Autodesk Certified Professional in AutoCAD for Design and Drafting Practice Exam

If an SHX font does not support italic text, what is the preferred method to add italics to the text in AutoCAD?

1. Change the font to a TrueType font

2. Use a different SHX font that supports italics

3. Change the oblique angle property of the text

4. Create a new SHX font with italic capability

The correct answer is: Change the oblique angle property of the text

The correct response highlights a practical approach within AutoCAD to achieve an italic effect when using SHX fonts that do not inherently support italics. By changing the oblique angle property of the text, users can simulate an italic style. Setting a positive oblique angle leans the text to the right, mimicking the appearance of italics. This method is effective as it utilizes existing functionality within AutoCAD without needing to switch to different font types or create new fonts. While changing to a TrueType font or using a different SHX font are options that could also provide italic styles, they require either a font change or an additional step in selecting the appropriate font, which may not always be desirable or feasible. Creating a new SHX font with italic capabilities is a more complicated and time-consuming process, often unnecessary for simple text formatting. The approach of adjusting the oblique angle is simple and direct, making it the preferred method for achieving italics with unsupported SHX fonts.