topic Re: font conversion when publishing from Plotmaker to DWG in Collaboration with other software

font conversion when publishing from Plotmaker to DWG

Anonymous — Thu, 15 Apr 2004 21:03:02 GMT

I am trying to publish DWGs from plotmaker. Everything works fine except for the fonts. When I open the published DWG in Volo View or AutoCAD the font ArchiTEXT Western has been converted to a stick font that I assume is the default AutoCAD font. I'd like the fonts to show up in the DWG as they were in ArchiCAD. How can I do this?

I did read the forum thread started last year by afpina and Rick Tompson regarding font conversion for DWGs. I didn't understand most of it.

I'd like to know if I can publish a DWG from Plotmaker that shows the ArchiTEXT Western font (or a similar drafting font) as it shows up in Plotmaker? If it is possible, how can I do it?

Thank you,
John

Re: font conversion when publishing from Plotmaker to DWG

David Larrew — Fri, 16 Apr 2004 04:15:25 GMT

John,

As with all custom TTF (true-type fonts) the person on the receiving end of the converted file needs to have the font installed on their machine. You will need to verify that your license for the font (if any) allows you to share it on multiple machines. You also need to make sure that your Translator file gets the custom font(s) translated correctly when creating the DWG file.

Re: font conversion when publishing from Plotmaker to DWG

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Apr 2004 05:27:46 GMT

David,
Good point about the licencing. I guess that DWG falls short of PDF in terms of being universally readable and printable.

My problem is right here on my own machine. When I open the DWG that I created using Plotmaker the fonts are not showing in the DWG as they were in Plotmaker. This is all taking place on one computer. I figure that I need to getting it working here before I can send it to anyone else.

Next, I can work on translating the fonts into a public domain font or a font owned by the person that I'm send the DWG to.
Thanks,
John

Re: font conversion when publishing from Plotmaker to DWG

Djordje — Fri, 16 Apr 2004 07:00:59 GMT

johncassel wrote:
Good point about the licencing. I guess that DWG falls short of PDF in terms of being universally readable and printable.

Quite short; PDF is IMHO the only format where you can be certain that what you send is what is going to be printed; the only care has to be taken about scaling.

johncassel wrote:
My problem is right here on my own machine. When I open the DWG that I created using Plotmaker the fonts are not showing in the DWG as they were in Plotmaker. This is all taking place on one computer. I figure that I need to getting it working here before I can send it to anyone else.

Next, I can work on translating the fonts into a public domain font or a font owned by the person that I'm send the DWG to.

Which fonts are you using? They should be True Type fonts, for AutoCADs 14 and newer. You should make sure the person on the other end has the same fonts. And, you should set the font conversion table. If you have AutoCAD, there are True Type fonts matching the SHX fonts provided by Autodesk on your machine.

Please specify which fonts and post a screenshot if possible?

Re: font conversion when publishing from Plotmaker to DWG

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Apr 2004 08:17:46 GMT

Djordje,
I am using ArchiText Western in ArchiCAD. I have AutoCAD on my computer but have no idea how to use it.
I am attaching screen shots of the layout in Plotmaker and the DWG opened in AutoCAD.
I'm thinking that this is probably too easy a question. The export from ArchiCAD to DWG must be happening thousands of time every day. How can I get the font in the DWG to look like the font in ArchiCAD (all on the same computer)?
Thanks,
John

Re: font conversion when publishing from Plotmaker to DWG

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Apr 2004 08:25:50 GMT

This is how it appears in AutoCAD. If you zoom in on the title on the right you can see how the letters are all forced together and on top of each other.
Thanks,
John

Re: font conversion when publishing from Plotmaker to DWG

Djordje — Fri, 16 Apr 2004 08:28:05 GMT

johncassel wrote:
I am using ArchiText Western in ArchiCAD. I have AutoCAD on my computer but have no idea how to use it.

Don't have to use it; just open the drawing to see what is happening.

johncassel wrote:
I am attaching screen shots of the layout in Plotmaker and the DWG opened in AutoCAD.

As your screen shots are not up yet, please also upload a screen shot of your Translator settings.

johncassel wrote:
How can I get the font in the DWG to look like the font in ArchiCAD (all on the same computer)?

It should work on the same computer, as the same font should be recognized in both applications. That is, unless your Translator says differently.

Boy, Link will need lots of sunscreen! 😉

Re: font conversion when publishing from Plotmaker to DWG

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Apr 2004 08:32:35 GMT

Here is a detail of the jumbled letters.

Re: font conversion when publishing from Plotmaker to DWG

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Apr 2004 08:59:07 GMT

Djordje,
Translator settings as requested.
Thank you,
John

Re: font conversion when publishing from Plotmaker to DWG

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Apr 2004 09:02:06 GMT

font-style conversion too
BTW I did try putting Arial under AutoCAD font and nothing different happened.

Re: font conversion when publishing from Plotmaker to DWG

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Apr 2004 09:13:36 GMT

This is another of the translator settings that I tried.

Re: font conversion when publishing from Plotmaker to DWG

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Apr 2004 09:18:26 GMT

and here is yet another setting I tried.
What setting do you use? Is there somewhere that I could download a translator that is set up for this type of conversion?
Thank you,
John

Re: font conversion when publishing from Plotmaker to DWG

Djordje — Fri, 16 Apr 2004 14:26:15 GMT

Your ArchiTXT gets converted to TXT.SHX; or maybe TXT.TTF, you should check in AutoCAD (click on the text in AutoCAD, right click, Properties, it will tell you the STYLE used). That means that AutoCAD is not using the ArchiTXT True Type font. Now, you can try to make a blank AutoCAD (BTW, which AutoCAD?) drawing as a template and set up an AutoCAD style that uses ArchiTXT as a font.

This still does not and will not solve the problem of sending the drawing to others, especially if they don't have the same True Type font.

Re: font conversion when publishing from Plotmaker to DWG

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Apr 2004 15:30:31 GMT

Djordje wrote:
Now, you can try to make a blank AutoCAD (BTW, which AutoCAD?) drawing as a template and set up an AutoCAD style that uses ArchiTXT as a font.

This still does not and will not solve the problem of sending the drawing to others, especially if they don't have the same True Type font.

I almost always convert to TTF that are very common such as Arial, Times New Roman, Comic Sans...

If you don't know anything about AutoCAD, it can be a little daunting attempting a conversion of this nature. Remember that the translator works by translating fonts to ACAD styles. Open ACAD (cringe emoticon missing) ...go to Format > Text Style. It opens the attached dialoge box. In there, you can create a new text style with an appropriate font. You then use that style (not font) in your translator settings.

HTH

Re: font conversion when publishing from Plotmaker to DWG

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Apr 2004 15:32:54 GMT

..oh...I almost forgot...make the new style in your DWG template that you will be using for translation...Are you using a DWG template for your conversions?