Different Look for Unicode Linetype depending on Versions

[joshua_modglin]

I have an interesting situation where linetypes that have been working in 5 versions no longer work in 2025.
The linetype definition is below using Arial font for the Standard text style.
In any version before 2025, the symbol comes out beautifully. In 2025, it no longer shows any symbol.

*RWATERX,Regular Water _____~_____~_____~_____~_____~_____~_____
A,0.5,["\U+032E",STANDARD,S=.1875,R=0,x=0.064,y=0.018755],-0.1875,["\U+032F",STANDARD,S=.1875,R=0,x=-0.064,y=0.051],-0.0

2024 Sample

2025 Sample

[paullimapa]

What is your Text Style named STANDARD using as the font file?

AutoCAD uses txt.shx and I've also tried simplex.shx & times.shx on your linetype definition in both the latest 2024.1.6 & 2025.1.1 and both look the same with question marks:

[joshua_modglin]

The font being used is the TTF Arial font.

[paullimapa]

When I select Arial for my Standard Text Style in both 2024 and 2025 I don’t see any characters show up not even the question marks. Perhaps you can share a sample dwg?

[joshua_modglin]

Please see attached sample drawing.

[paullimapa]

When I open your dwg in both 2024 & 2025 I get the same prompt to select a replacement for this missing shape file so I just cancel out since I don't have anything I can use to replace it:

And once again I don't see anything not even question marks as characters in between the lines with your linetypes:

[Sea-Haven]

Worked in Bricscad V24 &V 25 but got error message.

Substituting font "FRAHV.TTF" by default font.

[komondormrex]

i haven't had any problem with displaying these linetypes in 25 with arial font.

have you tried to change the font for the standard textstyle and see what will the lines show up?

@paullimapa 

mecsline.shx has nothing to do with above lines. it is used in others, like haybale for instance.

[paullimapa]

Odd that I don’t see any characters in between the lines in both the latest 2024 & 2025 using ttfs. Then when I try shx all I see are the ? characters. Even when I try to enter that Unicode character within the mtext editor I get nothing too. 

[joshua_modglin]

Interesting. You are the first 2025 user that has that result. We are running AutoCAD 2025.1.1 on Win11 Pro 24H2

Is your setup any different?

We did try multiple fonts prior to posting. No font change brings back the water symbol. With Arial Unicode font, other symbols came back such as the symbol in the lighting linetype. 

Some things that speak to the issue:

• Consistent results for our users which seems to make sense based on computer setups being similar
• Varied results from the field (thanks to all who have tested)
• As Paul mentioned, the issue is not just linetypes. Unicode symbols cannot be typed into MText either. They just disappear. 

Thanks for all the help to troubleshoot. Without knowing the cause, I am concerned about changing the character in the linetype or changing the font since it worked on multiple computers for years. Without identifying the cause what will stop it from happening again? 

[paullimapa]

Perhaps sign into your Autodesk account and submit a troubleshooting ticket 

[paullimapa]

here's a new development...when I disable DirectX12 in 2025.1.1 (GFXDX12 = 0 & restart AutoCAD) then I see the character...so that's the problem

[Sea-Haven]

What about using tilde in line type "~" its a single character so no need for unicode. Top left on my keyboard.

A,40,-5.08,["~",STANDARD,S=1.8,R=180.0,X=0.0,Y=.9],-3

[joshua_modglin]

Well that is interesting. Not a fix but definitely the culprit. I was able to test and duplicate results.

Thanks.

[joshua_modglin]

Although that may be a workaround (the symbology is different but close) for this linetype, we have many linetypes that use Unicode symbols. I only posted one example. It also doesn't explain what changed.

[paullimapa]

So your previous versions may have been running DirectX 11 & not the latest DirectX 12 which is why the latest 2025 install shows this difference.  Keep in mind there are only certain graphics cards that Autodesk has certified and if you have one of those then it's worth reporting to them about this problem.