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Subject: Re: [dita] Index in the PDF version of the spec?
I agree that an index is important. But I also feel very strongly that if the index entries are not in line, the index should not be produced in PDF, for the simple reason that it will result in many page number references that are wrong (because they will point to the start of the topic rather than the place where the term actually occurs). Readers will not understand or care why the page number references are wrong and will assume that either we did poor job of indexing or assume that DITA's normal PDF production tools can't do indexing properly, neither of which is the case. So while having an index is important, if we can't put the index entries in the source at the point of occurrence of the terms indexed then we should not produce the index for PDF. I know from painful experience how much work it is to put index entries inline if you aren't doing it as you write. Cheers, Eliot ---- Eliot Kimber, Owner Contrext, LLC http://contrext.com On 7/7/15, 9:00 AM, "Kristen James Eberlein" <dita@lists.oasis-open.org on behalf of kris@eberleinconsulting.com> wrote: >Background: > >We removed the index from the 1.2 specification because it was of >extremely low quality. Since then, Robert and I have been improving the >indexing as we can (placing all <indexterm> elements in the prolog), >although there still are many holes. > >We *can* index during the forthcoming 30-day review, and I have several >folks who have volunteered to work together under rigid guidelines to do >so. > >Shall we move forward with this? I'm old school; I firmly believe that >an index is an important and necessary entry point to information, and I >don't think that online search can replace it. > >Let's talk about this. I know that we have TC members who think that an >index is unprofessional in PDF output unless the <indexterm> entries are >placed in-text. > >-- >Best, >Kris > >Kristen James Eberlein >Chair, OASIS DITA Technical Committee >Principal consultant, Eberlein Consulting >www.eberleinconsulting.com >+1 919 682-2290; kriseberlein (skype) > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from this mail list, you must leave the OASIS TC that >generates this mail. Follow this link to all your TCs in OASIS at: >https://www.oasis-open.org/apps/org/workgroup/portal/my_workgroups.php > >
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