How to type zero-width space character (U+200B) on a laptop keyboard?

Question

I'm building a site and want to store two variables: the target and current progress for a fundraising campaign. The organization may change the target every year, and of course will need to change the current progress. I could create a model but this seems like overkill as I would never create more than one object. Is there an easy (and standard) way to do this?

I'm new to rails and I've looked for answers to this question but haven't found anything exceptionally helpful - I apologize if this is a common issue. Other answers depict how to store site wide variables when you do not want to edit them, but here I'd like to be able to update them as often as required.

Solution 1

You could just use the Character Map program, built into Windows. It lists all characters for each font installed on the system, and lets you select one and copy it to the clipboard. In fact, I use it to reference all the keycodes to type them, otherwise, but when I'm on my laptop, it's handy just to be able to copy the characters from that program.

It's available in the Accessories start group, or by running charmap.exe.

You can copy U+200B like so:

Solution 2

I have written a small application for just this purpose! It is called Npad, and it is a simple AutoHotkey script to conditionally remap the normal number keys to behave as the Numpad keys. This allows you to enter Unicode characters using their Alt keystroke combinations with any keyboard.

Instructions:

Press Ctrl+Win+N to toggle Npad between 0 and 1, off and on respectively.

Press Alt+Win+N to display the state of Npad without toggling on or off.

Source:

_{Note: See the download link below for the latest version...}

npad = 0

^#n:: ;Ctrl+Win+N
npad := !npad
MsgBox, , Npad, Toggle: %npad%
Exit

!#n:: ;Alt+Win+N
MsgBox, , Npad, State: %npad%
Exit

#If (npad)
    0::Numpad0
    1::Numpad1
    2::Numpad2
    3::Numpad3
    4::Numpad4
    5::Numpad5
    6::Numpad6
    7::Numpad7
    8::Numpad8
    9::Numpad9
#If
Exit

---

Download: https://bitbucket.org/iglvzx/npad/downloads

Solution 3

1. Alt code on Laptop Keyboard - This works if your keyboard have a numlock key. If not try this:

2. Use the osk.exe utility (the Visual Keyboard) typically in C:\windows\system32\osk.exe

   • Click on options on the Visual keyboard
   • Check the option "activate the numeric pad"
   • Press the Alt key on the "real" keyboard AND enter the Alt-code on the Visual Keyboard
   • Then release the Alt key on the "real" keyboard

The character must be written on notepad or any other application.

Here a screen capture : alt code 0128 in Notepad++:

Hope this help. Let us know.

Solution 4

There is probably some way to simulate the numpad keys using normal keys. The manual of the system should tell you which function key or other tool needs to be used to enable such simulation and which keys are to be used for numpad keys.

But things get somewhat awkward then.

So perhaps a better approach is to download and install some nice utility, like UnicodeInput (for entering characters by Unicode number) or unicode-input-by-name (for entering characters by their formal Unicode name). Unfortunately, for both of them, the most conveniently way to launch the program is to type Alt++ using the numpad “+” key

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Comments

[HikeMike]

What operating system? Also, you may be able to use Fn to get a keypad keys.

[Borek Bernard]

Edited a question, hope it's clearer now.

[Himanshu Jansari]

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[MarsAtomic]

Possible duplicate of Where can I store site-wide variables in Rails 4?

[Bihc]

@MarsAtomic Those answers don't seem to say anything about updating the variables.

[100rabh]

sweet, gonna use this a lot.

[Borek Bernard]

Nice although I would appreciate a solution that doesn't involve running a 3rd party utility and pressing like 15 keys to insert one freaking character :) Nothing against this solution, I appreciate your effort, I was just hoping for a simpler solution if there's any.

[iglvzx]

@Borek If you don't want to memorize Alt codes, see sidran32's answer below. :)

[Tamara Wijsman]

How about U+200F? It doesn't appear to list that. :/

[user3359503]

@TomWijsman It depends on the font. Arial Unicode MS doesn't have it, but (for example) Calibri does.

[Tamara Wijsman]

Ah, interesting, thank you! +1 Didn't know one could get the characters there...

[kapex]

Missing in this answer is how to actually find the character: Activate advanced view and use the input field labelled "Go to Unicode" or just "Unicode" in newer versions. Input 200B and the character will be selected in the top left corner. Searching for the name only works if you know how the character is called in your locale.

[Noumenon]

This inserted a line break when I pasted it.