creating an ordinal superscript character style

[Rita32868529b3mp]

I am unable to create a ordinal superscript character style in InDesign. In opening the create new character style there is no choice for a superscript in the panel. I’m using Bell MT true type font. Bringing in the superscripted ordinal from Word causes a paragraph style override as does using GREP in find/change. Any suggestions?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Can you post some screenshots from the CharStyle panel? 

[Rita32868529b3mp]

I don't know how to do that. Nothing happens when I right click on it.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I don't know how it works on Mac - but on Windows, you can press Shift+WinKey+S and draw an area - then switch to your browser where you're typing your message - and press Ctrl+V - Paste.

[Rita32868529b3mp]

That worked. Not sure if this is much help.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Please post more - the other tabs. 

[rob day]

I am unable to create a ordinal superscript character style in InDesign

Hi @Rita32868529b3mp , Can’t you set Basic Character Formats>Position to Superscript?

[Rita32868529b3mp]

Rob, it has to be created as a character style otherwise an override occurs.

[Rita32868529b3mp]

Wow Rob, this worked! It put in the superscript and there is no override. I was looking for superscript every where but in the position section. Thank you.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Oh--you were just looking for supersciprt--I didn't understand your inital post. An ordinal is not the same as superscipt. Ordinals are 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. They also can be superscript but it is not required. Ordinals only work with OpenType fonts, hence the confusion. 

[Rita32868529b3mp]

I was looking for ordinals. What is the difference between putting nd as an
ordinal and putting it as a superscript next to a number? Thanks.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I was looking for ordinals. What is the difference between putting nd as anordinal and putting it as a superscript next to a number? Thanks.
By @Rita32868529b3mp

Some fonts can do this automatically: 

https://creativepro.com/quick-grep-to-superscript-ordinals/ 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Not much--slight appearance difference.

Non-OpenType settings, such as super/subscript and small caps, simply shrink the regular letters. 

OpenType actually has characters designed to fit the font.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Same as ligatures - dedicated glyphs that are dynamically substituted. 

[rob day]

Sorry I read too fast and missed the OT part..,

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Just to clarify--you are using a TrueType font and not OpenType--correct?

(OT fonts can either be based on TT fonts or older T1 fonts, but that doesn't mean a TT font is the same as OT.)

If this is correct, the OT feature won't work with a "plain" TT font. 

[Rita32868529b3mp]

Yes, I'm using a True Type font. Bell MT.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS · Accepted solution]

The OT features won't/shouldn't work on a TT font. 

See if you can find an OT version of the font.

[BobLevine · Accepted solution]

Worth pointing out is that not every OTF font has an OTF file extension, many of them do indeed have a TTF extension since there are two "flavors" of OpenType. I'm sure you know this Dave, but many people don't.

Also, not every OpenType font has every OpenType feature available. Generally speaking I would be looking at the Pro version of any font if I needed some of the advanced features. Bell doesn't seem to be available via Adobe Fonts but there are plenty of choices out there.

[Rita32868529b3mp]

Looks like Bell MT does not have ordinal superscripts. I'm in my 4th year working on and laying out a complex book and am 190 pages into it. Changing the font would be disastrous for me. Would it be a problem to ignore the override? Or I could keep the ordinals at full size like 9th. Thanks for your help.

[BobLevine]

The only rule I think that applies here is consistency. If you don't superscript the ordinals, so what? Just make sure to treat them all the same.

[Rita32868529b3mp]

Thanks for your suggestion.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

You are absolutely correct, Bob. If the Bell MT is on Windows and from Microsoft, it is an OT font, as are most of the Microsoft fonts. If @Rita32868529b3mp downloaded the font from another source, all bets are off.

Again, correct about the OT features. The easiest way to check that I've found is to check the Character panel's OpenType menu. The features in braces are not available for that font.

@Rita32868529b3mp , as you can see, this font has practically no extended OT features.

[Rita32868529b3mp]

OK, thanks for your help Dave. Yes the superscript is not available with this font. Likely, if I paid for the Pro version (cost $149) it would be available. I've decided to leave the ordinals as regular size.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

The Bell MT as OpenType TT supplied in Windows/Office does not have ordinals.

However, Adobe did release an OpenType PS version "Std", with 6 styles, in their Font Folio "back in the day" that does have the ordinals, but is no longer offered by Adobe. The current "Pro" version, of course, is for sale by Monotype at its regular vendors.