Txtexp AutoCAD For Mac

When you import the Autocad dxf file to Lasercut, it seems like it. Using AutoCad you could 'explode' the text then try 'txtexp' in the command line. That you can't easily convert text to Polylines on the Mac version of Autocad. TXTEXP (Express Tool) Products and versions covered. AutoCAD 2015, AutoCAD Architecture 2015, AutoCAD Civil 3D 2015, AutoCAD Electrical 2015, AutoCAD MEP 2015, AutoCAD Map 3D 2015, AutoCAD Mechanical 2015, AutoCAD P&ID 2015, AutoCAD Plant 3D 2015, AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2015, & AutoCAD Utility Design 2015. Create text, and then use.

In a previous post, we described how to “explode” complex linetypes into individual line segments. Many people have a need to explode Text or Mtext for various reasons, one of which might be to ensure the text font cannot change due to missing fonts. This is a good strategy when working with company logos or professional seals where you cannot afford to take a chance on the text being displayed differently.

Presuming you have Express Tools installed, simply run the TXTEXP command, select the text and press enter. If you watch closely, you will see the selected text vanish and then return in a mirrored state and then vanish and return again where it was. When it returns, there will no longer be TEXT, but rather a collection of polylines. Notice the multiple grips on the second and fourth items text below. Since it is no longer TEXT, and potential style/font changes cannot have an effect.

If you are working in AutoCAD LT, you will not have Express Tools. You will have to use the method as described for Exploding linetypes, documented here, which of course would work for just about any graphical item in the drawing.

Lastly, there are some 3rd party alternatives for TXTEXP for use in AutoCAD and its verticals. Here is a link to one particular application, available on the Autodesk Exchange Store.

Detail image of Text that is actually made up of polylines.

Note that this works with virtually any font, although certain filled fonts may give mixed results, give it a try and see what you think.

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Program Description

Inspired by the superb Projective2D application published by the talented programmer Sean Tessier, here I present an open-source AutoLISP program offering similar functionality.

This program provides the user with a means of applying a projective transformation (also known as a homography, collineation, or less technically, a 'perspective' transformation), projecting a selected set of planar objects from one reference frame (or projective space) to another.

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Upon issuing the command syntax 2dpro at the AutoCAD command-line, the user is prompted to select a set of 2D coplanar objects to be projected. This selection is restricted to Arcs, Circles, Elipses, Lines, LWPolylines, 2D (Heavy) Polylines, 2D Splines & Points.

The user is then prompted to select a source reference frame & a destination reference frame. For each of these prompts, the program requires the user to select a closed planar polyline (LWPolyline) with four non-collinear vertices. Following each selection, the program will ensure the points defining the reference frame are counter-clockwise oriented with the points ordered such that the lower-left vertex appears first.

Following valid user responses, the program will then convert the four 2D points defining each reference frame into homogeneous coordinates, and will calculate the transformation matrix to map from the source reference frame (or projective space) to the destination reference frame.

The program will then iterate over the set of selected objects and, for each object, will calculate a 2D point set describing or (in the case of curved objects) approximating the object. Each point is then converted to homogeneous coordinates and mapped to the destination reference frame using the tranformation matrix, before being converted back to cartesian coordinates.

The program will then generate either a Point, Line or LWPolyline from the mapped point(s) with properties matching those of the original object.

Demonstrations

Below are two examples demonstrating the use of the program to project a set of objects from an orthogonal reference frame to a skewed perspective, and then from one skewed perspective to another. Please note that the text in the following example was created using the Express Tools TXTEXP command and is hence composed of lines & polylines.

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3 (for fun!)

Instructions for Running

Please refer to How to Run an AutoLISP Program.