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07. Special characters

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You may insert special characters in different ways: autotext shortcut, character table, etc.

Exercise 07.1: use a known autotext shortcut

You may use the autotext shortcut \sub2 to insert a subscript number 2 (i.e. ₂). Now you know! :)

Совет

The "suB" part in the shorcut \sub2 stands for subindex or subscript.

  1. Go to segment #72 and read the source text.

Target text reads Le dioxyde de carbone (CO2) se dissout dans l'eau de mer pour former de l'acide carbonique.

  1. Delete number 2 in “CO2” (and keep the cursor right after "CO").

A subscript number should be used instead of a regular digit.

  1. In that same position, type the autotext shortcut \sub2
  2. Notice how the auto-completer window opens showing the autotext entry.
  3. Press Enter to insert the special character ₂.

The result should be: CO₂

In this exercise you have used an autotext shortcut that you knew already. In the following exercises you'll find out an autotext entry that you don't know.

Exercise 07.2: find special character in the list of autotext entries

In this exercise, you must insert the multiplication symbol but you don't know what autotext entry you can use.

  1. Go to segment #74

Source text reads: Thermal conductivity coefficient <br/>(W/m × K)

  1. Open the list of available shortcuts here.
  2. Look for the autotext entry for the multiplication symbol.

You can use either \times or \x (how lucky, this one is shorter!)

  1. Translate segment #74 as you like (don't forget the part in parentheses).
  2. To translate the part in parenthesis, type \x (or \times) between W/m and K.
  3. Notice how the auto-completer opens when you typed the autotext shortcut.
  4. Press Enter to insert the caracter.

Result should be: W/m × K
Incorrect translation: W/m x K

Информация

You can find the list of autotext entries in OmegaT guides > Miscellanea > Autotext

Exercise 07.3: insert special character from the character table

Remember the auto-completer? You used it to insert tags. You'll use it again now to insert a special character.

  1. Go to segment #75

Target text reads: “La densité de population est de 62 personnes par km2 en 2023.”

  1. Delete number 2 in “km2” (and keep your cursor right after “km”).
  2. Press Ctrl+Space several times to cycle through all the sections in the auto-completer. Stop when you reach the “Character table”.
  3. Spot the relevant character ² and double click on it to insert it.

The result should be: km²

Совет

You could have inserted character ² with shortcut \sup2 (where "suP" stands for superscript or superindex or superordinate).

Exercise 07.4: insert special quotation marks

French uses special quotation marks, called angle quotes or "chevrons". You can use autotext to insert them.

  1. Go to segment #77.
  2. Look at the translation of segment #76 and notice how the angle quotes are used there.

L'eau est « saturée » si...

  1. Translate segment #77.

You can use the exact match that appears in the Matches pane.

  1. Type autotext shortcut << before "insaturée" to insert character « followed by a non-breaking space.

  2. Type autotext shortcut >> after "insaturée" to insert character « preceded by a non-breaking space.

Expected results: « insaturée »

Remember

If there's a special character that you need which you can't find in the list of autotext entries or the character table, please let us know through the Helpdesk and we'll add it for you.