Special characters, symbols, and glyphs

Using the Glyphs docker, you can find and insert special characters, symbols, and glyphs (variations of individual characters or character combinations) of OpenType fonts.

Filtering

All characters, symbols, and glyphs included in a font are displayed by default, but you can filter character subsets to display only the characters you want. For example, you can display only currency symbols or numbers, or you can display only Cyrillic characters and symbols.

Characters included in a font are organized in the following categories:

OpenType fonts

The Glyphs docker is ideal for viewing and applying the OpenType features provided by OpenType fonts. The default view shows a list of characters in which the glyphs for individual characters appear grouped. Alternatively, you can display a longer list that shows available glyphs at a glance.

Viewing character position

Each selected character appears against a set of blue lines that let you preview its position in relation to the text baseline.

Most recently used special characters

You can use the list of most recently used special characters to copy characters that you use often. The list retains the font attributes of most recently used characters and any OpenType features that were applied. You can manage the list by removing characters that you no longer need.

To add a special character, symbol, or glyph

1 .	Using the Text tool , click where you want to add the special character.

2 .	Click Text Glyphs.

You can also
Drag a character	Using the Pick tool , drag a character to the document window.
Copy a character	Click a character in the Character and glyph list, and click Copy.
View information about a selected character	Click the arrow button at the bottom of the Character and glyph list to view any of the following attributes that are applicable: character name, ID, Unicode number, keyboard shortcut for inserting the character, the OpenType feature name, and the language for glyphs that can be displayed properly only in a specific language.
Zoom in and out	Move the Zoom slider. To zoom in and out in preset increments, click the zoom buttons to the right and left of the Zoom slider.
Navigate to a special character by using an Alt code	Click in the Character and glyph list, hold down Alt, and type the Alt code for the character you want.
Navigate to a character	Press the corresponding key on the keyboard.

To filter special characters, symbols, and glyphs

1 .	Click Text Glyphs.

To view glyphs of OpenType features

1 .	Click Text Glyphs.

•

To display a list that includes grouped glyphs, make sure that the Show all glyphs button does not appear pressed. To view all glyphs in a group, click a character, and then click the OpenType feature indicator. Click a glyph to display it in the Character and glyph list.

•

To display a list that includes all available glyphs, click the Show all glyphs button .

Left: The OpenType feature indicators below individual characters show that more glyphs are available. Right: When the Show all glyphs button (1) is pressed, you can see available glyphs at a glance.

Viewing grouped glyphs

The Show all glyphs button is not available for fonts that do not support OpenType features.

Some glyphs provided by OpenType features vary depending on the context in which they appear and cannot be shown in the Glyphs docker. You can view and insert such glyphs in the document window by using the onscreen OpenType feature indicator. For more information, see To enable the onscreen OpenType feature indicator.

To use the list of most recently used special characters

1 .	Click Text Glyphs.

---

Was this page helpful? Send feedback. (Internet connection required.)

---