Skip to main content
M
Marshall_Brooks
Inspiring
June 4, 2024
Answered

How to Add a Delta Character ?

  • June 4, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 5764 views

This should be simple, but it doesn't seem to be ...

 

I needed to add a O-Slash and a Delta Character in my FrameMaker Document.

 

I found https://www.daube.ch/docu/fm-documentation/FM/fm08-Character_Sets.pdf and Ctrl-Q/ works great for the O-Slash.

 

For the Delta, it says I should be able to use the left Alt Key and 0394 on the numpad, but that gives me a capital S with a triangle above it. Or I should be able to do it with Alt 2206, but that gives me "Pts". Or - https://www.ascii-code.com/ISO-8859-7/196 - Says I should be able to do it with Alt-196, but that gives me a long dash. Alt-0196 gives me a Capital A.

I was able to get it by clicking (FM 15), Insert>Equations (brings up the equations palette), selecting New Small Equation from the drop-down, clicking in the box, clicking the Delta Symbol, enlarging the font to be close (12-pt seems to match 10-pnt), and selecting shrink-wrap Equation from the drop-down.

 

It works, but I would prefer having something closer to basic text, without a graphic frame around it.

 

Thanks in advance!

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Bob_Niland

    How would I use Unicode?  Alt 0394 is what I tried initially and gave me "S with a triangle above" and Alt 2206 gave me a "Pts". ???

    I'm not worried about .HTML currently, as long as it exports to PDF properly, but ...

     


    MB: How would I use Unicode?

    This is my protocol for all non-keyboard characters: [Unicode] Character Variables in Framemaker

    re: Alt 0394 is what I tried initially and gave me "S with a triangle above" 

    Apart from the unhelpful fact that Unicode U+ codepoints are normally hexadecimal, and Windows Alt+ codes are normally decimal, Alt codes don't necessarily map to codepoints. And in this case, if you search on it, you are apt to get advice that creates a:
    ▲ U+25B2 BLACK UP-POINTING TRIANGLE
    re: …as long as it exports to PDF properly…
    Yep, but only if no one will ever try to copy it back out of the PDF, for they will get "D" if they do.

    2 replies

    M
    Marshall_BrooksAuthor
    Inspiring
    June 4, 2024

    Found it!!! There is a font called Symbol - not sure if it is native to FM or not. Capital D in that is Delta !!!!

      Bob_Niland
      Bob_Niland
      Community Expert
      June 4, 2024

      Marshall_Brooks: Found it!!! There is a font called Symbol - not sure if it is native to FM or not. Capital D in that is Delta !!!!

      Don't do it that way. It will not flow reliably to all outputs (esp. HTML). That method relies on the final display/print client being able to perform a codepage font glyph substitution. Instead, use native Unicode:
      Δ U+0394 GREEK CAPITAL LETTER DELTA
      or
      ∆ U+2206 INCREMENT

      depending on the context. Most fonts populate one or the other.


      This is \u0394 or \u2206 markup in FM dialogs. I don't immediately know the Windows shortcuts for these.

      While an overlay Symbol font is a long-standing (pre Unicode) feature of FM, using markup:
      \x44 Delta, with font Symbol applied
      is at some risk of rendering as D, down the road.

       

      …unless you are on FM7.2 or earlier, which had no Unicode support.

        M
        Marshall_BrooksAuthor
        Inspiring
        June 4, 2024

        How would I use Unicode?  Alt 0394 is what I tried initially and gave me "S with a triangle above" and Alt 2206 gave me a "Pts". ???

        I'm not worried about .HTML currently, as long as it exports to PDF properly, but ...

         

        Jeff_Coatsworth
        Jeff_Coatsworth
        Community Expert
        June 4, 2024

        What about a D in a Greek font? 

        M
        Marshall_BrooksAuthor
        Inspiring
        June 4, 2024

        Didn't work, but I'm not sure I have a greek font or the ability to install one. The text is Arial 10. I have Arial Greek, but the D in it just displays as D.

        Found somewhat of a workaround here - 

         

        Somewhere between the two - Wingdings3 r - works similar to what I want, but visually it is just an equilateral triangle. Equations editor gives me a true delta character (triangle with shadow), which is what I want, but it has to be in a graphic box.

         

        Thank your for the suggestion.

        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
        Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices