>  > It seems that only the english input get the spacing.
>  > Don't know why but the sign « ; » of the english input don't get the spacing.
>  > You put the value to .25em, looking in the french extension (who can't
>  > play with utf8) there's a .16667em value. It's seem's that the
>  > smallest is better because the caracter belong to the word, he's not
>  > between the two words.
>
>  you have to be more explicit; for instance, what do you mean with
>  'french input'
>
>  it's an attribute, not coupled to a language, but grouping should work
>  ok; npsp is not intercepted (no problem to do that)
>
>  i can add all kind of thins but then need precise specs + test files

Realy sorry for my bads explanations (and for my bad english…). Here
is a test file. I use the last ConTeXt, with lua.

Let's resume : In french typography, : ; ? !  « and  » must have a
small nbsp (« — » too but it's too complicated, not always, so using a
« ~ » is better).
By « french input » I mean : when I type my source files I do put
spaces (and in my case nbsp, because I add it to my keyboard) before
those signs (it's the « natural » way we learn).
Looking to my tests it seems that if there's a space in the source
file, the spacing is not apply — and I guess the nbsp neither.
So, what would be great is we had something that say : no mater what
is in front of this punctuations (space, nbsp or nothing) just make
them nbsp with the right spacing !

Guillemots may be treated differently : as you said the \quote are
here for ; but If it's not a problem to leave "«" and "»" in the
\setcharacterspacing [frenchpunctuation] it would be great too.

Regards,
Olivier.

-- 
[Message tapé sur un clavier Bépo : http://www.clavier-dvorak.org ]
Olivier nemolivier@gmail.com http://nemolivier.blogspot.com