Special "%%" text characters

[bleeargh]

Hi everyone,

I've been using the archs.shx, archd.shx and archt.shx for years as a standard font. In these you can create symbols by typing in two percents followed by a numeric sequence. For example,

%%208 = ¼"
%%u = underline
%%c = diameter symbol

I'm familiar with the fact that one can create symbols using the alt key as well. (maybe the two percents is substitution for the alt key................hmmm, my ignorance is showing)

Anyway, with the capability of the new plotters nowadays there seems to be no reason to stay with a font that was created for pen plotters. I'm thinking about using the true type font called "cityblueprint"

The only problem is many of the %% characters do not work on cityblueprint. I specifically need to have all the fractions to be shown smaller with a diagonal.

I know, I know....mtext does this automatically for you......I HATE mtext. I still use the good old fashioned dtext command. I fear change :)

Does anyone have a listing of %% characters or alt characters that will create in a true type font all the smaller diagonal percents like the old shx character commands?

%%201 = 1/16
%%202 = 1/8
%%203 = 3/16
%%204 = 1/4
%%205 = 5/16
Etc.

I need the fractions to look like the following: ½, ¼, etc.

[good_m]

if you go here (http://cadcorner.ca/textstyles.php) and download "Archfo.zip" I believe that there is a listing in there (I think it's a CAD file) that has all the symbols.
Mike

[bleeargh]

Thanks good-m, but these only work with the shx font. Not the true type font that I want to use. Here is a link to a more comprehensive version of the file you let me to.
http://www.cadresource.com/library/fonts.html

[good_m]

sorry...I totally missed the bit that you mentioned about the city blueprint font. I'll look into it!
Mike

[Paul Sweet]

City Blueprint only has 1/4, 1/2 & 3/4 as smaller fractions.

There is no relation between %% codes and alt number codes. (For those who aren't familiar with them, the alt number codes have been around since DOS, and numbers have to be entered using the numeric keypad.) Degrees is usually alt-248 and Plus/minus is usually alt-241. Because fonts don't always use the same code for special symbols, it's often easier to use Character Map ( C:\WINDOWS\system32\charmap.exe ) I have a shortcut to it on my desktop.

[bleeargh]

Thanks Paul,

I'm also noticing that the true type fonts keep their inate lineweight in autocad (I'm using R2005). Unless I'm mistaken, I can't modify the lineweight of the true type fonts via color like I can with a shx font. I'm currently looking at the FONTasm software that converts true type fonts to shx font. I guess I can bend on the fractions........aargh......must adapt............change.........is hard. (heh, heh)

[Skeeps]

I know one, I know one!!!
%%dc

That was a great question to ask as it's something I've pondered too.

[Paul Sweet]

That's one of the things I like about TrueType fonts. I don't have to change lineweights when I change character size or plot at a different scale.

According to this article: http://www.cadinfo.net/editorial/TTFacad.htm MTEXT uses only TrueType, and simulates SHX fonts.