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Replies: 9 - Last Post: Oct 30, 2009 4:33 AM Last Post By: mlouis

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Hunyadi M.

Special characters in mtext
Posted: Oct 12, 2006 12:08 PM

When using the internal editor of Autocad for editing and creating
mtexts, the special (Latin-2) characters (like "úőű") are inserted as
proxy fonts? When using notepad as editor this problem doesn't occur.
Neither if I use standard fonts. Is there a special record in the SHX
file that tells Autocad that the character can be diplayed or not, to
proxy it or not.

Any help appreciated,

M. Hunyadi

Bill DeShawn

Re: Special characters in mtext
Posted: Oct 13, 2006 4:06 AM

in response to: Hunyadi M.

I think it is that if it can be displayed, it will display. If it cannot,
it will put a question mark in its place.

--
Bill DeShawn
bdeshawn@nospamsterling.net
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn
(website link works now)

"Hunyadi M." wrote in message
news:5359286@discussion.autodesk.com...
When using the internal editor of Autocad for editing and creating
mtexts, the special (Latin-2) characters (like "úou") are inserted as
proxy fonts? When using notepad as editor this problem doesn't occur.
Neither if I use standard fonts. Is there a special record in the SHX
file that tells Autocad that the character can be diplayed or not, to
proxy it or not.

Any help appreciated,

M. Hunyadi

teiarch

Posts: 4,414
Registered: 03/01/04

Re: Special characters in mtext
Posted: Oct 13, 2006 5:09 PM

in response to: Hunyadi M.

The characters you mention could be inserted because the new Mtext editor is more "aware" of it's environment and character mapping is more precise than it used to be.

These characters could be appearing because of country code setting in the operating system.

These characters could also be appearing because of the font you're using. If it does NOT have all characters defined at their proper UNICODE addresses, unexpected characters may be displayed.

You didn't mention the font you're using but you did state that this problem didn't show up if using Autocad "standard" fonts. Since all Autocad fonts shipped are written in UNICODE/UNIFONT format, it's a good indication that the font you're using is an older one written in decimal format.

Two options: Either use the old Mtext editor that is accessible in 2006; OR use a font that is written in UNIFONT/UNICODE format.

Hunyadi M.

Re: Special characters in mtext
Posted: Oct 14, 2006 9:08 AM

in response to: teiarch

Thanks for your help.

I've found and fixed the problem. As you said the font file didn't
include the unicode characters of my country. I found that notepad
inserts the ASCII code for my characters, which was properly included in
the shx file. Instead, the autocad mtext editor uses the unicode of the
same keyboard button. I found the code for in, and changed it in my
shp/shx file.

By the way: how can I use the "old" mtext editor, to see what it is.

teiarch

Posts: 4,414
Registered: 03/01/04

Re: Special characters in mtext
Posted: Oct 14, 2006 3:57 PM

in response to: Hunyadi M.

I don't have 2006 but some colleagues of mine who do use the "old" Mtext editor which was the standard for previous versions. You'll have to look in the help files for the command.

If your font is working now with the new mtext editor, then you may not need to be concerned about the old editor. As I understand it, it works with older SHX fonts that are decimally formatted. This doesn't appear to be an issue for you, now.

Glad I was able to suggest a direction for you to take.

What font were you using?

Hunyadi M.

Re: Special characters in mtext
Posted: Oct 15, 2006 7:19 AM

in response to: teiarch

The font I use is based on the simplex.shx, with some changes. Hungarian
letters with accents are changed, sub- and superscript and some special
shapes (weldings, greek letters) are added. All this in ascii format.

teiarch

Posts: 4,414
Registered: 03/01/04

Re: Special characters in mtext
Posted: Oct 15, 2006 10:10 PM

in response to: Hunyadi M.

SIMPLX61.ZIP (42.4 KB)

You should try this font..... it is an extensively reworked version fo Simplex.

Hunyadi M.

Re: Special characters in mtext
Posted: Oct 18, 2006 9:57 AM

in response to: teiarch

Thanks Teiarch!

I used the font, it seems to fit my requirements.
Some welding shapes are missing, but I'll add to it in near futur.

With the old shx: as I said, I put the őű (o and u with accents) to the
unicode part of the file, thus made the shx from ascii to unifont. Now I
can correctly write my letters in mtext editor, but the previously
written characters has been changed to question mark. (Like diameter,
greek letters). If I change back to the old shx, everything is ok
(except the editor).

I thought Autocad does hardly code the character's code of a text into
the file, but as I see it translates it everytime the drawing is loaded.

teiarch

Posts: 4,414
Registered: 03/01/04

Re: Special characters in mtext
Posted: Oct 18, 2006 7:51 PM

in response to: Hunyadi M.

Depending on the shape of the symbols, there may be a symbol shape which is similar.

If you are adding symbols for which there is no UNICODE address, I suggest placing them in the designated Private Use Area which includes addresses E000 thru F8FF. Autodesk has already defined and used E100, E101, E102 and E200 but most other addresses are open.

mlouis

Posts: 15
Registered: 12/22/08

Re: Special characters in mtext
Posted: Oct 30, 2009 4:33 AM

in response to: teiarch

For Unicodes I recommend going to the following websites:

http://docs.autodesk.com/ACD/2010/ENU/AutoCAD%202010%20User%20Documentation/index.html?url=WS1a9193826455f5ffa23ce210c4a30acaf-49bb.htm,topicNumber=d0e276314

http://cadecorner.blogspot.com/2006/07/using-unicode.html

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