diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/__init__.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/__init__.py
index 9e570f72b..d8c128eb9 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/__init__.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ Dumping 'prep' table...
 """
 
 __author__ = "Just van Rossum, just@letterror.com"
-__version__ = "$Id: __init__.py,v 1.5 1999-12-18 21:32:40 Just Exp $"
+__version__ = "$Id: __init__.py,v 1.6 1999-12-23 14:44:02 Just Exp $"
 __release__ = "1.0a6"
 
 import os
@@ -82,9 +82,14 @@ class TTFont:
 		argument: this is the way to create a new empty font. 
 		In this case you can optionally supply the 'sfntVersion' argument.
 		
-		If the recalcBBoxes argument is false, glyph bounding boxes will 
-		not be recalculated, but taken as they were. This is needed with
-		certain kinds of CJK fonts (ask Werner Lemberg ;-).
+		If the recalcBBoxes argument is false, a number of things will not
+		be recalculated upon save/compile:
+			- glyph bounding boxes 
+			- maxp font bounding box
+			- hhea min/max values
+		This is needed with certain kinds of CJK fonts (ask Werner Lemberg ;-)
+		but also limits memory use greatly, which should have some impact on
+		the time needed to compile large fonts.
 		"""
 		
 		import sfnt
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_g_l_y_f.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_g_l_y_f.py
index c644aa235..734b76737 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_g_l_y_f.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_g_l_y_f.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class table__g_l_y_f(DefaultTable.DefaultTable):
 		dataList = []
 		recalcBBoxes = ttFont.recalcBBoxes
 		for glyphName in ttFont.getGlyphOrder():
-			glyph = self[glyphName]
+			glyph = self.glyphs[glyphName]
 			glyphData = glyph.compile(self, recalcBBoxes)
 			locations.append(currentLocation)
 			currentLocation = currentLocation + len(glyphData)
@@ -126,6 +126,8 @@ class table__g_l_y_f(DefaultTable.DefaultTable):
 				if type(element) == types.StringType:
 					continue
 				glyph.fromXML(element, ttFont)
+			if not ttFont.recalcBBoxes:
+				glyph.compact(self, 0)
 	
 	def setGlyphOrder(self, glyphOrder):
 		self.glyphOrder = glyphOrder
@@ -137,12 +139,6 @@ class table__g_l_y_f(DefaultTable.DefaultTable):
 		# XXX optimize with reverse dict!!!
 		return self.glyphOrder.index(glyphName)
 	
-	#def keys(self):
-	#	return self.glyphOrder[:]
-	#
-	#def has_key(self, glyphName):
-	#	return self.glyphs.has_key(glyphName)
-	#
 	def __getitem__(self, glyphName):
 		glyph = self.glyphs[glyphName]
 		glyph.expand(self)
@@ -215,6 +211,10 @@ class Glyph:
 		if not hasattr(self, "data"):
 			# already unpacked
 			return
+		if not self.data:
+			# empty char
+			self.numberOfContours = 0
+			return
 		dummy, data = sstruct.unpack2(glyphHeaderFormat, self.data, self)
 		del self.data
 		if self.numberOfContours == -1:
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_h_h_e_a.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_h_h_e_a.py
index fca75cb39..d8d297a91 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_h_h_e_a.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_h_h_e_a.py
@@ -31,14 +31,13 @@ class table__h_h_e_a(DefaultTable.DefaultTable):
 		sstruct.unpack(hheaFormat, data, self)
 	
 	def compile(self, ttFont):
-		self.recalc(ttFont)
+		if ttFont.isLoaded('glyf') and ttFont.recalcBBoxes:
+			self.recalc(ttFont)
 		return sstruct.pack(hheaFormat, self)
 	
 	def recalc(self, ttFont):
 		hmtxTable = ttFont['hmtx']
 		if ttFont.has_key('glyf'):
-			if not ttFont.isLoaded('glyf'):
-				return
 			glyfTable = ttFont['glyf']
 			advanceWidthMax = -100000    # arbitrary big negative number
 			minLeftSideBearing = 100000  # arbitrary big number
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_m_a_x_p.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_m_a_x_p.py
index 1c75e6d5e..07a355056 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_m_a_x_p.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_m_a_x_p.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class table__m_a_x_p(DefaultTable.DefaultTable):
 	
 	def compile(self, ttFont):
 		if ttFont.has_key('glyf'):
-			if ttFont.isLoaded('glyf'):
+			if ttFont.isLoaded('glyf') and ttFont.recalcBBoxes:
 				self.recalc(ttFont)
 		else:
 			pass # XXX CFF!!!