Knowledge base · 04

Micro-tag rules for special characters

Keep special characters and micro tags unchanged when you translate with AI.

← Translation with AI Updated: 2026-08-12

Micro tags represent three characters that matter in layout: a non-breaking space, a forced line break and a tab.

They appear as:

  • NBSP - non-breaking space;
  • BR - forced line break;
  • TAB - tab.

Set AI behaviour

Open Inspector > Settings > Special characters. For each type, choose:

  • Let AI decide - the model may keep, move or remove the marker;
  • Ask to preserve - the model should keep a similar count and position;
  • Remove - the marker is not sent for translation.

Rules are saved for the active target language. You can separately choose whether markers are visible in the editor.

Removing a micro tag can change line breaks in InDesign. After translation, check forced breaks, tabs and values that should not split at the end of a line.

For normal display control, see show nonprinting characters.