Opening AutoCAD shape files

[0adesigner]

I am a new user of AutoCAD 2008 and need to open AutoCAD shape source and AutoCAD compiled shape files. Extensions .shp and .shx respectively.

Any suggestions on how to do this?

[PeterG]

Hi,

Thanks for your question. Actually AutoCAD shapefiles have nothing to do with ESRI shapefiles. It can be a bit confusing since AutoCAD shapefiles also have the extensions .SHX and .SHP which ESRI shapefiles also have, and of course they are both called 'shapefiles'.

To summarize the differences:

ESRI Shapefiles:
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Used for storing/representing geographic data.

The .SHP file contains geometric entities such as points, polylines, polygons.
The .SHX file is an accompanying index file.

AutoCAD Shapefiles:
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Used for defining text fonts and/or symbols.

The .SHP file contains source font definitions.
The .SHX file is the compiled font.

But getting back to your question:
I am a new user of AutoCAD 2008 and need to open AutoCAD shape source and AutoCAD compiled shape files. Extensions .shp and .shx respectively.

Any suggestions on how to do this?As it happens we also have a software product that can help. It is called shxConvert, and can decompile .SHX fonts to their .SHP source definition format. Other functions include compile, and convert to an AutoCAD DXF/DWG raw line format. Full information on the product is here.
shxConvert (http://www.guthcad.com/shx2dxf.htm)

regards,
Software Support