| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Text shows as ??? | Hzdx.shx missing the character's code page mapping | Switch to HzTxt.shx or gbcbig.shx (Chinese Big5) |
| Font replaced with simplex.shx | Missing Hzdx.shx on someone else's computer | Use ETRANSMIT to include the SHX file, or convert to Mtext → Explode (not recommended) |
| Vertical text overlaps | "Vertical" option turned on incorrectly | Edit the text style → turn OFF Vertical |
| Thin lines when plotting | SHX fonts plot at actual vector width | Set LWDEFAULT or use CTB/STB plot style to add lineweight |
| Slow performance with many text objects | SHX font is actually large (rare) | Use TXT2MTXT to combine single-line text, or purge unused text styles |
In Chinese GB standards (Guobiao standards) for engineering, technical drawings require specific stroke clarity. Hzdx.shx ensures that complex characters (like 螺栓 - bolt) do not become illegible blobs when scaled down to 2.5mm height on an A3 print.
To understand Hzdx.shx, you must first understand the two file types AutoCAD uses for text: Hzdx.shx Font
Hzdx.shx belongs to the second category. It is a compound font file specifically designed for Chinese engineering documentation.
Hzdx.shx is a compiled shape font file primarily used within Autodesk AutoCAD. While standard SHX fonts like Txt.shx or Romans.shx are ubiquitous in Western drafting, Hzdx.shx serves a more specific purpose: it is a "Big Font" file designed to handle double-byte characters (typically Simplified Chinese) and specialized vertical stacking often required in architectural documentation. | Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
If you have opened a legacy drawing from an East Asian architecture firm or collaborated internationally, you have likely encountered the dreaded "Substituting font..." prompt, leading you to this file.
Hzdx.shx is not a standalone product you can buy on a website. It is traditionally bundled with GSCAD (GrandSoft CAD) and specific versions of ZhongWang (中望) CAD and Haochen (浩辰) CAD. However, it became a de facto standard because AutoCAD’s own native Chinese SHX fonts (like Txt.shx paired with Bigfont.shx) were historically limited. To understand Hzdx
The AutoCAD "Big Font" Mechanism AutoCAD handles double-byte languages (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) using a "Big Font" system. In the Text Style manager, you select:
Hzdx.shx became popular because it was more comprehensive than Autodesk’s default Bigfont.shx. It covers GB2312 (the national standard for Simplified Chinese characters) more thoroughly and includes many rare characters used in names and geographical locations.