Font Forum

I'm working in a font in which many of the glyphs are multi‑mapped to each other. I can't figure out how to separate them into their own glyphs so that deleting or modifying one won't affect the others. For example, A is mapped to $41, $0391, $0410, $13AA, $E740, $102A0. If I delete $41, all the others are also deleted. How can I separate the coding so each glyph is mapped one‑to‑one?

Thanks for your help!

1. Insert four copies of the glyph
2. Use the glyph properties toolbar to delete mappings $0391, $0410, $13AA, $E740, $102A0 and apply the changes
3. Paste $0391, $0410, $13AA, $E740, $102A0 in the Properties Toolbar for the first inserted glyphs, cut $13AA, $E740, $102A0 and apply the changes
4. Repeat the process for the remaining three glyphs.
5. Use the Autocomplete glyph name on the Properties toolbar and apply again

Thanks for your quick reply!

I thought about that method, but the only problem is I'm looking at 426 multi‑mapped glyphs...some of them have up to five or six codepoints. Any suggestions for how to speed up the process?

You can certainly speed up the insertion and copying of glyphs by selecting all 426 glyphs, copying them, clicking the Insert glyph button, paste, and repeat.

Speed up the pasting of code points to the unmapped glyphs with Paste Special.

Super! So I just copy all the glyphs as you just mentioned, and then I'll have to manually go through each one to delete the redundant codepoints?

Just want to make sure I understand (before I go and screw up my project!)

Thanks again!

tjdickinson wrote:Super! So I just copy all the glyphs as you just mentioned, and then I'll have to manually go through each one to delete the redundant codepoints?

Just want to make sure I understand (before I go and screw up my project!)

Thanks again!

Work on a copy of your project in case you do make a mess. Backup your font projects to external media and DropBox too to protect against the consequences of Murphy's Law.

After copying and inserting multiple copies of all of the glyphs:

1. Copy the first multi-mapped glyph
2. Delete (don't cut) the unwanted code-points, and apply the changes
3. Paste special into the first unmapped copy, keeping code-points already in use
4. Autogenerate the glyph name, delete the unwanted codepoints, then Apply name and codepoints
5. Paste special into the second unmapped copy and repeat
6. Repeat the procedure for the next 425 multi-mapped glyphs

Maybe there's a better way, but you will only find that out afterwards

Sounds great, thank you!

And good advice to work on a copy and back‑up the progress regularly.

I think I need to get cracking...I've got over a thousand glyphs to edit!

If, in the course of things, I figure anything out, I will send an update.

Thanks once again!

Not really relevant to what you want to accomplish, but if you ever want to remove some code-points, do select a character's category, then select all characters you wish to remove, right-click and select "Remove Code-point(s)".

Dankjewel, Erwin! Dat is goed advies.

You're welcome.