C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 202X\Fonts AutoCAD LT: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD LT 202X\Fonts
It enables AutoCAD to display characters that standard fonts cannot interpret, converting complex curve definitions into readable text.
If you are seeing garbled text, you need to download Xarab.shx and place it in the proper AutoCAD fonts directory. Follow these steps:
Step 3: Set Support File Search Paths (Optional but Recommended) Xarab.shx Autocad Font
is a custom, specialized shape font used predominantly in specific regional drafting standards, mapping applications, or proprietary structural detailing software. Because it is not a default font included in standard Autodesk installations, it belongs to the category of "third-party" or "custom" SHX fonts.
Yet, tucked away in the "Legacy" folders of veteran engineers, Xarab.shx remains—a digital relic of a time when every line on a blueprint was a labor of love, and even a font could tell the story of a culture.
Ensure the file extension is strictly .shx and not accidentally double-extended (e.g., xarab.shx.txt or xarab.shx.zip ). Also, confirm that you pasted it into the active version folder if you have multiple versions of AutoCAD installed on your machine. Best Practices for CAD Data Exchange Because it is not a default font included
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: Because it maps English characters to Arabic shapes, you cannot search for Arabic words in your drawing or export the text to other programs like Word or Excel without it appearing as a string of random English letters . 🛠️ Technical Limitations
While newer versions of AutoCAD handle TrueType Kurdish fonts much better than they did a decade ago, Xarab.shx remains the superior choice for . It offers the precision, speed, and "blueprint aesthetic" that TrueType fonts often fail to deliver. Also, confirm that you pasted it into the
Choose the option to "Specify a replacement for each SHX file" or close the drawing, install the file using the steps above, and reopen it. 2. Arabic Text Displays Backward or Disconnected
(shape definition) file. To modify it, you must decompile it using tools like DUMPSHX.EXE from old AutoCAD Express Tools. Bentley Systems Installation Guide
The Xarab.shx font is a custom-built SHX file designed specifically for displaying Arabic text. However, it is unconventional. Unlike a standard SHX font, it does not follow the typical Unicode or ASCII mapping for Arabic characters. Instead, it is often a "mapped" font that uses the keyboard's Latin (English) keys to display Arabic script. The font file XARAB.SHX uses English letters as a placeholder but translates them to show the corresponding Arabic letters. For example, using the tool Xarab_to_Excel , the letter "a" is mapped to ش, "b" to ي, and so on.
Installation is straightforward—simply place the file in the C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20xx\Fonts directory. For macOS users, it can be added via the Support File Search Path in Application settings.