2012
Table Of Contents
- Contents
- Basic Customization
- Overview of Customization
- Organize Program and Support Files
- Customize a Publish to Web Template
- Define Custom Commands
- Record and Modify Action Macros
- Custom Linetypes
- Custom Hatch Patterns
- User Interface Customization
- Understand User Interface Customization
- Work with the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor
- Create and Manage Customization Files
- Customize Commands
- Overview of Commands
- Create, Edit, and Reuse Commands
- Create Macros
- Overview of Macros
- Use Special Control Characters in Macros
- Pause for User Input in Macros
- Provide International Support in Macros
- Use Built-in Commands in Macros
- Repeat Commands in Macros
- Use Single Object Selection Mode in Macros
- Use Macros to Swap User Interface Elements
- Use Conditional Expressions in Macros
- Use AutoLISP in Macros
- Control the Display of Command Items
- Assign Search Tags
- Create Tooltips and Extended Help for Commands
- Create Status Line Help Messages
- Create and Manage Images for Commands
- Customize User Interface Elements
- Load an AutoLISP File
- Customize Workspaces
- Transfer and Migrate Customization
- Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor FAQs
- DIESEL
- Slides and Command Scripts
- Introduction to Programming Interfaces
- Shapes and Shape Fonts
- Overview of Shape Files
- Create Shape Definition Files
- Shape Descriptions
- Vector Length and Direction Code
- Special Codes
- Use Special Codes
- Codes 0, 1, and 2: End of Shape and Draw Mode Control
- Codes 3 and 4: Size Control
- Codes 5 and 6: Location Save/Restore
- Code 7: Subshape
- Codes 8 and 9: X-Y Displacements
- Code 00A: Octant Arc
- Code 00B: Fractional Arc
- Codes 00C and 00D: Bulge-Specified Arcs
- Code 00E: Flag Vertical Text Command
- Text Font Descriptions
- Sample Files
- Big Font Descriptions
- Unicode Font Descriptions
- Superscripts and Subscripts in SHX Files
- Migrate and Transfer Custom Settings and Files
- Index
Shapes and Shape Fonts
With AutoCAD
®
, 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 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 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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