Missing Helvetm.shx Font Files (Opening CAD or Running a Land F/X Tool)

Issue

You saw an error message informing you of a missing helvetm.shx font when attempting one of the following actions:

• Running a schedule
• Placing text
• Using a Land F/X tool that uses fonts

You may have also seen a Missing SHX files error upon opening CAD.

Cause

We've updated our collection of default fonts available with your Land F/X installation, replacing many of the most commonly used SHX fonts with a TrueType (TTF) version.

In carrying out this update, we've discontinued the default font Swiss Shape (helvetm.shx). When you first open a drawing that previously used Swiss Shape after running the update, you'll see this message informing you of the change.

For more information on this update, see our Fonts Update article.

Solution

Step 1: Ensure that you have the latest Land F/X ribbons.

Open the Help flyout menu on any Land F/X ribbon to see which version of the Land F/X ribbons you currently have.

The latest version of the ribbons is 2024-03. If you see any version prior to this one, you'll need to download and run our latest F/X Workstation installer.

Do you have the latest version of our ribbons (version 2024-03, as pictured above)?

• Yes: move on to Step 2: Update your Land F/X Text Styles.
• No: Follow our steps to download and run the latest F/X Workstation component. You can then move on to Step 2: Update your Land F/X Text Styles.

Step 2: Update your Land F/X Text Styles.

2A. Open the General Preferences screen and ensure that you have the correct Preference Set selected.

2B. Follow our steps to customize your Land F/X Text Styles for that Preference Set, selecting a new font for each Text Style that previously used the Swiss Shape SHX font.

Options for replacing Swiss Shape in your Preference Set

In updating our fonts library, we've added several new fonts to the software. Although you're free to use any available font to replace Swiss Shape in your drawings, we've added several new fonts that are stylistically similar to Swiss Shape. We've included an example of the discontinued Swiss Shape SHX font below, followed by examples of each of the new fonts so you can compare them.

Legacy SHX font: Swiss Shape (helvetm.shx)

Stylistically similar alternative fonts to Swiss Shape:

• Font name: Swiss 721 Roman (swiss.ttf)
• Source:
• Example:

• Font name: Arial (arial.ttf)
• Source:
• Example:

• Font name: Trebuchet (trebuc.ttf)
• Source:
• Example:

• Font name: Verdana (verdana.ttf)
• Source:
• Example: