# RTL kerning for guillemet, brace, paren, and bracket

**URL:** <https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/rtl-kerning-for-guillemet-brace-paren-and-bracket/24096>\
**Category:** Glyphs\
**Tags:** kerning\
**Created:** [November 1, 2022, 1:19pm UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/rtl-kerning-for-guillemet-brace-paren-and-bracket/24096 "2022-11-01T13:19:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![PascalZoghbi](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/pascalzoghbi/32/18398_2.png) [@PascalZoghbi](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/PascalZoghbi)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 1:19pm UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/rtl-kerning-for-guillemet-brace-paren-and-bracket/24096/1 "2022-11-01T13:19:02Z")

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In RTL, the guillemet, brace, paren, and bracket switch from right to left to left to right.

Example string : أ» {أ} (أ) [أ]»

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**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:** [November 1, 2022, 9:37pm UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/rtl-kerning-for-guillemet-brace-paren-and-bracket/24096/2 "2022-11-01T21:37:16Z")

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Can you be more specific about what is not working?

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**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:** [November 2, 2022, 3:15am UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/rtl-kerning-for-guillemet-brace-paren-and-bracket/24096/3 "2022-11-02T03:15:30Z")

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I think I know. Copy this text:

‏«أ» {أ} (أ) [أ]

I added an RTL marker at the beginning, for clarity. Here is its representation in the UnicodeChecker Split Up view:

 ![image](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/uploads/default/original/3X/6/4/64ea8de41fa6f0586191783d73ecf174b46692a2.jpeg)

And paste it in an RTL tab:

 ![image](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/uploads/default/original/3X/f/3/f3fde3a0322ece32769f22270efd58f5ee3155e9.png)

Typically, the layout engine is supposed to switch [mirrored characters](http://www.unicode.org/Public/UNIDATA/BidiMirroring.txt). _Window \> Text Preview_ does it correctly:

 ![image](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/uploads/default/original/3X/f/2/f25a47d4a5c0bfe72c71daf15ac0c5d33f983d6f.jpeg)

Question: should the Edit tab, which typically refrains from doing layout engine tasks, do mirroring? Or is this the task for a script or a palette plug-in?

_UPDATE:_ I added a mekkablue script in the _Glyph Names, Notes and Unicode_ subfolder called **Switch Mirrored Characters,** which does exactly that.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PascalZoghbi](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/pascalzoghbi/32/18398_2.png) [@PascalZoghbi](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/PascalZoghbi)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 9:08am UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/rtl-kerning-for-guillemet-brace-paren-and-bracket/24096/4 "2022-11-02T09:08:56Z")

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You script _Glyph Names, Notes and Unicode_ subfolder called **Switch Mirrored Characters** works perfectly to be able to have the correct direction in the RTL Tab to be able to kern.

Thanks Rainer.

Will this be done automatically in the new Glyphs updates?

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**Author:** ![FlorianPircher](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/user_avatar/forum.glyphsapp.com/florianpircher/32/30457_2.png) [@FlorianPircher](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/u/FlorianPircher)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 10:08am UTC](https://forum.glyphsapp.com/t/rtl-kerning-for-guillemet-brace-paren-and-bracket/24096/5 "2022-11-02T10:08:11Z")

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There are some difficulties with this because Glyphs is more of a glyph editor than a text editor. However, we are planing to add features for Glyphs’ Edit View that will make working with RTL glyphs more similar to a conventional text editor. Respecting Unicode mirroring is on the list.