Impact of exceeding 31 characters

Oct 13, 2025 by magicalceylontours.com 72 views

Why do we need a standard way to condense style names?

The font dropdown in Microsoft Office on PC is driven by the older GDI font enumeration and rendering technology. GDI uses LOGFONTA (documented here) to define the attributes of a font, and CHAR lfFaceName[LF_FACESIZE]; to define the font name. The problem, though, is that the string lfFaceName is restricted to 32 characters, including the terminating NULL. This limitation can cause issues when dealing with variable fonts, which introduce many more challenges, particularly for families with more axes and those with wider ranges.

Impact of exceeding 31 characters

When a font name exceeds the 31 character limit (accounting for the required NULL character), various things can happen:

Fonts fail to enumerate: If we have create three test fonts that have a very long family name, and attempt to load all three, only one will show up. This is because GDI's perspective, all three of these have the exact same lfFaceName, so are failing to be differentiated from one another.
Fonts without duplicates enumerate but certain letters fail to display: In this case, the font name Georama SemiCondensed ExtraLight exceeds the 31 character limit. While it does enumerate in the font menu, certain letters do not render properly. This problem is not resolved even in the word processing environment that is driven by the more contemporary DirectWrite engine as the GDI lfFaceName string is embedded into the document.

Solutions

1. Include name ID 16

In a variable font where the master location is at a location with a significant number of characters, say, “ExtraLight”, name ID 1 can become quite long (eg: “Chiron Hei HK ExtraLight”). However, in determining the font name, Microsoft will prioritize name ID 16 over name ID 1. So this lets one reduce the character count back to the standard font name (eg: “Chiron Hei HK”).

2. Abbreviate the style names

While not ideal from a user perspective, there are long-standing methods of condensing family style names to ensure that they remain under the 31 character limit. Here are some examples of condensed style names:

Weight name	Condensed	Compressed	Weight numerals
Thin	Thin	T	W0
ExtraLight	ExLt	EL	W1
Light	Lt	L	W2
Medium	Med	M	W4
SemiBold	SmBd	SB / DB / D	W5
Bold	Bold	B	W6
ExtraBold	ExBd	EB	W7
Black	Black	BL	W8
UltraBold / ExtraBlack	ExBlk	UB	W9
Width name	Condensed	Compressed	Width numerals
--	--	--	--
UltraCondensed	UtCnd	UC	C4
ExtraCondensed	ExCnd	EC	C3
Condensed	Cnd	C	C2
SemiCondensed	SmCnd	SC	C1
SemiExpanded	SmExp	SE	E1
Expanded	Exp	E	E2
ExtraExpanded	ExExp	EE	E3
UltraExpanded	UtExp	UE	E4

Using these methods, we can condense down a significantly-long style name, say “ExtraLight SemiCondensed Italic”, to “ExLt SmCnd Italic” (17 char) or “EL SC Italic” (12 char), both of which should leave sufficient room for a font family with a long name to properly enumerate.

Benefits of a standardized approach

Regardless of the method chosen, it is crucial to have a standardized approach for these scenarios. This will ensure that font names are consistently condensed, making it easier for users to find and select the correct font. Additionally, a standardized approach will help to prevent issues with font enumeration and rendering, ensuring that fonts display correctly in Microsoft Office.

Conclusion

Q: What is the problem with font names exceeding 31 characters?

A: When a font name exceeds the 31 character limit (accounting for the required NULL character), various things can happen, including fonts failing to enumerate and certain letters failing to display.

Q: Why does GDI use a 32-character limit for font names?

A: GDI uses LOGFONTA (documented here) to define the attributes of a font, and CHAR lfFaceName[LF_FACESIZE]; to define the font name. The string lfFaceName is restricted to 32 characters, including the terminating NULL.

Q: How can I condense a font name to fit within the 31 character limit?

A: There are two methods to condense a font name:

Include name ID 16: In a variable font where the master location is at a location with a significant number of characters, say, “ExtraLight”, name ID 1 can become quite long (eg: “Chiron Hei HK ExtraLight”). However, in determining the font name, Microsoft will prioritize name ID 16 over name ID 1. So this lets one reduce the character count back to the standard font name (eg: “Chiron Hei HK”).
Abbreviate the style names: While not ideal from a user perspective, there are long-standing methods of condensing family style names to ensure that they remain under the 31 character limit. Here are some examples of condensed style names:

Weight name	Condensed	Compressed	Weight numerals
Thin	Thin	T	W0
ExtraLight	ExLt	EL	W1
Light	Lt	L	W2
Medium	Med	M	W4
SemiBold	SmBd	SB / DB / D	W5
Bold	Bold	B	W6
ExtraBold	ExBd	EB	W7
Black	Black	BL	W8
UltraBold / ExtraBlack	ExBlk	UB	W9
Width name	Condensed	Compressed	Width numerals
--	--	--	--
UltraCondensed	UtCnd	UC	C4
ExtraCondensed	ExCnd	EC	C3
Condensed	Cnd	C	C2
SemiCondensed	SmCnd	SC	C1
SemiExpanded	SmExp	SE	E1
Expanded	Exp	E	E2
ExtraExpanded	ExExp	EE	E3
UltraExpanded	UtExp	UE	E4

Q: What are the benefits of a standardized approach to condensed font style names?

A: A standardized approach will ensure that font names are consistently condensed, making it easier for users to find and select the correct font. Additionally, a standardized approach will help to prevent issues with font enumeration and rendering, ensuring that fonts display correctly in Microsoft Office.

Q: How can I implement a standardized approach to condensed font style names?

A: To implement a standardized approach, you can use the methods outlined above, including including name ID 16 and abbreviating style names. You can also use a combination of both methods to achieve the best results.

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when condensing font style names?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when condensing font style names include:

Not considering the 31 character limit
Not using a standardized approach
Not testing the font name in different environments
Not considering the impact on font enumeration and rendering

Q: How can I test the font name in different environments?

A: To test the font name in different environments, you can use a variety of tools and techniques, including:

Testing the font name in Microsoft Office
Testing the font name in other applications
Testing the font name in different operating systems
Testing the font name in different screen resolutions and sizes

By following these best practices and avoiding common mistakes, you can ensure that your font style names are consistently condensed and display correctly in Microsoft Office.