--On 02 October 2001 14:47 +0100 Paul Rosen <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Not strictly a qual-software query, but one that comes a bit later in the
> process ... does anyone have any recommendations of software for
> indexing a book? I don't want to pay a huge amount, and may be forced to
> do it manually, but if anybody knows of a cheap but effective programme,
> I'd be grateful for tips.
If you're using Word this can be done very easily in two steps.
(1) Select the items to index and decide what terms you want them indexed
by. There are then two ways to mark all occurences within the text.
(a) Create a separate 'concordance' file.
This is a file containing only a two columned table with the text items in
the left column and the index term in the right column. You enter each of
these manually and then save the file.
Then from the Word menu select Insert | Index and Tables... | Index |
Automark | specify the concordance filename and 'hey presto' all instances
of your text items are marked to be indexed.
(b) Mark each text item for indexing individually.
Highlight the text item.
From the Word menu select Insert | Index and Tables... | Index | Mark Entry
| specify the index term and whether or not to mark only this or all
occurences of the term in the document at this time.
(2) Index all the marked items.
No matter how you've marked the items you create the index itself in the
same way.
Position your cursor where you wish the index to appear. From the Word
menu select Insert | Index and Tables... | Index | choose your formatting
preferences and click OK. very quickly you'll have an index built.
COMMENTS/WARNINGS
If you choose (1.b), then you'll have omissions if you edit your text
later. (1a) automarks the text as currently exists.
Pagination sometimes differs depending on the printer drivers being used.
I don't work in publishing so don't know what software would be used for
preparing the copy for the final printing (or proofs). If you send both
the text and the concordance file, your publisher can rebuild the index
using their own drivers by siply right-clicking within the index and
pressing Update field.
You can also do fancier things like "See x" etc.
I'm sure there will be similar facilities in less ubiquitous software.
Duncan
PS On a quasi qual-software note it won't count the number of occurences
within your whole text since it will only report once per page in the index.
===================================================
Duncan Branley [log in to unmask]
Applications Officer, Information Services
Goldsmiths' College, University of London
New Cross, LONDON SE14 6NW
Tel: +44 (0)20 7919 7708 Fax: +44 (0)20 7919 7556
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