Special Character Codes for Text

These codes stem back to the “Old School” days of AutoCAD in DOS, but are each still useful today. All of these codes still work with DTEXT using the standard AutoCAD fonts. Likewise, all but the %%u and %%o codes work with the newer MTEXT.

%%d = degree
%%c = circle diameter
%%p = plus/minus tolerance
%%u = begin underline of text. Repeat to end underline.
%%o = begin overline of text. Repeat to end.

Donnie Gladfelter
Donnie Gladfelter

Donnie is author of the book and Autodesk Official Press, AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT: No Experience Required, a columnist for AUGIWorld Magazine, Autodesk University speaker, and former member of the AUGI Board of Directors.

19 Comments

      • I have used the special charater codes many times. The issue I run into with Mtext, is that when I add the center line symbol, it does not appear as the same font style and scale. I have to highlight the center line symbol and scale it up to match the height of font style all ready in uses. I can live with that. It really becomes a problem when I need the center line symbol in a civil 3D object. I can add the center line symbol with the text, but I can not scale the center line symbol to match the height of the text all ready in uses. It would be nice if the symbol would just match the font style being used. Do you have any suggestions?

      • I have used the special charater codes many times. The issue I run into with Mtext, is that when I add the center line symbol, it does not appear as the same font style and scale. I have to highlight the center line symbol and scale it up to match the height of font style all ready in uses. I can live with that. It really becomes a problem when I need the center line symbol in a civil 3D object. I can add the center line symbol with the text, but I can not scale the center line symbol to match the height of the text all ready in uses. It would be nice if the symbol would just match the font style being used. Do you have any suggestions?

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