AutoCAD Tip: AutoCAD Font Selection: TTF vs SHX

Choosing between TrueType (TTF) and SHX fonts affects plotting quality, performance, searchability, and collaboration. Here’s how to decide and configure AutoCAD for predictable results.

• When to prefer TrueType (TTF)
  • Client-facing PDFs must be searchable and selectable.
  • Drawings require a broad Unicode character set (symbols, multilingual text).
  • Branding or standards mandate specific corporate fonts.
• When to prefer SHX
  • Legacy details depend on classic stroke fonts (e.g., simplex.shx, romans.shx).
  • Very large drawings need faster onscreen performance and plotting.
  • Width Factor and Oblique Angle must be applied extensively without font distortion.
• PDF output and deliverables
  • TTF exports to compact, searchable PDFs; recipients can copy/paste text cleanly.
  • SHX often exports as geometry, increasing PDF size and making text non-searchable. If you must use SHX, clearly communicate this to recipients.
  • Importing PDFs back to DWG: set PDFSHXTEXT=1 before PDFIMPORT to recognize SHX “text-like” geometry as text where possible.
• Plot appearance
  • TTF are filled by default; control with TEXTFILL (1=filled, 0=outline). For ultra-thin text on technical plots, try TEXTFILL=0.
  • SHX are stroked (not filled), often crisper at very small sizes on certain devices.
• Standards, substitution, and mapping
  • Set a default fallback with FONTALT (typical: txt.shx) to avoid missing-font prompts.
  • Use the acad.fmp font mapping file to explicitly map unavailable fonts to approved substitutes across your team.
  • Codify font rules in your template (DWT) and CAD standards so everyone uses the same text styles.
• International and specialty characters
  • TTF generally offer richer glyph coverage and are easier for multilingual projects.
  • For SHX with Asian scripts, pair a Big Font (BigFont) to access extended glyphs.
• Packaging and sharing
  • Use ETRANSMIT to bundle SHX and any distributable TTFs with the DWG. Be mindful of font licensing before transmitting TTFs.
  • Test deliverables: open exported PDFs at 100% and 200% zoom to verify clarity and searchability.
• Style setup best practices
  • Define named text styles (STYLE) for headings, notes, and dimensions—each locked to TTF or SHX as required.
  • Avoid ad-hoc width factors with TTF; use proper font weights or families (e.g., Regular/Bold/Italic) for consistency.
• Quick decision guide
  • Need searchable PDFs, branding, or Unicode? Choose TTF.
  • Need speed, legacy look, or aggressive width/oblique control? Choose SHX.

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