Expert: Bill DeShawn - 8/6/2008

Question
I am having a problem figuring out how to make a linetype with the Property Line symbol in it.  The unicode for it is \U+214A, but for some reason, either autocad or notepad isn't recognizing it.  I need to have the two letters overlapping each other as it appears as the letterlike symbol.  Can you help me?

Answer
Joe:
Please include the version of AutoCAD in your requests.  

In some versions (the most recent), EXPRESS TOOLS is included and can be set up using a "Custom Installation" when you first install AutoCAD.  As a part of the package is MKLTYPE.  It is a command that assists users like you and me to make linetypes.  I did one with the archstyl.shx font using the ">" character which the font translates into the merged PL symbol for "property line", or "plate".  It's an SHX font that can be downloaded here:
http://www.dcm.ku.edu/files/dcmfonts.zip
Be sure to get the s= value for the height of the text right.  MKLTYPE sometimes make a mistake with that.

Also, be sure to NEVER use the "Standard" name in a font file or especially in a text style named in a linetype.  It will seriously mess you up.  Use a text style name that everybody on your team will have, but NOBODY else in the world will have, unless you give it to them.  For example if you work for Ajax Architecture, then name the text style something like AJAX-PL-TEXT.  The style will have one purpose - your new linetype.  The font file is not embedded in the linetype.  But the Style name is.  So if the lines get imported into somebody else's drawing, they also need to import the text style first and have the font file readily available if you want the lines in the drawing to look like they look when you're looking at it from your workstation.

Keep in touch
Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn