diff --git a/ScriptTool/ScriptTool/Compiler.cs b/ScriptTool/ScriptTool/Compiler.cs
index ec260cf..ce89f4c 100644
--- a/ScriptTool/ScriptTool/Compiler.cs
+++ b/ScriptTool/ScriptTool/Compiler.cs
@@ -9,10 +9,26 @@ namespace ScriptTool
 {
     public class Compiler : ICompiler
     {
+        private static int[] virtualWidths;
+        private static int[] renderWidths;
+
         public IEnumerable<IControlCode> ControlCodes { get; set; }
         public Dictionary<string, int> AddressMap { get; set; }
         public Func<byte[], int, bool> ControlCodePredicate { get; set; }
 
+        static Compiler()
+        {
+            byte[] widths = File.ReadAllBytes("m2-widths-main.bin");
+            virtualWidths = new int[widths.Length / 2];
+            renderWidths = new int[widths.Length / 2];
+
+            for (int i = 0; i < widths.Length; i += 2)
+            {
+                virtualWidths[i / 2] = widths[i];
+                renderWidths[i / 2] = widths[i + 1];
+            }
+        }
+
         public Compiler(IEnumerable<IControlCode> controlCodes,
             Func<byte[], int, bool> controlCodePredicate)
         {
@@ -81,7 +97,7 @@ namespace ScriptTool
                 if (str[i] == '[')
                 {
                     if (str.IndexOf(']', i + 1) == -1)
-                        throw new Exception("Opening bracket has no matching closing bracket");
+                        throw new Exception("Opening bracket has no matching closing bracket: position " + i);
 
                     string[] codeStrings = str.Substring(i + 1, str.IndexOf(']', i + 1) - i - 1)
                         .Split(' ');
@@ -97,10 +113,10 @@ namespace ScriptTool
                         if (codeString[0] == '_')
                         {
                             if (codeString[codeString.Length - 1] != '_')
-                                throw new Exception("Reference has no closing underscore");
+                                throw new Exception("Reference has no closing underscore: position " + i);
 
                             if (codeString.Length <= 2)
-                                throw new Exception("Reference is empty");
+                                throw new Exception("Reference is empty: position " + i);
 
                             if (!scanCodesOnly)
                                 referenceAddress += 4;
@@ -123,19 +139,19 @@ namespace ScriptTool
                 }
                 else if (str[i] == ']')
                 {
-                    throw new Exception("Closing bracket has no matching opening bracket");
+                    throw new Exception("Closing bracket has no matching opening bracket: position " + i);
                 }
                 else if (str[i] == '^')
                 {
                     if (str.IndexOf('^', i + 1) == -1)
-                        throw new Exception("Label has no matching closing caret");
+                        throw new Exception("Label has no matching closing caret: position " + i);
 
                     string label = str.Substring(i + 1, str.IndexOf('^', i + 1) - i - 1);
 
                     if (AddressMap.ContainsKey(label))
-                        throw new Exception("Label already defined");
+                        throw new Exception("Label already defined: position " + i);
 
-                    if(!scanCodesOnly)
+                    if (!scanCodesOnly)
                         AddressMap.Add(label, referenceAddress);
 
                     i = str.IndexOf('^', i + 1) + 1;
@@ -169,7 +185,7 @@ namespace ScriptTool
                 if (str[i] == '[')
                 {
                     if (str.IndexOf(']', i + 1) == -1)
-                        throw new Exception("Opening bracket has no matching closing bracket");
+                        throw new Exception("Opening bracket has no matching closing bracket: position " + i);
 
                     string[] codeStrings = str.Substring(i + 1, str.IndexOf(']', i + 1) - i - 1)
                         .Split(' ');
@@ -183,7 +199,7 @@ namespace ScriptTool
                         for (int j = 0; j < codeStrings.Length; j++)
                         {
                             if (!IsHexByte(codeStrings[j]))
-                                throw new Exception("Code string for unrecognized control code block must be a byte literal");
+                                throw new Exception("Code string for unrecognized control code block must be a byte literal: position " + i);
 
                             byte value = byte.Parse(codeStrings[j], System.Globalization.NumberStyles.HexNumber);
                             if (buffer != null)
@@ -196,7 +212,7 @@ namespace ScriptTool
                     {
                         // Validate
                         if (!code.IsValid(codeStrings))
-                            throw new Exception("Invalid control code");
+                            throw new Exception("Invalid control code: position " + i);
 
                         // Parse
                         code.Compile(codeStrings, buffer, ref referenceAddress, AddressMap);
@@ -206,12 +222,12 @@ namespace ScriptTool
                 }
                 else if (str[i] == ']')
                 {
-                    throw new Exception("Closing bracket has no matching opening bracket");
+                    throw new Exception("Closing bracket has no matching opening bracket: position " + i);
                 }
                 else if (str[i] == '^')
                 {
                     if (str.IndexOf('^', i + 1) == -1)
-                        throw new Exception("Label has no matching closing caret");
+                        throw new Exception("Label has no matching closing caret: position " + i);
 
                     i = str.IndexOf('^', i + 1) + 1;
                 }
@@ -236,7 +252,8 @@ namespace ScriptTool
                 int bytesWritten = buffer.Count - previousBufferSize;
 
                 if (bytesWritten > padLength)
-                    throw new Exception("Exceeded pad length");
+                    throw new Exception("Exceeded pad length: wrote " + bytesWritten +
+                        " bytes, but the pad length is " + padLength + " bytes");
 
                 for (int i = bytesWritten; i < padLength; i++)
                 {
@@ -257,7 +274,7 @@ namespace ScriptTool
                 if (str[i] == '[')
                 {
                     if (str.IndexOf(']', i + 1) == -1)
-                        throw new Exception("Opening bracket has no matching closing bracket");
+                        throw new Exception("Opening bracket has no matching closing bracket: position " + i);
 
                     sb.Append(str.Substring(i, str.IndexOf(']', i + 1) - i + 1));
 
@@ -265,12 +282,12 @@ namespace ScriptTool
                 }
                 else if (str[i] == ']')
                 {
-                    throw new Exception("Closing bracket has no matching opening bracket");
+                    throw new Exception("Closing bracket has no matching opening bracket: position " + i);
                 }
                 else if (str[i] == '^')
                 {
                     if (str.IndexOf('^', i + 1) == -1)
-                        throw new Exception("Label has no matching closing caret");
+                        throw new Exception("Label has no matching closing caret: position " + i);
 
                     sb.Append(str.Substring(i, str.IndexOf('^', i + 1) - i + 1));
 
@@ -284,5 +301,144 @@ namespace ScriptTool
 
             return sb.ToString();
         }
+
+        public IList<string> FormatPreviewM12(string str, out IList<int> widths, IDictionary<byte, string> charLookup)
+        {
+            var sb = new StringBuilder();
+            widths = new List<int>();
+            int currentWidth = 0;
+
+            var strings = new List<string>();
+
+            for (int i = 0; i < str.Length; )
+            {
+                if (str[i] == '[')
+                {
+                    if (str.IndexOf(']', i + 1) == -1)
+                        throw new Exception("Opening bracket has no matching closing bracket: position " + i);
+
+                    string[] codeStrings = str.Substring(i + 1, str.IndexOf(']', i + 1) - i - 1)
+                        .Split(' ');
+
+                    M12ControlCode code = (M12ControlCode)ControlCodes.FirstOrDefault(c => c.IsMatch(codeStrings));
+
+                    foreach (var codeString in codeStrings)
+                    {
+                        if (codeString[0] == '_')
+                        {
+                            if (codeString[codeString.Length - 1] != '_')
+                                throw new Exception("Reference has no closing underscore: position " + i);
+
+                            if (codeString.Length <= 2)
+                                throw new Exception("Reference is empty: position " + i);
+                        }
+                        else if (!IsHexByte(codeString))
+                        {
+                            throw new Exception(String.Format(
+                                "Encountered invalid code string at position {0}: {1}", i, codeString));
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                    i = str.IndexOf(']', i + 1) + 1;
+
+                    
+                    switch (code.Identifier)
+                    {
+                        case 0xC:
+                        case 0xD:
+                        case 0xE:
+                        case 0xF:
+                        case 0x10:
+                        case 0x11:
+                        case 0x12:
+                        case 0x15:
+                        case 0x1A:
+                        case 0x2D:
+                        case 0x9F:
+                        case 0xAD:
+                            // Name/item code
+                            sb.Append("[NAME]");
+                            currentWidth += 60;
+                            break;
+
+                        case 0x1:
+                        case 0x2:
+                            // Line break
+                            strings.Add(sb.ToString());
+                            sb.Clear();
+                            widths.Add(currentWidth);
+                            currentWidth = 0;
+                            break;
+
+                        case 0x20:
+                            sb.Append("[SMAAASH]");
+                            currentWidth += 72;
+                            break;
+
+                        case 0x21:
+                            sb.Append("[YOU WIN]");
+                            currentWidth += 72;
+                            break;
+
+                        case 0x23:
+                        case 0x63:
+                        case 0x98:
+                        case 0xB7:
+                            sb.Append("[MONEY]");
+                            currentWidth += 36;
+                            break;
+
+                        case 0x24:
+                        case 0x25:
+                        case 0x26:
+                        case 0x27:
+                        case 0x28:
+                        case 0x29:
+                        case 0x2A:
+                        case 0x2B:
+                            sb.Append("[STAT]");
+                            currentWidth += 18;
+                            break;
+
+                        case 0x1E:
+                        case 0x1F:
+                            sb.Append("_");
+                            currentWidth += 10;
+                            break;
+                    }
+
+                }
+                else if (str[i] == ']')
+                {
+                    throw new Exception("Closing bracket has no matching opening bracket: position " + i);
+                }
+                else if (str[i] == '^')
+                {
+                    if (str.IndexOf('^', i + 1) == -1)
+                        throw new Exception("Label has no matching closing caret: position " + i);
+
+                    string label = str.Substring(i + 1, str.IndexOf('^', i + 1) - i - 1);
+
+                    i = str.IndexOf('^', i + 1) + 1;
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    if (!(str[i] == '\r') && !(str[i] == '\n'))
+                    {
+                        sb.Append(str[i]);
+                        currentWidth += virtualWidths[GetByte(str[i], charLookup) - 0x50];
+                    }
+                    i++;
+                }
+            }
+
+            if (sb.Length > 0)
+            {
+                strings.Add(sb.ToString());
+                widths.Add(currentWidth);
+            }
+
+            return strings;
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/ScriptTool/ScriptTool/ScriptTool.csproj b/ScriptTool/ScriptTool/ScriptTool.csproj
index 2defe99..5259d7b 100644
--- a/ScriptTool/ScriptTool/ScriptTool.csproj
+++ b/ScriptTool/ScriptTool/ScriptTool.csproj
@@ -86,6 +86,9 @@
     <None Include="m12-codelist.json">
       <CopyToOutputDirectory>Always</CopyToOutputDirectory>
     </None>
+    <None Include="m2-widths-main.bin">
+      <CopyToOutputDirectory>Always</CopyToOutputDirectory>
+    </None>
     <None Include="packages.config" />
   </ItemGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
diff --git a/ScriptTool/ScriptTool/m2-widths-main.bin b/ScriptTool/ScriptTool/m2-widths-main.bin
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7bdf7c4
Binary files /dev/null and b/ScriptTool/ScriptTool/m2-widths-main.bin differ
diff --git a/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/MainForm.Designer.cs b/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/MainForm.Designer.cs
index a7042cf..c02043c 100644
--- a/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/MainForm.Designer.cs
+++ b/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/MainForm.Designer.cs
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@
             this.fileMenu = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();
             this.saveMenu = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();
             this.topPanel = new System.Windows.Forms.FlowLayoutPanel();
+            this.label1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
+            this.collectionSelector = new System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox();
             this.groupSelector = new System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox();
             this.backButton = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
             this.mainPanel = new System.Windows.Forms.Panel();
@@ -44,6 +46,7 @@
             this.m12StringEnglish = new System.Windows.Forms.TextBox();
             this.lineOpsPanel = new System.Windows.Forms.FlowLayoutPanel();
             this.copyCodesButton = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
+            this.previewButton = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
             this.codeSplitContainer = new System.Windows.Forms.SplitContainer();
             this.codeList = new System.Windows.Forms.ListBox();
             this.label2 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
@@ -55,9 +58,7 @@
             this.statusBar = new System.Windows.Forms.StatusStrip();
             this.statusLabel = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripStatusLabel();
             this.writeTimer = new System.Windows.Forms.Timer(this.components);
-            this.label1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
-            this.collectionSelector = new System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox();
-            this.previewButton = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
+            this.previewer = new ScriptToolGui.StringPreviewer();
             this.mainMenu.SuspendLayout();
             this.topPanel.SuspendLayout();
             this.mainPanel.SuspendLayout();
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@
             this.mainSplitContainer.SuspendLayout();
             ((System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize)(this.leftSplitContainer)).BeginInit();
             this.leftSplitContainer.Panel1.SuspendLayout();
+            this.leftSplitContainer.Panel2.SuspendLayout();
             this.leftSplitContainer.SuspendLayout();
             this.textBoxPanel.SuspendLayout();
             this.lineOpsPanel.SuspendLayout();
@@ -118,6 +120,27 @@
             this.topPanel.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(1026, 29);
             this.topPanel.TabIndex = 10;
             // 
+            // label1
+            // 
+            this.label1.AutoSize = true;
+            this.label1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(3, 8);
+            this.label1.Margin = new System.Windows.Forms.Padding(3, 8, 0, 0);
+            this.label1.Name = "label1";
+            this.label1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(39, 13);
+            this.label1.TabIndex = 13;
+            this.label1.Text = "Group:";
+            // 
+            // collectionSelector
+            // 
+            this.collectionSelector.DropDownStyle = System.Windows.Forms.ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList;
+            this.collectionSelector.FormattingEnabled = true;
+            this.collectionSelector.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(45, 4);
+            this.collectionSelector.Margin = new System.Windows.Forms.Padding(3, 4, 3, 3);
+            this.collectionSelector.Name = "collectionSelector";
+            this.collectionSelector.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(157, 21);
+            this.collectionSelector.TabIndex = 14;
+            this.collectionSelector.SelectionChangeCommitted += new System.EventHandler(this.collectionSelector_SelectionChangeCommitted);
+            // 
             // groupSelector
             // 
             this.groupSelector.DropDownStyle = System.Windows.Forms.ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList;
@@ -187,6 +210,10 @@
             // 
             this.leftSplitContainer.Panel1.Controls.Add(this.textBoxPanel);
             this.leftSplitContainer.Panel1.Controls.Add(this.lineOpsPanel);
+            // 
+            // leftSplitContainer.Panel2
+            // 
+            this.leftSplitContainer.Panel2.Controls.Add(this.previewer);
             this.leftSplitContainer.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(800, 667);
             this.leftSplitContainer.SplitterDistance = 526;
             this.leftSplitContainer.TabIndex = 5;
@@ -260,6 +287,16 @@
             this.copyCodesButton.UseVisualStyleBackColor = true;
             this.copyCodesButton.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.copyCodesButton_Click);
             // 
+            // previewButton
+            // 
+            this.previewButton.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(133, 3);
+            this.previewButton.Name = "previewButton";
+            this.previewButton.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(75, 23);
+            this.previewButton.TabIndex = 1;
+            this.previewButton.Text = "Preview";
+            this.previewButton.UseVisualStyleBackColor = true;
+            this.previewButton.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.previewButton_Click);
+            // 
             // codeSplitContainer
             // 
             this.codeSplitContainer.BorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.BorderStyle.Fixed3D;
@@ -384,35 +421,17 @@
             this.writeTimer.Interval = 10000;
             this.writeTimer.Tick += new System.EventHandler(this.writeTimer_Tick);
             // 
-            // label1
+            // previewer
             // 
-            this.label1.AutoSize = true;
-            this.label1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(3, 8);
-            this.label1.Margin = new System.Windows.Forms.Padding(3, 8, 0, 0);
-            this.label1.Name = "label1";
-            this.label1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(39, 13);
-            this.label1.TabIndex = 13;
-            this.label1.Text = "Group:";
-            // 
-            // collectionSelector
-            // 
-            this.collectionSelector.DropDownStyle = System.Windows.Forms.ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList;
-            this.collectionSelector.FormattingEnabled = true;
-            this.collectionSelector.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(45, 4);
-            this.collectionSelector.Margin = new System.Windows.Forms.Padding(3, 4, 3, 3);
-            this.collectionSelector.Name = "collectionSelector";
-            this.collectionSelector.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(157, 21);
-            this.collectionSelector.TabIndex = 14;
-            this.collectionSelector.SelectionChangeCommitted += new System.EventHandler(this.collectionSelector_SelectionChangeCommitted);
-            // 
-            // previewButton
-            // 
-            this.previewButton.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(133, 3);
-            this.previewButton.Name = "previewButton";
-            this.previewButton.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(75, 23);
-            this.previewButton.TabIndex = 1;
-            this.previewButton.Text = "Preview";
-            this.previewButton.UseVisualStyleBackColor = true;
+            this.previewer.AutoScroll = true;
+            this.previewer.CharLookup = null;
+            this.previewer.DisplayedString = null;
+            this.previewer.Dock = System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.Fill;
+            this.previewer.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(0, 0);
+            this.previewer.M12Compiler = null;
+            this.previewer.Name = "previewer";
+            this.previewer.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(796, 133);
+            this.previewer.TabIndex = 0;
             // 
             // MainForm
             // 
@@ -440,6 +459,7 @@
             this.mainSplitContainer.ResumeLayout(false);
             this.leftSplitContainer.Panel1.ResumeLayout(false);
             this.leftSplitContainer.Panel1.PerformLayout();
+            this.leftSplitContainer.Panel2.ResumeLayout(false);
             ((System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize)(this.leftSplitContainer)).EndInit();
             this.leftSplitContainer.ResumeLayout(false);
             this.textBoxPanel.ResumeLayout(false);
@@ -491,6 +511,7 @@
         private System.Windows.Forms.Label label1;
         private System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox collectionSelector;
         private System.Windows.Forms.Button previewButton;
+        private StringPreviewer previewer;
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/MainForm.cs b/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/MainForm.cs
index 19f5d4a..d115f55 100644
--- a/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/MainForm.cs
+++ b/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/MainForm.cs
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ namespace ScriptToolGui
         public MainForm()
         {
             InitializeComponent();
+            
+            previewer.M12Compiler = m12Compiler;
+            previewer.CharLookup = ebCharLookup;
 
             ImportAllStringRefs();
             ImportAllStrings(workingFolder);
@@ -308,6 +311,8 @@ namespace ScriptToolGui
 
             PopulateCodeList();
             PopulateReferenceList();
+
+            previewButton_Click(null, null);
         }
 
         private void SelectGroup(MatchedGroup group)
@@ -388,6 +393,8 @@ namespace ScriptToolGui
 
             PopulateCodeList();
             PopulateReferenceList();
+
+            previewButton_Click(null, null);
         }
 
         private void PushPreviousNavigationState()
@@ -538,11 +545,22 @@ namespace ScriptToolGui
             if (collectionSelector.SelectedIndex == -1)
             {
                 groupSelector.Items.Clear();
+                previewer.DisplayedString = null;
             }
             else
             {
                 var collection = (MatchedGroupCollection)collectionSelector.SelectedItem;
 
+                // Set the previewer width before we do navigation stuff
+                if (collection == psiHelpGroups)
+                {
+                    previewer.MaxWidth = 224;
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    previewer.MaxWidth = 144;
+                }
+
                 // Take no action if we haven't actually changed the collection
                 // (otherwise, the group selector would jump to 0, probably unwanted)
                 if (collection == currentCollection)
@@ -555,6 +573,11 @@ namespace ScriptToolGui
                 groupSelector_SelectionChangeCommitted(null, null);
             }
         }
+
+        private void previewButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
+        {
+            previewer.DisplayedString = m12StringEnglish.Text;
+        }
     }
 
     enum Game
diff --git a/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/ScriptToolGui.csproj b/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/ScriptToolGui.csproj
index aa7dfd3..7a2ba26 100644
--- a/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/ScriptToolGui.csproj
+++ b/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/ScriptToolGui.csproj
@@ -81,6 +81,9 @@
       <DependentUpon>Resources.resx</DependentUpon>
       <DesignTime>True</DesignTime>
     </Compile>
+    <EmbeddedResource Include="StringPreviewer.resx">
+      <DependentUpon>StringPreviewer.cs</DependentUpon>
+    </EmbeddedResource>
     <None Include="packages.config" />
     <None Include="Properties\Settings.settings">
       <Generator>SettingsSingleFileGenerator</Generator>
diff --git a/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/StringPreviewer.Designer.cs b/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/StringPreviewer.Designer.cs
index dcf9a70..3fd68f8 100644
--- a/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/StringPreviewer.Designer.cs
+++ b/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/StringPreviewer.Designer.cs
@@ -28,10 +28,35 @@
         /// </summary>
         private void InitializeComponent()
         {
-            components = new System.ComponentModel.Container();
+            this.stringPanel = new System.Windows.Forms.FlowLayoutPanel();
+            this.SuspendLayout();
+            // 
+            // stringPanel
+            // 
+            this.stringPanel.AutoSize = true;
+            this.stringPanel.AutoSizeMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoSizeMode.GrowAndShrink;
+            this.stringPanel.FlowDirection = System.Windows.Forms.FlowDirection.TopDown;
+            this.stringPanel.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(0, 0);
+            this.stringPanel.Name = "stringPanel";
+            this.stringPanel.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(0, 0);
+            this.stringPanel.TabIndex = 0;
+            // 
+            // StringPreviewer
+            // 
+            this.AutoScaleDimensions = new System.Drawing.SizeF(6F, 13F);
             this.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font;
+            this.AutoScroll = true;
+            this.Controls.Add(this.stringPanel);
+            this.Name = "StringPreviewer";
+            this.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(324, 105);
+            this.ResumeLayout(false);
+            this.PerformLayout();
+
         }
 
         #endregion
+
+        private System.Windows.Forms.FlowLayoutPanel stringPanel;
+
     }
 }
diff --git a/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/StringPreviewer.cs b/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/StringPreviewer.cs
index aafd954..b71e8cd 100644
--- a/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/StringPreviewer.cs
+++ b/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/StringPreviewer.cs
@@ -7,14 +7,75 @@ using System.Linq;
 using System.Text;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using System.Windows.Forms;
+using ScriptTool;
 
 namespace ScriptToolGui
 {
     public partial class StringPreviewer : UserControl
     {
+        public Compiler M12Compiler { get; set; }
+        public IDictionary<byte, string> CharLookup { get; set; }
+
+        public int MaxWidth { get; set; }
+
+        private string text;
+        public string DisplayedString
+        {
+            get
+            {
+                return text;
+            }
+            set
+            {
+                text = value;
+                Redraw();
+            }
+        }
+
         public StringPreviewer()
         {
             InitializeComponent();
         }
+
+        private void Redraw()
+        {
+            stringPanel.Controls.Clear();
+
+            if (M12Compiler == null || CharLookup == null || text == null)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            try
+            {
+                IList<int> widths;
+                IList<string> parsed = M12Compiler.FormatPreviewM12(text, out widths, CharLookup);
+
+                for (int i = 0; i < parsed.Count; i++)
+                {
+                    var label = new Label();
+                    label.AutoSize = true;
+                    label.Text = parsed[i] + "(" + widths[i] + ")";
+
+                    if (widths[i] <= MaxWidth)
+                        label.ForeColor = Color.Green;
+                    else
+                        label.ForeColor = Color.Red;
+
+                    stringPanel.Controls.Add(label);
+                }
+            }
+            catch (Exception e)
+            {
+                stringPanel.Controls.Clear();
+
+                var errLabel = new Label();
+                errLabel.AutoSize = true;
+                errLabel.Font = new Font(errLabel.Font, FontStyle.Bold);
+                errLabel.Text = "Error: " + e.Message;
+
+                stringPanel.Controls.Add(errLabel);
+            }
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/StringPreviewer.resx b/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/StringPreviewer.resx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1af7de1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ScriptTool/ScriptToolGui/StringPreviewer.resx
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<root>
+  <!-- 
+    Microsoft ResX Schema 
+    
+    Version 2.0
+    
+    The primary goals of this format is to allow a simple XML format 
+    that is mostly human readable. The generation and parsing of the 
+    various data types are done through the TypeConverter classes 
+    associated with the data types.
+    
+    Example:
+    
+    ... ado.net/XML headers & schema ...
+    <resheader name="resmimetype">text/microsoft-resx</resheader>
+    <resheader name="version">2.0</resheader>
+    <resheader name="reader">System.Resources.ResXResourceReader, System.Windows.Forms, ...</resheader>
+    <resheader name="writer">System.Resources.ResXResourceWriter, System.Windows.Forms, ...</resheader>
+    <data name="Name1"><value>this is my long string</value><comment>this is a comment</comment></data>
+    <data name="Color1" type="System.Drawing.Color, System.Drawing">Blue</data>
+    <data name="Bitmap1" mimetype="application/x-microsoft.net.object.binary.base64">
+        <value>[base64 mime encoded serialized .NET Framework object]</value>
+    </data>
+    <data name="Icon1" type="System.Drawing.Icon, System.Drawing" mimetype="application/x-microsoft.net.object.bytearray.base64">
+        <value>[base64 mime encoded string representing a byte array form of the .NET Framework object]</value>
+        <comment>This is a comment</comment>
+    </data>
+                
+    There are any number of "resheader" rows that contain simple 
+    name/value pairs.
+    
+    Each data row contains a name, and value. The row also contains a 
+    type or mimetype. Type corresponds to a .NET class that support 
+    text/value conversion through the TypeConverter architecture. 
+    Classes that don't support this are serialized and stored with the 
+    mimetype set.
+    
+    The mimetype is used for serialized objects, and tells the 
+    ResXResourceReader how to depersist the object. This is currently not 
+    extensible. For a given mimetype the value must be set accordingly:
+    
+    Note - application/x-microsoft.net.object.binary.base64 is the format 
+    that the ResXResourceWriter will generate, however the reader can 
+    read any of the formats listed below.
+    
+    mimetype: application/x-microsoft.net.object.binary.base64
+    value   : The object must be serialized with 
+            : System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Binary.BinaryFormatter
+            : and then encoded with base64 encoding.
+    
+    mimetype: application/x-microsoft.net.object.soap.base64
+    value   : The object must be serialized with 
+            : System.Runtime.Serialization.Formatters.Soap.SoapFormatter
+            : and then encoded with base64 encoding.
+
+    mimetype: application/x-microsoft.net.object.bytearray.base64
+    value   : The object must be serialized into a byte array 
+            : using a System.ComponentModel.TypeConverter
+            : and then encoded with base64 encoding.
+    -->
+  <xsd:schema id="root" xmlns="" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:msdata="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:xml-msdata">
+    <xsd:import namespace="http://www.w3.org/XML/1998/namespace" />
+    <xsd:element name="root" msdata:IsDataSet="true">
+      <xsd:complexType>
+        <xsd:choice maxOccurs="unbounded">
+          <xsd:element name="metadata">
+            <xsd:complexType>
+              <xsd:sequence>
+                <xsd:element name="value" type="xsd:string" minOccurs="0" />
+              </xsd:sequence>
+              <xsd:attribute name="name" use="required" type="xsd:string" />
+              <xsd:attribute name="type" type="xsd:string" />
+              <xsd:attribute name="mimetype" type="xsd:string" />
+              <xsd:attribute ref="xml:space" />
+            </xsd:complexType>
+          </xsd:element>
+          <xsd:element name="assembly">
+            <xsd:complexType>
+              <xsd:attribute name="alias" type="xsd:string" />
+              <xsd:attribute name="name" type="xsd:string" />
+            </xsd:complexType>
+          </xsd:element>
+          <xsd:element name="data">
+            <xsd:complexType>
+              <xsd:sequence>
+                <xsd:element name="value" type="xsd:string" minOccurs="0" msdata:Ordinal="1" />
+                <xsd:element name="comment" type="xsd:string" minOccurs="0" msdata:Ordinal="2" />
+              </xsd:sequence>
+              <xsd:attribute name="name" type="xsd:string" use="required" msdata:Ordinal="1" />
+              <xsd:attribute name="type" type="xsd:string" msdata:Ordinal="3" />
+              <xsd:attribute name="mimetype" type="xsd:string" msdata:Ordinal="4" />
+              <xsd:attribute ref="xml:space" />
+            </xsd:complexType>
+          </xsd:element>
+          <xsd:element name="resheader">
+            <xsd:complexType>
+              <xsd:sequence>
+                <xsd:element name="value" type="xsd:string" minOccurs="0" msdata:Ordinal="1" />
+              </xsd:sequence>
+              <xsd:attribute name="name" type="xsd:string" use="required" />
+            </xsd:complexType>
+          </xsd:element>
+        </xsd:choice>
+      </xsd:complexType>
+    </xsd:element>
+  </xsd:schema>
+  <resheader name="resmimetype">
+    <value>text/microsoft-resx</value>
+  </resheader>
+  <resheader name="version">
+    <value>2.0</value>
+  </resheader>
+  <resheader name="reader">
+    <value>System.Resources.ResXResourceReader, System.Windows.Forms, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089</value>
+  </resheader>
+  <resheader name="writer">
+    <value>System.Resources.ResXResourceWriter, System.Windows.Forms, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089</value>
+  </resheader>
+</root>
\ No newline at end of file