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You are here: Home / AutoCAD / How to: add more fonts for AutoCAD

How to: add more fonts for AutoCAD

October 16, 2012 by Edwin Prakoso 8 Comments

In this Article...

  • True Type Fonts
  • SHX fonts
  • Where I can find additional fonts?
  • Video guide

Annotation is a component that we must have in a drawing. And most of the annotation use text. Windows and AutoCAD already provide many types of font, but sometimes we feel they are not enough. If you want to install additional fonts to use them in AutoCAD, this is how you can do it.

Before you start, you should know that there are two types of font that AutoCAD support. True type fonts and SHX fonts.

True Type Fonts

True type fonts are Windows fonts. You must install true type fonts to Windows to let AutoCAD recognize it. True type fonts will also be recognized by all Windows applications. So you can use it too in Microsoft Words, Excel and other Windows program.

To install true type fonts, you can find font you want to install in Windows explorer. Select it, right click and choose install from context menu.

install_ttf_to_Windows

You might need to restart AutoCAD if AutoCAD still don’t list the font. Exit AutoCAD then start it again.

SHX fonts

SHX fonts are specific for AutoCAD. If you install it, then only AutoCAD can use it. The SHX fonts are stored in support folder. You can see where your AutoCAD store it in AutoCAD option, files tab.

autocad_support_file_search_path

In this example, I use AutoCAD 2013. My SHX fonts are stored in C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2013\Fonts.

To let AutoCAD recognize the fonts, simply copy SHX fonts to that folder.

Where I can find additional fonts?

There are many websites that provide free downloadable fonts. Try to search them on Google search with search term: “true type font download” OR “shx font download”.

You should see dozens of websites in search result. I don’t download fonts often, so I don’t have a preference. Feel free to share your favorite website to download fonts in comment section.

Most of my drawings use default fonts. Do you need to add more fonts for your drawing? Why do you think default fonts are not enough?

Video guide

If you have problem following the steps above, you can see this video below.

Link to video: http://youtu.be/rojHW96Mv4c

About Edwin Prakoso

I work as a Sr. Consultant in PT Cipta Satria Informatika. I've been using AutoCAD since R14 and Revit since Revit Building 9. I occasionally write for AUGIWorld magazine and I am also active in Autodesk discussion forum. I'm a member of Autodesk Expert Elite, an appreciation for individuals who give contributions to the Autodesk community.
Connect with me on twitter or LinkedIn.

Filed Under: AutoCAD Tagged With: autocad tips, font, shx, true type

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arcvertex llc
arcvertex llc
6 years ago

How to fix this issue in ZWCAD?

0
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Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Author
Reply to  arcvertex llc
6 years ago

I’m not familiar with ZWCAD, but it should be the same way.

0
Reply
Nahid
Nahid
9 years ago

Very Much helpful. Thank you Edwin Prakoso

-1
Reply
Lozeman
Lozeman
9 years ago

in addition : When the dwg with the additional font is shared must you must share the font file . file transfer does this

0
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Martin @ hellosucker
Martin @ hellosucker
11 years ago

Hi, I am trying to add SHX fonts, but when copying the font into the folder I get "Access denied" although I closed CAD and rebooted the PC. What am I doing wrong that Wins won't allow me copying it into that folder?

0
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Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Reply to  Martin @ hellosucker
11 years ago

Martin,

You may not have privilege to write to that folder. However, you can copy your custom fonts to any folder. Then you can add that folder path in AutoCAD option.

0
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Martin @ hellosucker
Martin @ hellosucker
Reply to  Edwin Prakoso
11 years ago

Hi Edwin, yes, later I figured it out and changed my user settings to grant myself access and I was able to copy in that folder. But it was frustrating anyway to force my blocks change the font. Thanks for your response.

0
Reply
Virtual Staging
Virtual Staging
Reply to  Martin @ hellosucker
5 years ago

good post

0
Reply
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