# Convert special characters from HTML to utf-8 or iso-8859-1

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/convert-special-characters-from-html-to-utf-8-or-iso-8859-1/147907>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [September 6, 2008, 10:11pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/convert-special-characters-from-html-to-utf-8-or-iso-8859-1/147907 "2008-09-06T22:11:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Axel\_E](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/7c8e57/32.png) [@Axel\_E](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Axel_E)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 10:11pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/convert-special-characters-from-html-to-utf-8-or-iso-8859-1/147907/1 "2008-09-06T22:11:49Z")

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Dear all,

is there a gem available that will transform things like “�” into  
a long dash, “’” into an apostrophe and so on ?  
I think someone posted about this about a week ago, but I can’t  
absolutely find it anymore.

Thank you very much.

Best regards,

Axel

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Axel\_E](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/7c8e57/32.png) [@Axel\_E](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Axel_E)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 1:51am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/convert-special-characters-from-html-to-utf-8-or-iso-8859-1/147907/2 "2008-09-07T01:51:16Z")

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-------- Original-Nachricht --------

> Datum: Sun, 7 Sep 2008 05:05:15 +0900  
> Von: “Axel E.” [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)  
> An: removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid  
> Betreff: Convert special characters from HTML to utf-8 or iso-8859-1

> Axel

Found it: htmlentities.

Best regards,

Axel