Can I Convert Text to Vector?

[Anonymous]

Anybody know if it is possible to convert text to vector graphics?
EXPLODE command doesn't work but that's the effect I'm looking for...

Regards from the Blizzard in Martha's Vineyard!

David Stanwood

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

What I do is:
1) Setup the text style to use an width other than exactly 1. It can be
.9999 or 1.000001 or etc.
2) Create the text or use property painter to 'paint' the new info to
existing text
3) Some where in the drawing, create a line that will be used for
reference later
4) At the command prompt, type WMFOUT
5) Select the text and the reference line (real easy if you have the
text on a separate layer)
6) Erase (or freeze) the 'real' text but keep the reference line
7) At the command prompt, type WMFIN & select the wmf file you created
8) Notice the wmf doesn't come in at the same scale - the reason for the
reference line
9) After selecting the base point, use the default scale & rotation
10) Now, move the block made by importing the WMF so one endpoint of the
wmf's ref line matches up with the corresponding endpoint of the
original ref line
11) At the command prompt, type SCALE and select the wmf block
12) For the base point, select the endpoint you used to match up ref
lines with - the common endpoint
13) At the command prompt, type R for reference
14) Pick the 'common' endpoint
15) Pick the other endpoint of the wmf's ref line
16) Lastly pick the other endpoint of the original ref line
17) Now you can explode the block and the text should be lines


If you're using True Type fonts, you'll get lots of little lines. To
clean it up easily do this:
18) After the explode, do a Change and select objects = previous
19) Put the objects on a layer by themselves for easy removal
20) Draw a rectangle around the text
21) Use the Boundary command and pick a point between the rectangle and
the text
22) Freeze or lock every layer but the layer the text is on & erase it
23) Change the boundary you created to that layer for easy removal later
24) Use the boundary command again and pick "inside" the outline of the
text
25) Freeze or lock every layer but the layer the first boundary is on &
erase it

You now have the text in a outline and can solid hatch it for a fill.

Enjoy,
Stef
--
mailto: yodersj@earthlink.net || Drafter, Leather-worker
http://www.flatmtn.com/cad/ || Dos, Win, LT
http://www.flatmtn.com/computer/ || Computer How-To

[Anonymous]

Dear Stef,

Your solution worked like a charm!

I'm designing a circular slide rule for calculating weight and friction
components in piano keyboards.

Thanks so much..

David Stanwood

"S. Yoder" wrote:

> What I do is:
> 1) Setup the text style to use an width other than exactly 1. It can be
> .9999 or 1.000001 or etc.
> 2) Create the text or use property painter to 'paint' the new info to
> existing text
> 3) Some where in the drawing, create a line that will be used for
> reference later
> 4) At the command prompt, type WMFOUT
> 5) Select the text and the reference line (real easy if you have the
> text on a separate layer)
> 6) Erase (or freeze) the 'real' text but keep the reference line
> 7) At the command prompt, type WMFIN & select the wmf file you created
> 8) Notice the wmf doesn't come in at the same scale - the reason for the
> reference line
> 9) After selecting the base point, use the default scale & rotation
> 10) Now, move the block made by importing the WMF so one endpoint of the
> wmf's ref line matches up with the corresponding endpoint of the
> original ref line
> 11) At the command prompt, type SCALE and select the wmf block
> 12) For the base point, select the endpoint you used to match up ref
> lines with - the common endpoint
> 13) At the command prompt, type R for reference
> 14) Pick the 'common' endpoint
> 15) Pick the other endpoint of the wmf's ref line
> 16) Lastly pick the other endpoint of the original ref line
> 17) Now you can explode the block and the text should be lines
>
> If you're using True Type fonts, you'll get lots of little lines. To
> clean it up easily do this:
> 18) After the explode, do a Change and select objects = previous
> 19) Put the objects on a layer by themselves for easy removal
> 20) Draw a rectangle around the text
> 21) Use the Boundary command and pick a point between the rectangle and
> the text
> 22) Freeze or lock every layer but the layer the text is on & erase it
> 23) Change the boundary you created to that layer for easy removal later
> 24) Use the boundary command again and pick "inside" the outline of the
> text
> 25) Freeze or lock every layer but the layer the first boundary is on &
> erase it
>
> You now have the text in a outline and can solid hatch it for a fill.
>
> Enjoy,
> Stef
> --
> mailto: yodersj@earthlink.net || Drafter, Leather-worker
> http://www.flatmtn.com/cad/ || Dos, Win, LT
> http://www.flatmtn.com/computer/ || Computer How-To

[Anonymous]

this does not seem to work on a mac-

any alternates for the mac version of autocad lt?

[pendean]

Windows Metafile (WMF) is an image file format originally designed for Microsoft Windows in the 1990s.

Ask in the MAC forum is there is an Apple/AutoCAD alternative https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-for-mac/ct-p/3011

[msrmanag]

Text the command "TXTEXP."

[pendean]

@msrmanag Not only are you replying to a post from the year 2016, you also offered advise that is not available in this software. Thanks for trying though, hopefully no one else will get totally confused by your non-started of a solution in this software.

[tim13]

Regardless of the timing of msrmanag's response, the command he suggested works perfectly as the solution for the original question.  Thanks, msrmanag!

Also, these forums still come up in google searches and answers are found here everyday regardless of how old the posts are.  Case in point:  I found this one today and it solved my problem and the command suggested by msrmanag is more efficient that the previously posted solution for the first part of the task.

Pendean, your latest post is the confusing one.

[pendean]

@Anonymous All the more reason to state your current software year version as you offer up a tip to a problem that was not provided back in the day.

If you truly want to help, then truly help, by offering as much relevant information as possible.

HTH