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DESCRIPTION
PopChar is a utility application that lets you insert special characters, accented letters, umlauts, etc. from all installed fonts into your documents. You never need to search for and remember keystrokes any longer. Just pop up the PopChar window, click the desired character, and the character appears in your current document. If a font contains Unicode characters, you can see all of them, neatly arranged in the standard Unicode categories.

Features

  • Simple to use, just click and select,
  • Inserts accented characters, foreign letters and any other character from all installed fonts,
  • Automatic Font Detection,
  • Full Unicode support,
  • Character Search Function,
  • Various Insertion Options,
  • Insertion of HTML Symbols,
  • Recent Characters View,
  • Displays the keystrokes needed to create selected characters,
  • Automatically starts at login.
WHAT'S NEW
Version 4.2:
  • New context menu command finds all fonts that contain a given character.
  • Works around a problem that caused certain third-party utilities to lock up the Mac when opening the PopChar window.
  • Fixes a problem that caused PopChar to forget license information when preferences were synced with MobileMe.
  • Fixes a crash in combination with certain keyboard layouts (such as Unicode Hex Input).
  • Works around a bug in Mac OS X that caused incorrect vertical positioning of the PopChar table when the "use smooth scrolling" option was enabled in System Preferences.
REQUIREMENTS
Mac OS X 10.4 or later.
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SCREENSHOT

Developer:Ergonis Software
Downloads:82,581
  - Version d/l:3,061
Utilities:Font Tools
License:Shareware
Date:21 Apr 2009
Platform:PPC/Intel
Price:$38.99
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PopChar X User Reviews (46 posts)Write A Review
sort: smiles | time
Apr 22 2009
****.

ANMC  This is one of those apps that is very specialised, but once you start using it, there is no going back.

So much easier than struggling with the Character Palette (lang & keyboard options in the menu bar) - at least I found it so.

Good value too - several years of free upgrades with a purchased licence and a development team that is continually adding features.

Once you have the icon in your menu bar (at the corners or in the middle - even invisible until you mouse to it, if you prefer) there is no excuse for not including those pesky trademark and copyright symbols or whatever else you need.

Recommended very highly for what it does!  
(Version 4.2)

praisebury
0
[ 1 Reply - Reply ]
Replies:
Apr 22 2009

ANMC  I need to correct myself - two years of free major upgrades. Sorry!  
(Version 4.2)

praisebury
0

Nov 21 2008
****.

SUNDAYS  The price goes always higher since I tested it.

It is a very helpful program.  
(Version 4.1.1)

praisebury
0
[ Reply ]
Oct 31 2008

DRFRANK  Three clicks* on the PopChar 4.1 menubar icon caused my system to hang; everything except my cursor was frozen and I was forced to power down. Unfortunately, this 'hang' was reproducible. Ergonis support responded quickly, but was to recommend a solution. I've been using OS X since it was introduced, this is my first system hang.

*Clicks

Click 1 - PopChar window opened

Click 2 - PopChar window closed

Click 3 - System hang  
(Version 4.1)

praisebury
+1
[ 2 Replies - Reply ]
Replies:
Oct 31 2008

DRFRANK  "Ergonis support responded quickly, but was to recommend a solution." should have been, "Ergonis support responded quickly, but was unable recommend a solution."  
(Version 4.1)

praisebury
0
Nov 21 2008

STAR-AFFINITY  Are you running a MacBook Pro with Nvidia graphics?

If you open Console.app can you find something like ”graphic channel timed out” in the logs?  
(Version 4.1.1)

praisebury
0

Oct 30 2008

CORPSECORPS  It's looking very good with some of the more recent developments.

It's still NOT looking like enough functionality to cost $40.  
(Version 4.1)

praisebury
+6
[ Reply ]
Oct 29 2008
*****

BOSSKEV  PopChar is an excellent utility. I have been using PopChar as a paid/registered user for many, many years and through many, many versions of the Mac OS. I consider PopChar a MUST-HAVE tool and, while I have to admit I'd like the license key to be just a tiny bit lower than the equivalent of $38 US--blame it on the US economy, not the developer's €29.99--it is nonetheless a product I feel is worth owning. I use it daily to call up those hundreds of oddball characters, such as ® ™ ¶ æ Ω ç and €. I don't have to try and remember any of the keyboard contortions to access these infrequently typed characters, I just pull up PopChar, see the character I want, tap on it and the character pops into my text for me. Hey, look at that...character pops...do I see a product name here? ;^)

FYI, I also wrote a reply to the previous reviewer who I believe misunderstands how the PopChar license key works. Bluntly stated, the previous guy is wrong, see my reply there. I don't want one unfortunately incorrect review to throw people off track and possibly hurt the longevity of a product I consider essential.  
(Version 4.1)

praisebury
+1
[ Reply ]
Oct 29 2008
***..

SHANE C SMITH  Ha ha ha! Oh my.... the people at Ergonis Software are sure funny. $38 for a character viewer, good one Ergonis. So how much is it really? Oh its not a joke, $38... hummmmmm... yeah I think I will pass.

For the people who actually were considering purchasing this software be aware after 2 years your license expires. So if they only make an upgrade to say 4.3 within 2 years you have to purchase another license even though they haven't made any significant changes.  
(Version 4.1)

praisebury
0
[ 1 Reply - Reply ]
Replies:
Oct 29 2008

BOSSKEV  NO, you do NOT need to buy a new license every two years. A license gets you the ability to download and use any UPDATE or UPGRADES they may make to the product over those two years, but you are not prevented from continuing it in the version you "own" past two years, it is most definitely NOT an expiration date.

I've been using PopChar for many, many years as a registered user, paying the fee every 2-3 years. The last time I paid for a license key was in February of 2006 and, when that license key "ended" in February 2008--meaning I could no longer take advantage of any updates/changes to the product--I chose not to renew it, at least not yet. And here's what my PopChar registration box says right now:

"PopChar is registered with the license key above. This license key entitles you for free updates and upgrades until 02/2008." Until I DO update my license key--which will probably be with this release--I have continued to use PopChar freely and properly.

PopChar is, from my perspective, a MUST HAVE utility and, while it is a bit higher priced than I'd like to see--29.99 in Euro currency works out, as you say, to about 38 American dollars--it is a fee I am happy to pay when the updates merit a renewal of that license key.  
(Version 4.1)

praisebury
+1

Jul 7 2008
**...

CORPSECORPS  This has always been a great little app. It's easier to use and slicker than the OS X character palette and this version takes it even farther.

However, it was overpriced at $30.

Now they want $45?! )8^H

Now we're in la-la land. It's not even REMOTELY close to $45 dollars better than the free character palette.

For $15 i'd snap it up.

.  
(Version 4.0.1)

praisebury
+4
[ 1 Reply - Reply ]
Replies:
Nov 26 2008

CORPSECORPS  Read up on it.

Inserts plain text, styled, or HTML for a start. The magnifying glass can be handy if you want to keep the characters pretty small.

At any rate, if it weren't horribly overpriced, it's a whole lot handier.  
(Version 4.1.1)

praisebury
0

Jun 18 2008

PLASTERPYRUS  45 dollars, You have got to be kidding! You know for the life of me I can't understand developers like this guy. They make a nice little application like this, that is basically is a one trick pony, a bit extravagant I suppose but none the less, a one trick pony (like some one said it's a glorified character pallet ) and then they ask an excorbadent amount of money than the average user can't afford and than what? Does it just exist sitting there without many people buying it except the few that don't know about the character pallet that comes with the OS X, that even has a way to launch it from your menu bar! I mean does some one like this really makes any money from his creation?  
(Version 4.0.1)

praisebury
+3
[ 1 Reply - Reply ]
Replies:
Jun 18 2008

RUN HOME SLOW  that is why so many applications are hacked or cracked... so easy to do for pirates... people don't understand the cheaper it is the more they get and the higher u get the less u got (or the higher u got cracked)

popchar is way better than the character palette, more easy, just a click away... for the rest, i pass too  
(Version 4.0.1)

praisebury
+1

Jun 18 2008

BOBZOZUS  At least under Tiger, I believe that the previous reviewer is correct. The Mac OS provides similar functionality. The only benefits I can see from PopChar over the character palette is the fact that PopChar does not take space on your menu bar- and does offer a more complete listing of possible character types to insert in a document.

For those thinking of purchasing- I would first try the Mac OS Menu bar solution. And, then try PopChar. Only then can one judge whether PopChar is worth $45. I think that price is quite high, actually.

I bought PopChar as part of the Macility bundle- which costs around $70 USD for PopChar, KeyCue, & Typinator. This is one of those times where I believe I made a mistake in my software purchase. PopChar is not such an improvement over the Mac OS system functionality that it is worth more than $20 USD to me. Rather than Typinator, I use TypeIt4Me- which has the ability to select your abbreviation from the menu item- and is just generally a more robust type expander- in my view. KeyCue is useful rarely to remind me of keyboard short-cuts: but to be honest, has only proven useful a few times in about 6 months of use. I think it would be worth $10 USD for me. So, I paid $70 for what I think should have cost me- at most- $30 (since I just use PopChar & KeyCue)! Of course, your mileage may vary. That is why it is so important to utilize shareware before you buy. That is why I wrote this- to encourage those interested in this app- or the Macility Bundle- to try it on for size before purchasing. Do not buy without kicking the tires. I wish I did. Have no one to blame but myself!  
(Version 4.0.1)

praisebury
+2
[ Reply ]
Jun 16 2008

ANONYMOUS  What is with the ugly new 'P' icon? For $45 a license I think you can do better than that.  
(Version 4.0)

praisebury
+1
[ Reply ]
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