# Alternate/bracket layers not switching **URL:** \ **Category:** Glyphs\ **Created:** [December 29, 2021, 6:40pm UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/alternate-bracket-layers-not-switching/21196 "2021-12-29T18:40:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jake1](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/jake1/32/19284_2.png) [@jake1](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/jake1)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 6:40pm UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/alternate-bracket-layers-not-switching/21196/1 "2021-12-29T18:40:27Z")
I’m working on a 2-axis variable font in Glyphs 3.0.4. This is my first time trying out alternate/bracket layers for certain glyphs like $. I probably don’t have the right shape switching values, but I’m not sure what the correct values would be. The weight axis ranges from 50–200, and the width from 0–100. The alternate layers aren’t active after export. They just show up as separate alternate glyphs. ![Screen Shot 2021-12-29 at 1.31.44 PM](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/uploads/default/original/3X/7/c/7c2e5542db48d2c870fcbb5cdc548238bac64daf.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![mekkablue](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/mekkablue/32/23_2.png) [@mekkablue](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/mekkablue)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 7:50pm UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/alternate-bracket-layers-not-switching/21196/2 "2021-12-29T19:50:42Z")
> [@jake1](#): > > The alternate layers aren’t active after export. They just show up as separate alternate glyphs. I don’t understand what that means. How do you test them? In which app do you test them? And how do they show up as alternate glyphs? ---
**Author:** ![jake1](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/jake1/32/19284_2.png) [@jake1](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/jake1)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2021, 8:01pm UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/alternate-bracket-layers-not-switching/21196/3 "2021-12-29T20:01:58Z")
After export I tested the font in Adobe Illustrator 2022. When I manipulate the variable sliders, the alternate layers which should switch with the regular masters for certain glyphs don’t work, as if they weren’t there at all. In the AI glyphs panel, the alternate layer drawings are shown as separate alternate glyphs that don’t interact with their respective original glyphs. ---
**Author:** ![GeorgSeifert](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/georgseifert/32/259_2.png) [@GeorgSeifert](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/GeorgSeifert)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 12:29am UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/alternate-bracket-layers-not-switching/21196/4 "2021-12-30T00:29:35Z")
The switching is done on glyph level. So the alternate layers are put into its own glyphs. Illustrator is very picky when it comes to feature variations. You’ll find many discussions about this on this forum. And you might like to keet the vertical bar as a separate shape. That might interpolate better. ---
**Author:** ![jake1](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/jake1/32/19284_2.png) [@jake1](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/jake1)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 12:53am UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/alternate-bracket-layers-not-switching/21196/5 "2021-12-30T00:53:31Z")
I’ve tried various different numeric values for the alternate layers, and none show up in AI or Axis Praxis. I’d like for the $ to have a broken vertical bar at the condensed width and/or heavy weight, but the switch doesn’t happen after export. Shouldn’t the $ bar shapes switch when the variable sliders are changed, like the animation in the Switching Shapes article? ---
**Author:** ![mekkablue](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/mekkablue/32/23_2.png) [@mekkablue](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/mekkablue)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2022, 12:24am UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/alternate-bracket-layers-not-switching/21196/6 "2022-01-01T00:24:34Z")
> [@jake1](#): > > After export I tested the font in Adobe Illustrator 2022. Are you using the [Adobe Fonts folder?](https://www.glyphsapp.com/learn/testing-your-fonts-in-adobe-apps) If not you likely have a cache issue. Your font may be fine, but AI has an outdated version. Can you send me the file (can be reduced to just the dollar sign)? ---
**Author:** ![SiriLeeLindskrog](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@SiriLeeLindskrog](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/SiriLeeLindskrog)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 10:12am UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/alternate-bracket-layers-not-switching/21196/7 "2025-10-07T10:12:34Z")
Hi i have a similar problem. I tried using the bracket layers for switching the construction of cent in bold weights. For the Variable TT file, the alternate construction does not show up when testing the font in InDesign. The Otf files are working though. What could cause this? ---
**Author:** ![SCarewe](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/scarewe/32/18952_2.png) [@SCarewe](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/SCarewe)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 12:19pm UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/alternate-bracket-layers-not-switching/21196/8 "2025-10-07T12:19:59Z")
Can you check whether it works in, for example, [fontgauntlet.com](http://fontgauntlet.com)? ---
**Author:** ![mekkablue](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/mekkablue/32/23_2.png) [@mekkablue](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/mekkablue)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 6:01am UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/alternate-bracket-layers-not-switching/21196/9 "2025-10-13T06:01:34Z")
Which version of InDesign? Did you make sure you have the latest? ---
**Author:** ![HALTypefaces](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/haltypefaces/32/33135_2.png) [@HALTypefaces](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/HALTypefaces)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2026, 1:10pm UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/alternate-bracket-layers-not-switching/21196/10 "2026-10-21T13:10:31Z")
Hey! We just spotted a similar problem when exporting a VF with the new CFF2 Outline option. This seems to ignore bracketlayers, which work fine when exporting it as TrueType. Any ideas? Thank you!!!