Is there a way to have symbols in a text variable running head scale as superscript?

[Textbook Perfect]

I have a book that has running heads with an automated text variable that picks up the chapter title on every righthand page. The chapter titles have an ® that does not translate as a superscript in the running head. Is there a GREP style or something I can add that will correct the symbol size and positioning in the running header? See example below. Thanks for any and all help.

[Michael Riordan]

Yes, you can set up a character style for superscript then create a paragraph Style for your running header with a GREP style that applies the superscript character style to any registration symbol

[Textbook Perfect]

I'm familiar with what GREP does, but never actually created one. Can you give me an example of how this would work or point me in the direction of creating one? I am very familiar with Para and Char styles, but not the Grep. Thanks!

[Michael Riordan]

Sure, this one is very simple, really doesn't need any knowledge of GREP at all. As I posted earlier, create a superscript Character style.

Then create or edit your Variable Header Paragraph style and on the left choose the GREP style option.

Then simply choose your new superscript character style from the drop down list and type a registration mark in the To TEXT: field.

The style will constantly be looking for registration marks within any text that has your variable header style applied and superscripting them.

Hope that helps

[Barb Binder]

Very easy but...I started to grab screen shots to for you, and when I was setting it up, it worked automatically because that's how the ® symbol looks in the two fonts I inadvertently selected (Minion and Myriad)

But if you like your font and don't want to switch to one that has a small, raised registration symbol:

1. Create a character style to change the position to superscript. (I'm using the font called Charter to get a baseline registration symbol like yours).
2. Edit the running head style and add a GREP style that apply your superscript character style to that one character.

[Obi-wan Kenobi]

Hi,

Do we talk about a « variable »?

(^/)

[TomSchenck]

Hi,

Thanks for reminding me about GREP styles. However, if you create a variable using the contents of the paragraph style the GREP character style does not get applied. I also added the GREP style to the paragraph style on the variable and it didn't work either.

[Michael Riordan]

Huh. Look at that. That looks like a bug. Please consider submitting a bug report Feature Request/Bug Report Form

[Textbook Perfect]

Yes, I appreciate the detailed responses, but it doesn't work.

[TomSchenck]

Hi Everyone,

There is an active idea for

Grep style formatting for variables

Vote!!

[Barb Binder]

Here is the link to vote for GREP in variables: Grep style formatting for variables – Adobe InDesign Feedback

And what a great example of teamwork on this thread.

~Barb

[Obi-wan Kenobi]

So, 2 variables!

(^/)

[Barb Binder]

Dog gone it. I saw that Michael had already responded, then saw Obi-Wan's post, thought he was totally wrong because I tested it with a variable, and went back to work.

Only to have this thought come flying back into my head that of course, again, Obi-Wan is right. My test was on actual text. But now, everyone has figured that the GREP instructions didn't work because variables are odd little creatures, which is why I was testing it in the first place. So... I retract the GREP answer (and sorry Michael, I have to unmark you as uncorrect).

Textbook Perfect

1.) Use a font with a small, raised registration symbol for the running head (i.e., Myriad Pro) or

2.) Take Obi-Wan's advice and create two character style variables. Specifically:

• Create a character style that doesn't change anything for the text.
• Create a character style that doesn't change anything for the registration symbol.
• Assign them both to the Chapter Title: the first one to the text and the second one to the symbol
• Create two running head variables: this time both character style variables and insert then both in the running head, one right after the other
• Use that nice superscript character style that you already made on the registration symbol
• 

[Obi-wan Kenobi]

.... Or use a script!

What a teasing! ...

(^/)

[Textbook Perfect]

Thanks, Barb. I was in the process of trying something similar, with 2 variables, but for some reason, the header adds a letterspace after the last character (not in actual chapter title it represents). This adds an erroneous space between the header and the ®, so it's not working. Do both variables have to be Char style or can the first be a Para style?

[Barb Binder]

Both character styles (and I did test this one correctly before responding.) Did you use a paragraph style for the first part?

[Textbook Perfect]

Yes. Para style for chapter title and char style for the ®. I will try your way shortly but have another fire to put out now! Thanks!

[Obi-wan Kenobi]

.... To finish:

Now imagine « ironic »  as italic and grey??

(^/)

[Barb Binder]

No, not quite.

Create two paragraph styles: i.e., Chapter Title and Running Head. I think you have these.

On the 1st ChapterTitle: create two character styles that don't have any formatting attributes. I called mine 1 and 2 for brevity.

Create two Running Header (Character Styles). I also called these 1 and 2. 1 uses the Character Style called 1, 2 uses the Character Style called 2.

On the master page, insert Variable 1, followed directly by Variable 2.

On the master page, assign Superscript to 2.

Body page:

I run the Denver Adobe CC User Group and we have a big meeting tonight: Adobe Evangelist Paul Trani is presenting so I have to head down now! I'll check back in with you tomorrow and someone else will step in if you need help before then.

~Barb

[Textbook Perfect]

Thanks Barb. It's still not working. I have the chapter titles styled twice: first as a para, then as a character. I need to have offsets above and below for the title, hence the para style. ® is still full size even with correct use of symbol, plus there's a space between the title and ®. Not sure why this doesn't work. Frustrating.

[Chad Chelius]

Barb's suggestion should work. If you have a space between the title and the trademark symbol it's because you either have one of the character styles applied to an additional space in the actual title or you could have possibly entered a space in the text before/after field of the variable. To reiterate you need a character style applied to the actual text in the title text. Then you need a character style to control the size of the trademark of the text variable.

[Textbook Perfect]

OK, so I got it to work, almost. Now the problem is still a pesky space that falls between the last letter and the ®. Believe me, this erroneous space is not on the title or the master page running head, screenshots attached for verification. I've noticed this anomaly with INDD (13.0.1) before when it didn't make a difference, but this time it's working against me. Electronic voodoo—bah.

[Obi-wan Kenobi]

Hi,

Don't use a soft-return!

(^/)

[Chad Chelius]

Although I share Obi-wan's aversion to the soft-return, it has nothing to do with the issue that you're trying to address here. Your screen shot clearly shows a space before the trademark symbol so it's coming from somewhere. Try changing the title text to something else. Just a single word with the tm behind it. Apply the character style to only the title text and the other character style to only the trademark symbol and see how the variable text looks. We're sleuthing now. Just need to find where it's coming from!

[Obi-wan Kenobi · Accepted solution]

Hi Chad!

Simply from the soft-return! 

Hercule Poirot