------ Original Message ------
From "Hans Hagen" <j.hagen@xs4all.nl>
To "ntg-context@ntg.nl" <ntg-context@ntg.nl>
Date 9/21/2023 8:52:45 AM
Subject [NTG-context] Re: Toggling the symbol for the zero-width joiner and related Unicode control characters

** Caution: EXTERNAL Sender **
 
On 9/21/2023 3:31 PM, Hamid,Idris wrote:
Dear gang,
 
Within a font, relevant Unicode control characters such as the zero-width joiner usually have symbolic representation, but in printing the symbols are usually suppressed, while the effect of each character is maintained.
 
In some text editors, such as Windows Notepad (Uniscribe), there is the option
 
"Show Unicode control characters"
 
which toggles the symbols and keeps the effects.
 
I seem to recall that ConTeXt has/had a similar mechanism for toggling the symbols for Unicode control characters but cannot find it.
 
Does anyone know or recall where the symbol-toggling mechanism is?
If not, what would be the simplest way to implement it?
 
Here is a MWE (note that the three control chars might be invisible in your email client):
 
==============
\startTEXpage[offset=1em]
\definedfont[almfixed at 14pt]
ZWJ: ‌
 
ZWNJ: ‍
 
NBSP:
\stopTEXpage
==============
 
In Notepad, all three control characters can be turned on or off at once.
In Scintilla, only the NBSP appears and there is no option to toggle.
In ConTeXt, ZWJ and ZWJ appear as symbols, but NBSP does not.
 
Thank you in advance for your guidance.
\enabletrackers[typesetters.nbsp]

Many thanks, Hans. The method appears to work only for nbsp, not zwj etc. Here is the updated MWE:

=======
\startTEXpage[offset=1em]
\disabletrackers[typesetters.directions]
\disabletrackers[typesetters.zwj]
\disabletrackers[typesetters.zwnj]
\disabletrackers[typesetters.nbsp]
\definedfont[almfixed at 14pt]
ZWJ: ‌
ZWNJ: ‍
NBSP:  
\stopTEXpage
=======

See attached, please advise.

Best wishes
Idris
--
Idris Samawi Hamid, Professor
Department of Philosophy
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523