mtext

I have several hundred instances of mtext that contain fractions that are stacked using some kind of code. Is there a way to convert them to plain text without editing each one individually?

I would doubt there is a way of changing multiple instances in one go, but this FAQ might help with your understanding of stacking. I'm not sure also what you mean by converting fractions to plain text? Do you mean decimals?

I'm not sure also what you mean by converting fractions to plain text? Do you mean decimals?

I'm pretty sure he just wants the fractions to come out normally rather then stack up. For example AB/CD should look exactly like it does here rather then as a fraction.

In this case I found no convenient way to do this, you may be able to get an AutoLISP routine to automate this for you. If you compare the "contents" property of a stacked fraction vs an unstacked one I get 1/2 for the unstacked and \A1;{H0.7x;\S1/2;} for the stacked so that might provide a clue on how to unstack them all with a macro but I don't believe AutoCAD comes with support for this as is.

The best way to do it IMHO is to open the MTEXT, highlight the fraction, then click the stack button. This will unstack the highlighted instance, but the problem is selecting multiple occurences of mtext- I don't know if there's any variation of MTEDIT with which multiple edit windows can be open, and I can't think if a macro can do this either? As far as I'm aware, mtedit can only operate on one instance of mtext at a time?

As far as I'm aware, mtedit can only operate on one instance of mtext at a time?

Yeah that's the issue I ran into, it's more a problem with processing them as a batch then doing them individually. I can imagine this is really tedious work if you're editing a lot of them.

Well, I've got a question too about dimensions. Autocad prompts the user for the dimension text every time. I usually have my DIMSTYLE set up as decimals for machine and tool design. Does anybody know a routine that would allow you to respond to the dimension text prompt with a fraction, i.e., 1 1/2 versus 1.500 and have the text of the dimension be a stacked fraction? Responding with 1 1/2 just gets you text as you see here. There are many details in design that don't require decimal dimensions, the tolerance implied by fractions eases up on the time and money it takes to make the part. That's why I have a tolerance table in my title block. I like stacked fractions versus horizontal slash bar text. They look like real drafting, take up less space. Anybody got a routine, a solution. Don't tell me multiple DIMSTYLES, I don't have time to jump in and reset that for every other dimension I create (or nearly every other).

Well, I've figured out my own answer. I wrote a little routine that prompts me at the Horz, Vert, or Dia dimension command for F or D. It just changes the FORMAT from either decimal or fraction. It does not change the VALUE of the dimension. I tried explaining this on the AutoCAD discussion groups and boy did they get mad at me. They wouldn't read my post, they thought I was changing the dimension value. Would never do that, always draw accurately.