Is there a way to quickly identify special characters?

[turner111]

Just wondering if there's a way to highlight a special character and identify it within ID, i.e. highlight the character we're trying to identify, and have it referenced somewhere within the interface? Example given because I like pictures... but this would apply to any special character added internally or imported from other sources such as Word.

Thanks!

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

F8 - Info Pallet. 

But you should rather Google for the list of invisibles / specials.

https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/indesign/using/editing-text.html

https://indiscripts.com/blog/public/data/idcs4-special-characters/en_InDesignCS4SpecialChars.pdf

[turner111]

Thanks Robert - sorry, should have noted that I'm looking for a description beyond Unicode, though that's helpful.
For example, rather than seeing "Unicode 0x20", which results in "Space", I would see the more detailed description of whatever that symbol is.

In this example, the character I've highlighted above indeed comes up as 0x20, "Space", but so does the "single dot" type space that normally appears between words.

So, part of this is understanding the difference! 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@turner111

Yeah, F8 will only show UNICODE value - not the "meaning".

[pixxxelschubser]

… this example, the character I've highlighted above indeed comes up as 0x20, "Space" …

By @turner111

Strange.

This should not be the case with (exactly) this sign.

The Info Panel should show: 0xA0

And the Glyphs Panel should show the same Unicode and additionally: Name: NO-BREAK SPACE

[turner111]

Maybe so - but 0x20 is the code I get when it's highlighted.... hmmm....

[pixxxelschubser]

Can you show me a screenshot please?

Selected sign, Info + Glyphs panel

[pixxxelschubser]

I would create an (additional) paragraph format with a grep style for the special character (or characters) and use it to call up a character format with a thick yellow underline.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I would create an (additional) paragraph format with a grep style for the special character (or characters) and use it to call up a character format with a thick yellow underline.

By @pixxxelschubser

Right... It wasn't about what they mean - but where they are...

At least there is a list ready to use. 

[turner111]

Hi - I didn't mean finding them, I mean actually identifying what they are 🙂

Thanks.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Hi - I didn't mean finding them, I mean actually identifying what they are 🙂

Thanks.

By @turner111

So I was right 😉 

[Peter Kahrel · Accepted solution]

You can use this script to highlight a special character and display its full name:

https://creativepro.com/files/kahrel/indesign/grep_classes.html

Select a special character and click the 'Look up' button:

It doesn't look for special characters, that's a different script. You can use the code-name pairs in the blueCode() function.

P.

[turner111]

Awesome, thanks Peter.