one glyph next to each other
for layer in font.glyphs['a'].layers:
	font.tabs[0].layers.append(layer)

# append line break
font.tabs[0].layers.append(GSControlLayer(10)) # 10 being the ASCII code of the new line character (\n)

composedLayers¶

Similar to the above, but this list contains the GSLayer objects after the OpenType features have been applied (see GSEditViewController.features). Read-only.

Type: list

New in version 2.4.

scale¶

Scale (zoom factor) of the Edit view. Useful for drawing activity in plugins.

The scale changes with every zoom step of the Edit view. So if you want to draw objects (e.g. text, stroke thickness etc.) into the Edit view at a constant size relative to the UI (e.g. constant text size on screen), you need to calculate the object’s size relative to the scale factor. See example below.

Type: float

print(font.currentTab.scale)
0.414628537193

# Calculate text size
desiredTextSizeOnScreen = 10 #pt
scaleCorrectedTextSize = desiredTextSizeOnScreen / font.currentTab.scale

print(scaleCorrectedTextSize)
24.1179733255

viewPort¶

The visible area of the Edit view in screen pixel coordinates (view coordinates).

The NSRect’s origin value describes the top-left corner (top-right for RTL, both at ascender height) of the combined glyphs’ bounding box (see bounds), which also serves as the origin of the view plane.

The NSRect’s size value describes the width and height of the visible area.

When using drawing methods such as the view-coordinate-relative method in the Reporter Plugin, use these coordinates.

Type: NSRect

# The far corners of the Edit view:

# Lower left corner of the screen
x = font.currentTab.viewPort.origin.x
y = font.currentTab.viewPort.origin.y

# Top left corner of the screen
x = font.currentTab.viewPort.origin.x
y = font.currentTab.viewPort.origin.y + font.currentTab.viewPort.size.height

# Top right corner of the screen
x = font.currentTab.viewPort.origin.x + font.currentTab.viewPort.size.width
y = font.currentTab.viewPort.origin.y + font.currentTab.viewPort.size.height

# Bottom right corner of the screen
x = font.currentTab.viewPort.origin.x + font.currentTab.viewPort.size.width
y = font.currentTab.viewPort.origin.y

bounds¶

Bounding box of all glyphs in the Edit view in view coordinate values.

Type: NSRect

selectedLayerOrigin¶

Position of the active layer’s origin (0,0) relative to the origin of the view plane (see bounds), in view coordinates.

Type: NSPoint

textCursor¶

Position of text cursor in text, starting with 0.

Type: integer

textRange¶

Amount of selected glyphs in text, starting at cursor position (see above).

Type: integer

layersCursor¶

Position of cursor in the layers list, starting with 0.

`GSGlyphInfo`¶

Implementation of the GSGlyphInfo object.

This contains valuable information from the glyph database. See GSGlyphsInfo for how to create these objects.

class GSGlyphInfo¶

Properties

`name`
`productionName`
`category`
`subCategory`
`components`
`accents`
`anchors`
`unicode`
`unicode2`
`script`
`index`
`sortName`
`sortNameKeep`
`desc`
`altNames`
`desc`

Properties

name¶

Human-readable name of glyph (“nice name”).

Type: str

productionName¶

Production name of glyph. Will return a value only if production name differs from nice name, otherwise None.

Type: str

category¶

This is mostly from the UnicodeData.txt file from unicode.org. Some corrections have been made (Accents, …) e.g: “Letter”, “Number”, “Punctuation”, “Mark”, “Separator”, “Symbol”, “Other”

Type: str

subCategory¶

This is mostly from the UnicodeData.txt file from unicode.org. Some corrections and additions have been made. e.g: “Nonspacing”, “Ligature”, “Decimal Digit”, …

Type: str

case¶

e.g: GSUppercase, GSLowercase, GSSmallcaps

Type: int

components¶

This glyph may be composed of the glyphs returned as a list of GSGlyphInfo objects.

Type: list

accents¶

This glyph may be combined with these accents, returned as a list of glyph names.

Type: list

anchors¶

Anchors defined for this glyph, as a list of anchor names.

Type: list

unicode¶

Unicode value

Type: str

unicode2¶

a second unicode value it present

Type: str

script¶

Script of glyph, e.g: “latin”, “cyrillic”, “greek”.

Type: str

index¶

Index of glyph in database. Used for sorting in UI.

Type: str

sortName¶

Alternative name of glyph used for sorting in UI.

Type: str

sortNameKeep¶

Alternative name of glyph used for sorting in UI, when using ‘Keep Alternates Next to Base Glyph’ from Font Info.

Type: str

desc¶

Unicode description of glyph.

Type: str

altNames¶

Alternative names for glyphs that are not used, but should be recognized (e.g., for conversion to nice names).

Type: str

`GSFontInfoValueLocalized`¶

The GSFontInfoValueLocalized

class GSFontInfoValueLocalized¶

Properties

`key`
`values`
`defaultValue`

Properties

key¶

the key

Type: str

# searching for GSFontInfoValueLocalized with given "designers" key
for fontInfo in font.properties:
	if fontInfo.key == "designers":
		print(fontInfo)

values¶

A list of GSFontInfoValue objects.

Type: list

# listing values of GSFontInfoValueLocalized
for fontInfoValue in fontInfoValueLocalized.values:
	print(fontInfoValue)

defaultValue¶

the value that is considered the default (either the dflt or English entry)

Type: str

# prints the default value for given GSFontInfoValueLocalized instance
print(fontInfoValueLocalized.defaultValue)

# The print below will always return True, because
# font.designer represent the same value

fontInfoValueLocalized = None
for fontInfo in font.properties:
	if fontInfo.key == "designers":
		fontInfoValueLocalized = fontInfo

print(fontInfoValueLocalized.defaultValue == font.designer)

`GSFontInfoValueSingle`¶

The GSFontInfoValueSingle

class GSFontInfoValueSingle¶

Properties

`key`
`value`

Properties

key¶

the key

Type: str

# GSFontInfoValueSingle is stored in e.g. font.properties
# one of the differences between GSFontInfoValueSingle and GSFontInfoValueLocalized

# is that the first doesn't have "values" attribute

for fontProperty in font.properties:

	if not hasattr(fontProperty, "values"):
		print(fontProperty.key)

value¶

The value

Type: str

# GSFontInfoValueSingle is stored in e.g. font.properties
# one of the differences between GSFontInfoValueSingle and GSFontInfoValueLocalized

# is that the first doesn't have "values" attribute

for fontProperty in font.properties:

	if not hasattr(fontProperty, "values"):
		print(fontProperty.value)

`GSFontInfoValue`¶

The GSFontInfoValue

class GSFontInfoValue¶

Properties

`key`
`value`
`languageTag`

Properties

key¶

the key

Type: str

# GSFontInfoValue is stored in e.g. values attribute of font.properties

for fontProperty in font.properties:

	# not all of font.properties contains this attribute

	# so we are going to look for those, that have it
	if hasattr(fontProperty, "values"):
		for fontInfoValue in fontProperty.values:

			# this line prints out the key attribute of

			# found GSFontInfoValue instance
			print(fontInfoValue.key)

value¶

The value

Type: str

# GSFontInfoValue is stored in e.g. values attribute of font.properties

for fontProperty in font.properties:

	# not all of font.properties contains this attribute

	# so we are going to look for those, that have it
	if hasattr(fontProperty, "values"):
		for fontInfoValue in fontProperty.values:

			# this line prints out the value attribute of

			# found GSFontInfoValue instance
			print(fontInfoValue.value)

languageTag¶

The languageTag

Type: str

# GSFontInfoValue is stored in e.g. values attribute of font.properties

for fontProperty in font.properties:

	# not all of font.properties contains this attribute

	# so we are going to look for those, that have it
	if hasattr(fontProperty, "values"):
		for fontInfoValue in fontProperty.values:

			# this line prints out the languageTag attribute of

			# found GSFontInfoValue instance
			print(fontInfoValue.languageTag)

`GSMetricValue`¶

The GSMetricValue objects represent vertical metrics values and theirs overshoots.

class GSMetricValue¶

Properties

`position`
`overshoot`
`name`
`filter`
`metric`

Properties

position¶

The y position of the metric.

Type: float

overshoot¶

Value of overshoot’s width.

Type: float

name¶

The name of the metric value. Eg. Descender, Small Cap, Cap Height etc.

Type: str

filter¶

A filter to limit the scope of the metric.

Type: NSPredicate

metric¶

Corresponding GSMetric object. see GSFont.metrics.

Type: GSMetric

`PreviewTextWindow`¶

The Text Preview Window

class PreviewTextWindow¶

Properties

`text`
`font`
`instanceIndex`
`fontSize`

Functions

`open()`
`close()`

Properties

font¶

The font

Type: GSFont

text¶

The text

Type: str

instanceIndex¶

The index of the selected instance

Type: int

fontSize¶

The font size

Type: int

open()¶
opens the Preview Text Window

# open PreviewTextWindow
PreviewTextWindow.open()

# setting instance in PreviewTextWindow to "Regular"
font = PreviewTextWindow.font
instanceNames = [instance.name for instance in font.instances]
regularIndex = instanceNames.index("Regular")
PreviewTextWindow.instanceIndex = regularIndex

# setting text and font size value
PreviewTextWindow.text = 'hamburgefontsiv'
PreviewTextWindow.fontSize = 200

close()¶
closes the Preview Text Window

`NSAffineTransform`¶

The NSAffineTransform object.

class NSAffineTransform¶

Functions

`shift`
`scale`
`rotate`
`skew`

Properties: transformStruct

shift¶

shift by x, y

Type: tuple or NSPoint

scale¶

if a single number, scale uniformly, otherwise scale by x, y if center is given, that is used as the origin of the scale

Type: int/float or tuple

rotate¶

The angle of the rotation. In degree, positive angles are CCW if center is given, that is used as the origin of the rotation

Type: int/float

skew¶

if a single number, skew in x-direction otherwise skew by x, y if center is given, that is used as the origin of the skew

Type: int/float or tuple

matrix¶

The transformation matrix.

Type: tuple

Methods¶

`divideCurve()`
`distance()`
`addPoints()`
`subtractPoints()`
`scalePoint()`
`removeOverlap()`
`subtractPaths()`
`intersectPaths()`
`GetOpenFile()`
`GetSaveFile()`
`GetFolder()`
`Message()`
`LogToConsole()`
`LogError()`

divideCurve(P0, P1, P2, P3, t)¶

Divides the curve using the De Casteljau’s algorithm.

Parameters

P0 – The Start point of the Curve (NSPoint)
P1 – The first off curve point
P2 – The second off curve point
P3 – The End point of the Curve
t – The time parameter

Returns

A list of points that represent two curves. (Q0, Q1, Q2, Q3, R1, R2, R3). Note that the ‘middle’ point is only returned once.

Return type

list

distance(P0, P1)¶

calculates the distance between two NSPoints

Parameters

P0 – a NSPoint
P1 – another NSPoint

Returns

The distance

Return type

float

addPoints(P1, P2)¶

Add the points.

Parameters

P0 – a NSPoint
P1 – another NSPoint

Returns

The sum of both points

Return type

NSPoint

subtractPoints(P1, P2)¶

Subtracts the points.

Parameters

P0 – a NSPoint
P1 – another NSPoint

Returns

The subtracted point

Return type

NSPoint

scalePoint(P, scalar)¶

Scaled a point.

Parameters

P – a NSPoint
scalar – The multiplier

Returns

The multiplied point

Return type

NSPoint

removeOverlap(paths)¶

removes the overlaps from the list of paths

Parameters: paths – A list of paths
Returns: The resulting list of paths
Return type: list

subtractPaths(paths, subtract)¶

removes the overlaps from the list of paths

Parameters

paths – a list of paths
subtract – the subtracting paths

Returns

The resulting list of paths

Return type

list

intersectPaths(paths, otherPaths)¶

removes the overlaps from the list of paths

Parameters

paths – a list of paths
otherPaths – the other paths

Returns

The resulting list of paths

Return type

list

GetSaveFile(message=None, ProposedFileName=None, filetypes=None)¶

Opens a file chooser dialog.

Parameters

message –
filetypes –
ProposedFileName –

Returns

The selected file or None

Return type

unicode

GetOpenFile(message=None, allowsMultipleSelection=False, filetypes=None, path=None)¶

Opens a file chooser dialog.

Parameters

message – A message string.
allowsMultipleSelection – Boolean, True if user can select more than one file
filetypes – list of strings indicating the filetypes, e.g., [“gif”, “pdf”]
path – The initial directory path

Returns

The selected file or a list of file names or None

Return type

unicode or list

GetFolder(message=None, allowsMultipleSelection=False, path=None)¶

Opens a folder chooser dialog.

Parameters

message –
allowsMultipleSelection –
path –

Returns

The selected folder or None

Return type

unicode

Message(message, title='Alert', OKButton=None)¶

Shows an alert panel.

Parameters

message – the string
title – a title of the dialog
OKButton – the lable of the confirmation button

AskString(message, value=None, title="Glyphs", OKButton=None, placeholder=None):

AskString Dialog

Parameters

message – the string
value – a default value
title – a title of the dialog
OKButton – the lable of the confirmation button
placeholder – a placeholder value that is displayed in gray when the text field is emtpy

LogToConsole(message)¶

Write a message to the Mac’s Console.app for debugging.

Parameters: message (str) –

LogError(message)¶

Log an error message and write it to the Macro window’s output (in red).

Parameters: message –

Constants¶

Node Types¶

LINE¶: Line node.

CURVE¶: Curve node. Make sure that each curve node is preceded by two off-curve nodes.

QCURVE¶: Quadratic curve node. Make sure that each curve node is preceded by at least one off-curve node.

OFFCURVE¶: Off-cuve node

Path attributes

FILL¶: fill

FILLCOLOR¶: fillColor

FILLPATTERNANGLE¶: fillPatternAngle

FILLPATTERNBLENDMODE¶: fillPatternBlendMode

FILLPATTERNFILE¶: fillPatternFile

FILLPATTERNOFFSET¶: fillPatternOffset

FILLPATTERNSCALE¶: fillPatternScale

STROKECOLOR¶: strokeColor

STROKELINECAPEND¶: lineCapEnd

STROKELINECAPSTART¶: lineCapStart

STROKELINEJOIN¶: lineJoin

STROKEPOSITION¶: strokePos

STROKEWIDTH¶: strokeWidth

STROKEHEIGHT¶: strokeHeight

GRADIENT¶: gradient

SHADOW¶: shadow

INNERSHADOW¶: shadowIn

MASK¶: mask

File Format Versions¶

A constant that is used when saving are reading .glpyhs file but also for the clipboard.

GSFormatVersion1¶: The Format used by Glyhs 2

GSFormatVersion3¶: The Format used by Glyhs 3

GSFormatVersionCurrent¶: This will always return the format of the current app.

Export formats¶

OTF¶: Write CFF based font

TTF¶: Write CFF based font

VARIABLE¶: Write Variable font

UFO¶: Write UFO based font

WOFF¶: Write WOFF

WOFF2¶: Write WOFF

PLAIN¶: do not package as webfont

EOT¶: Write EOT

New in version 2.5.

Instance Types¶

INSTANCETYPESINGLE¶: single interpolation instance

INSTANCETYPEVARIABLE¶: variable font setting

New in version 3.0.1.

Hint types¶

TOPGHOST¶: Top ghost for PS hints

STEM¶: Stem for PS hints

BOTTOMGHOST¶: Bottom ghost for PS hints

TTSNAP¶: Snap for TT hints

TTSTEM¶: Stem for TT hints

TTSHIFT¶: Shift for TT hints

TTINTERPOLATE¶: Interpolation for TT hints

TTDIAGONAL¶: Diagonal for TT hints

TTDELTA¶: Delta TT hints

CORNER¶: Corner Component

CAP¶: Cap Component

Hint Option¶

This is only used for TrueType hints.

TTROUND¶: Round to grid

TTROUNDUP¶: Round up

TTROUNDDOWN¶: Round down

TTDONTROUND¶: Don’t round at all

TRIPLE = 128: Indicates a triple hint group. There need to be exactly three horizontal TTStem hints with this setting to take effect.

Callback Keys¶

This are the available callbacks

DRAWFOREGROUND¶: to draw in the foreground

DRAWBACKGROUND¶: to draw in the background

DRAWINACTIVE¶: draw inactive glyphs

DOCUMENTOPENED¶: is called if a new document is opened

DOCUMENTACTIVATED¶: is called when the document becomes the active document

DOCUMENTWASSAVED¶: is called when the document is saved. The document itself is passed in notification.object()

DOCUMENTEXPORTED¶

if a font is exported. This is called for every instance and notification.object() will contain the path to the final font file.

def exportCallback(info):
	try:
		print(info.object())
	except:
		# Error. Print exception.
		import traceback
		print(traceback.format_exc())

# add your function to the hook
Glyphs.addCallback(exportCallback, DOCUMENTEXPORTED)

DOCUMENTCLOSED¶: is called when the document is closed

Deprecated since version 3.0.4: please use DOCUMENTWILLCLOSE

DOCUMENTWILLCLOSE¶

is called just before a document will be closed

the info object contains the GSWindowController object

New in version 3.0.4.

DOCUMENTDIDCLOSE¶

is called after a document was closed

the info object contains the NSDocument object

New in version 3.0.4.

TABDIDOPEN¶: if a new tab is opened

TABWILLCLOSE¶: if a tab is closed

UPDATEINTERFACE¶: if some thing changed in the edit view. Maybe the selection or the glyph data.

MOUSEMOVED¶: is called if the mouse is moved. If you need to draw something, you need to call Glyphs.redraw() and also register to one of the drawing callbacks.

Writing Directions¶

The writing directions of the Edit View.

LTR¶: Left To Right (e.g. Latin)

RTL¶: Right To Left (e.g. Arabic, Hebrew)

LTRTTB¶: Left To Right, Top To Bottom

RTLTTB¶: Right To Left, Top To Bottom

Shape Type¶

GSShapeTypePath¶: Path

GSShapeTypeComponent¶: Component

Annotation types¶

TEXT¶

ARROW¶

CIRCLE¶

PLUS¶

MINUS¶

`decomposeComponents()`
`decomposeCorners()`
`compareString()`
`connectAllOpenPaths()`
`copyDecomposedLayer()`
`syncMetrics()`
`correctPathDirection()`
`removeOverlap()`
`roundCoordinates()`
`addNodesAtExtremes()`
`beginChanges()`
`endChanges()`
`cutBetweenPoints()`
`intersectionsBetweenPoints()`
`addMissingAnchors()`
`clearSelection()`
`clear()`
`swapForegroundWithBackground()`
`reinterpolate()`
`applyTransform()`

`parent`
`masters`
`axes`
`properties`
`stems`
`instances`
`glyphs`
`classes`
`features`
`featurePrefixes`
`copyright`
`copyrights`
`license`
`licenses`
`designer`
`designers`
`designerURL`
`manufacturer`
`manufacturers`
`manufacturerURL`
`familyNames`
`trademark`
`trademarks`
`sampleText`
`sampleTexts`
`description`
`descriptions`
`compatibleFullName`
`compatibleFullNames`
`versionMajor`
`versionMinor`
`date`
`familyName`
`upm`
`note`
`kerning`
`userData`
`grid`
`gridSubDivisions`
`gridLength`
`keyboardIncrement`
`keyboardIncrementBig`
`keyboardIncrementHuge`
`snapToObjects`
`disablesNiceNames`
`customParameters`
`selection`
`selectedLayers`
`selectedFontMaster`
`masterIndex`
`currentText`
`tabs`
`fontView`
`currentTab`
`filepath`
`tool`
`tools`
`appVersion`

`parent`
`name`
`master`
`associatedMasterId`
`layerId`
`attributes`
`color`
`colorObject`
`shapes`
`guides`
`annotations`
`hints`
`anchors`
`components`
`paths`
`selection`
`LSB`
`RSB`
`TSB`
`BSB`
`width`
`vertWidth`
`leftMetricsKey`
`rightMetricsKey`
`widthMetricsKey`
`bounds`
`selectionBounds`
`background`
`backgroundImage`
`bezierPath`
`openBezierPath`
`userData`
`smartComponentPoleMapping`
`isSpecialLayer`
`isMasterLayer`

Glyphs.app Python Scripting API Documentation¶

About this Document¶

Changes in the API¶

Methods¶

Constants¶

Node Types¶

File Format Versions¶

Export formats¶

Instance Types¶

Hint types¶

Hint Option¶

Menu Tags¶

Menu States¶

Callback Keys¶

Writing Directions¶

Shape Type¶

Annotation types¶