Reversed or gibberish Hebrew in a Revit DWG link — fixing it without opening AutoCAD
You fix it without opening AutoCAD, with one click inside Revit: on the Vitruvius tab click Fix Text, choose the link, and the labels become readable again. A backup of the original file is saved before every fix, and you can restore. The tool is called VIT DWG Editor.
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- L-02
- Title
- Reversed or gibberish Hebrew in a Revit DWG link — fixing it without opening AutoCAD
Why people open AutoCAD at all
L-02.1The file was made in AutoCAD, and the Hebrew looks right there. When you open it as a link in Revit, the labels appear reversed or as gibberish. So the familiar route is to go back to AutoCAD and handle the text there.
The trouble is that this route adds a step and requires an AutoCAD licence. And when the consultant sends an updated drawing, the manual fix breaks and has to be repeated. The reasons are explained in why Hebrew from AutoCAD breaks in Revit.
Four routes compared
L-02.2| Route | Needs opening AutoCAD | When the consultant updates | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round trip in AutoCAD | Yes | The fix is redone | Adds a step and edits the consultant's file |
| DXB explode | Yes | The fix is redone | The text is broken into lines |
| PDF as an underlay | No | The PDF is replaced again | The labels are a backdrop, not part of the link |
| VIT DWG Editor | No | Click Fix Text again | Inside Revit, with backup and restore |
Steps inside Revit
L-02.3- Link the consultant's DWG file into Revit as usual.
- Open the Vitruvius tab and click Fix Text.
- In the dialog, choose the link you want to fix.
- Check on the sheet that the labels are readable and in place.
- If the result is not right, click Restore Text: the link returns to its earlier state.
The same steps repeat after the consultant sends a new version. A detailed guide: VIT DWG Editor, with the how-to pages for fixing a linked DWG and restoring a link, in Hebrew for now.
Before and after
L-02.4The site has screenshots from Revit of a link before the fix, of choosing the link in the dialog, and of the same window after the fix. They are shown on the VIT DWG Editor page.
What is still needed
L-02.5The real screenshots for this article have not been prepared yet.
Data to be added before publishing
Frequently asked questions
L-02.6Can I fix Hebrew in a DWG link without opening AutoCAD?
Yes. VIT DWG Editor runs inside Revit without opening AutoCAD. On the Vitruvius tab you click Fix Text, choose the link, and the Hebrew labels are fixed. The fix is written to the link's DWG file, and a backup of the original file is saved before every fix.
Does the fix change the consultant's original file?
The fix is written to the link's DWG file, and a backup of the original file is saved before every fix. So you can always return to the state before the fix by clicking Restore Text. It is still wise to keep the consultant's original file separately, as with any file that is not yours.
What happens when the consultant sends an updated drawing?
A new file from the consultant arrives with the same problem, so you run Fix Text again on the updated link. A manual fix means repeating the whole treatment, including the AutoCAD step. With the tool it is one click inside Revit, and you can restore if the result is not right.
What about Hebrew inside a nested XREF?
The fix also goes through the XREFs inside the link, at any depth, and fixes the Hebrew in all of them. Make sure the XREF files are where the main DWG expects to find them. To hide or show nested XREFs in the active view, use Edit XREF.
Can I put the link back to its original state?
Yes. Every Vitruvius action first saves a backup of the link, and Restore Text returns it exactly to the state before the fix. Restoring affects only the DWG link. It helps when the result is not what you expected, or when you received a new version from the consultant.
What other routes exist, and when do they fit?
Exploding through DXB in AutoCAD and attaching a PDF as an underlay are manual routes. They may be enough for a small file used once. When the consultant keeps sending updates, the manual fix breaks and is redone, and that is where the tool saves time. The full comparison is in the table above.