If you have spent any time working with international CAD drawings—particularly those originating from the Middle East, North Africa, or Central Asia—you have likely encountered a file named xarab.shx . To the uninitiated, it might look like just another cryptic file in AutoCAD’s Fonts folder. However, this file is critical for maintaining the integrity of Arabic-script text in your drawings.
How to install a new or custom font for use in AutoCAD products - Autodesk Xarab.shx Autocad Font
Never substitute Xarab with a TrueType font like Arial. While Arial supports Arabic, the .SHX to TTF conversion will break text alignment, and the text insertion point will jump. If you have spent any time working with