AUTOCAD FOR MAC EXPRESS TOOLS

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I have an AutoCAD 2018 student license for mac......i need to know how to activate Express Tools.

In my AutoCAD options I have already express tools but they doesn't work, especially the tools for the text (explode text, ext....), FLATTEN command it works.

Also when i open the Preferences the folder for the Project Files is empty (see foto).

I really need help!!!

Thanks!

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

Hi Giuditta,

All express tools available in AutoCAD for Mac are under menu Tools -> Express Tools:

The set of Express Tools on Mac is not the same as on Windows and Explode Text is not available on Mac.

About Project Files Search Path.

It is empty OOTB, but you can create as many Projects as you need and assign unique path to each of them in AutoCAD Preferences:

You create Project with "+" button (and delete it with "-" button) when "Project Path Search Path" is selected in window.

You add new (empty) path to project when its name is selected and you set path itself with "Change Path" from "gear" menu.

Now you can tie each drawing to the one of the Projects by setting PROJECTNAME system variable:

Command: PROJECTNAME
Enter new value for PROJECTNAME, or . for none <"">: Project one
Command:

PROJECTNAME saved inside drawing.

For details about PROJECTNAME sys var look here:

https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACDMAC/2018/ENU/index.html?guid=GUID-BBE6FA4B-800E-4D7D-9D59-EDA24829...

To learn more about Project path, look here:

https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACDMAC/2018/ENU/index.html?guid=GUID-48B3D64F-D10A-406F-8F18-DBD30D11...

[Anonymous]

ok thank you very much!!

so......how can I create a 3D text?

because I know that  express tools and explode text are needed to make a 3D text

[maxim_k]

>>>>>how can I create a 3D text?
Create text in Inkscape (free method) or in Adobe Illustrator (not free method), convert it to paths, export to DXF. Open resulting DXF in AutoCAD and extruded "text"
This is one of the ways.

[maxim_k]

If you have 2019 version, you can also to play around saving drawing with text to PDF file with Autodesk PDF as printing device and importing resulting PDF back to AutoCAD. In this case you need to enable "Convert all text to geometry" in PDF printer options:
http://help.autodesk.com/view/ACDMAC/2019/ENU/?guid=GUID-FA9F5B88-D035-46A2-8D1B-7CA45F26C123