2011

Shapes and Shape Fonts
With AutoCAD for Mac
®
, you can define shapes to use as drawing symbols and text fonts.
This appendix explains how to create and compile your own shape and font files.
Overview of Shape Files
Shapes are objects that you use like blocks. First you use the LOAD command
to load the compiled shape file containing the shape definition. Then you use
the SHAPE command to insert shapes from the file into your drawing. You can
specify the scale and rotation to use for each shape as you add it. AutoCAD for
Mac SHP fonts are a special type of shape file, and are defined in the same way
as shape files.
Blocks are more versatile and easier to use and apply than shapes. However,
shapes are more efficient for AutoCAD for Mac to store and draw. User-defined
shapes are helpful when you must insert a simple part many times and when
speed is important.
Compile Shape/Font Files
You enter the description of shapes in a specially formatted text file with a file
extension of .shp. To create the file, use a text editor or word processor that
enables you to save in ASCII format, and then compile the ASCII file. Compiling
a shape definition file (SHP) generates a compiled shape file (SHX).
The compiled file has the same name as the shape definition file but with a file
type of SHX. If the shape definition file defines a font, you use the STYLE
command to define a text style. Then, you use one of the text placement
commands (TEXT or MTEXT) to place the characters in the drawing. If the shape
definition file defines shapes, you use the LOAD command to load the shape
file into the drawing. Then, you use the SHAPE command to place the individual
shapes in the drawing (similar in concept to the INSERT command).
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