Wednesday

Hip Tip: Solving Right to Left Text Plotting Problem

2 Comments Dec-17-2008 | Posted by Abdulhadi Najjar | Printable Version | Level |

In spite that AutoCAD support to RTL (right to left) alphabets was rapidly developed in its latest versions; users still face a variety of problems related to RTL texts specially when they plot their elaborated drawings. This post will solve the commonest plotting problem for texts written in languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Urdu, Pashto, etc. It may also work with other languages not from Greek descent.

Problem description

This problem is usually encountered in topographic, 3D, and any multileveled drawings. After entering a text, using DT or MT command, user will notice that the text looks a little bit fuzzy compared to the similar text located elsewhere (figure 1).

figure 1

However, when it comes with plotting the fuzzy text becomes a mess of letters (the upper text of figure 2).

figure 2

The solution

Comparing properties of the fuzzy text with the normal one using PR command indicates that the issue is related to “Position Z” of the text. Changing “Position Z” value to Zero will solve the problem.

However, what are you going to do if you have tens or hundreds of fuzzy texts? Simply, use QSELECT command or click on Quick Select icon in the Properties window (figure 3).

figure 3

In the Quick Select window, apply a selection inquiry on Text (later on MText, too) Object Type where Position Z not equal to 0 as it seen in figure 4.

figure 4

Click OK. All the fuzzy texts are presumed to be selected. In the Properties window change Position Z values to a shared value that is 0, escape, apply the same steps to MText Object Type, and that is all.