---
title: "CAD Fonts and Plot Style Files"
slug: "cadfontsandplotstylefiles"
updated: 2026-03-26T00:41:06Z
published: 2026-03-26T00:41:06Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.12dsynergy.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# CAD Fonts and Plot Style Files

12d Synergy does not automatically have access to the CAD Fonts and Plot Styles files installed with the CAD application or to those customised for your business. You will have to add these files to a folder on the 12d Synergy Server, which will later be downloaded to your workspace when needed.

## 1. CAD Fonts and CAD Plot Styles

### 1.1. How to Use CAD Fonts and CAD Plot Styles

1. In the **12d Synergy Administration** application, click the **System Settings** > **General** tab.
2. From the list of **Settings** displayed, select the **CAD Fonts Folder** and double-click the corresponding cell in the **Value** column. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/v5cadfontscadfontsandplotstylefiles.doc-image-oufpz1vx.png)
3. Select a job and a folder where the CAD fonts files (.**shx**) are located. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/v5cadfontscadfontsandplotstylefiles.doc-image-hsalvttt.png) The selected folder is displayed in the **Value** column for the **CAD Fonts Folder** setting. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/36833d89-59e3-46a5-b491-e9aa1b524a85/Images/Documentation/v5cadfontscadfontsandplotstylefiles.doc-image-qvv4lqgp.png)
4. From the list of **Settings** displayed, select the **CAD Plot Styles Folder** and double-click the corresponding cell in the **Value** column.
5. Select a job and a folder where the CAD Plot Style files (**.ctb**and**.stb**) are located.
6. In the **12d Synergy Client**application, do the following:
  1. Save your CAD Fonts files (**.shx**) in the folder you selected in Step 3 of this procedure.
  2. Save your CAD Plot Style (**.ctb** and **.stb**) files in the folder you selected in Step 5 of this procedure. The necessary settings for using CAD files are set up. When you access your DWG files, the **12d Synergy Client** application automatically downloads the CAD Font files to your workplace if any changes are made to them since they were last used. When you publish your DWG files to PDF, the 12d Synergy Client application automatically uses the fonts and plot styles from the folders in which your CAD Fonts and CAD Plot Styles (**.shx, .ctb**and**.stb**) are stored.

    - Only the files in the CAD Fonts and Plot Styles folders are downloaded to your workspace for publishing work. 12d Synergy will not look into subfolders of these folders, if any. Subfolders should not be used in this structure.
    - If you publish a DWG that has CAD fonts and styles which are NOT defined in your CAD Fonts and CAD Plot Styles (**.shx, .ctb**and**.stb**), then the PDF may display abnormal text in an incorrect font and position.
    - If you have your CAD Plot Styles (**.ctb**and**.stb**) stored in the location mentioned at the **12d Synergy Administration** application **> System Settings > General** tab > **General Storage** setting, you will still be able to publish your DWG files to PDF.

## 2. True Type Font Files

Your 12d Synergy Administrator has access to the **True Type Font** files (**.ttf**) that are only in the **C:\Windows\Fonts** folder on the 12d Synergy server. You will need these files when you are publishing PDFs of CAD drawings or performing other CAD operations.

> [!NOTE]
> If you are a cloud user, you will need to contact the 12d Synergy Support staff to install the TrueType font files.

### 2.1. How to Install and Work with New True Type Font Files

1. Right-click the added **.ttf** files on the server and select the **Install for all Users** option. The **.ttf** files are then installed in the **C:\Windows\Fonts** folder.

> [!NOTE]
> - You must select the **Install for all Users** option and **NOT**the **Install**option to install and access the **.ttf**files.
> - Dragging and dropping the**.ttf** files in the **C:\Windows\Fonts** folder will NOT install the fonts. Hence, you cannot access them.

Once installed, you can work with the newly added TrueType font files when publishing PDFs from DWG files or performing CAD operations.

- You may need to restart the server for the new **.ttf** installations to take effect.
- If your **.ttf**files are on the cloud, please contact 12d Synergy’s Support team for assistance on installing the file.