Creating an index, About indexing – Adobe InDesign CS4 User Manual
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USING INDESIGN CS4
Long document features
Creating an index
About indexing
You can create a simple keyword index or a comprehensive, detailed guide to the information in your book. You can
create only one index for a document or book. To create an index, you first place index markers in the text. You
associate each index marker with the word, called a topic, that you want to appear in the index.
When you generate the index, each topic is listed, along with the page on which it was found. The topics are sorted
alphabetically, typically under section headings (A, B, C, and so on). An index entry consists of a topic (the term
readers look up) paired with either a page reference (page number or range) or a cross-reference. A cross-reference,
preceded by “See” or “See also,” points the reader to other entries in the index, rather than to a page number.
Parts of an index
A. Title B. Section heading C. Index entry D. Subentry E. Topic F. Page reference G. Cross-reference
Tips for creating an index
Creating a well-planned and complete index can help make the information in your document immediately accessible
to your readers. Here are a few guidelines to consider:
•
Think about how you want your index to look. How many topic levels will it have? Will it refer the reader to other
related topics? Will a simple keyword index suffice, or do you want a more complex index with cross-references to
related topics and a well-researched list of equivalent terms?
•
Anticipate the variety of ways by which your readers might look up information. For instance, one reader may
search for information on animals by looking under beasts; another may look for wildlife or fauna.
•
Add index entries when the content of your document is fairly stable. If you delete large portions of your text later,
you may lose some of your indexing work.
•
A well-planned index presents topics consistently. Common indexing problems include mixing uppercase and
lowercase (cats and Cats) and singular and plural forms (cat and cats). Use a topic list to keep terms consistent.
•
Review your index several times before you generate the final index. Look for duplicate entries, weak subject areas,
misspellings, and inconsistencies in capitalization and wording; for example, InDesign treats Cheetah, cheetah, and
cheetahs as separate entries.
Workflow for creating an index
To create an index, follow these basic steps:
1. Create a topic list (optional)
A topic list helps you maintain consistency in your index entries. (See “
2. Add index markers.
Add index markers on the pages in your document that you want the index entries to refer to.
B
A
C
D
E
F
G
Updated 18 June 2009