Imported .svg but can't change text?

[Engrave Express]

Hi, I'm new to illustrator so please bare with me. I have imported a .svg file that I need to edit the exisitng text, but I'm stuck. When selecting the letter I want to change I dont get a blinking cursor typical of a basic program, but instead, the outline of each letter.

From my limited googling this may mean I dont have the font installed? If this is correct how do I get illustrator to recognise the font and download the font in order to change the text in the .svg?

I would really appreciate your help as Im trying to relearn and work from home but struggling. Thanks in advance

Paul.

[Engrave Express]

Here is one of the files - I need to change the text 'CALLSIGN' to that of something different i.e 2E0YHQ

[Laubender]

Hi Paul,

well, could be that you are seeing text as outline, because there is no editable text in the file, but only vector graphic paths.

FWIW: I see no file attached or a posted screenshot of the situation.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[marliton]

Hi. Not all SVG files include the characters as text, as @Engrave Express said, maybe the characters are vectors, so you can't edit those characters but you can create new text.

[Bobby Henderson]

As others have said, it sounds like the lettering in the SVG file has been converted to outlines and is no longer an element of editable text. It's just a bunch of raw shapes that look like letters. It should be relatively easy to re-create the lettering as a string of live editable text, unless the lettering in the SVG file was warped or distorted with some kind of effect. You could lock down the imported SVG artwork on one layer and over-lay new lettering on a layer above it using the imported artwork as a guide to get the size and placement just right. Obviously you need the same fonts installed in your computer system that were used to create the original SVG artwork.

Astute Graphics' Vector First Aid plugin for Illustrator has a feature that can replace outlined text objects with editable text. But you need the right fonts installed for the plugin to work optimally.