Identifying Unicode Character Numbers

Sometimes to find or replace a Unicode character in Microsoft Word, you need the character's number, as explained in the June 12, 2002, issue of Editorium Update:

http://www.topica.com/lists/editorium/read/message.html?mid=1710421080

If you know the name of the character, you can probably look up its Unicode number at Alan Wood's Unicode Resources site:

http://www.hclrss.demon.co.uk/unicode/search.html

But what if you don't know its name? Isn't there a way to find out the number of a Unicode character that's used in your Word document?

Fortunately, there is. Alan Wood has provided a terrific macro for that purpose, and you can get the macro here:

http://www.hclrss.demon.co.uk/unicode/utilities_editors.html#word97

You may have to scroll down a little (past the first, short macro) to find the macro, which is introduced by the following text: "The following macro will attempt to identify a single character that you have selected, and display its Unicode decimal character reference."

Don't know how to use such macros? You can find out here.

I'd recommend that you put the macro on a menu, toolbar button, or keyboard combination for easy access. You can learn how here:

http://www.topica.com/lists/editorium/read/message.html?mid=1707286867

http://www.topica.com/lists/editorium/read/message.html?mid=1707444986

http://www.topica.com/lists/editorium/read/message.html?mid=1707100224

(Reader's Write column)

Please note that you must select a character before running the macro. By the way, the macro also identifies ANSI numbers, which makes it a good substitute for the macro in the November 28, 2000, issue of Editorium Update:

http://www.topica.com/lists/editorium/read/message.html?mid=1704193319

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READERS WRITE

Melissa Bogen wrote, "I read with interest your recent newsletter on converting Unicode characters to Quark XPress Tags. Is there a resource you can suggest where I can see a complete list of XPress Tags?"

There's a particularly well-done list here, in PDF form:

Click to access XPressTagsList.pdf

Thanks to Meg for her question.

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RESOURCES

All week I've been trying out a program named UltimaShell that completes words as you type. And you know what? I like it, especially because it has so many user-definable options. Here's the information from the program's publisher:

"FlashPeak UltimaShell makes you type as fast as thinking.

"UltimaShell autocompletes words/phrases and autoexpand shorthands in ANY applications on MS Windows. It also provides a wonderful collection of clipboard and shell enhancement functions together with many handy automation utilities."

You can learn more here:

http://www.flashpeak.com/ushell/ushell.htm

The publisher of UltimaShell is offering a 30% discount to readers of Editorium Update. If you'd like to take advantage of this offer, please use the following private purchase link:

http://www.regsoft.net/purchase.php3?productid=38940&pc=14W0n

You can learn more about word-expansion programs for both PC and Macintosh here:

http://trace.wisc.edu/docs/wordprediction2001/index.htm