Re: [docbook-apps] Indexing.

[davep <davep@dpawson.co.uk>]

On 05/05/12 12:52, PC Thoms wrote:
>   Hi Dave
>
> Mulvany's text is an excellent indexing manual.
> The Chicago Manual of Style (http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html)
> has a concise chapter on indexing. A free trail is available, and this
> manual is usually available at a library in the reference section.

I have the 14th edition. Ch 17 is apposite.

> I have indexed books using docbook and TEI.
> And my preference is docbook.

<grin/> Me too.

> I did made a note to for myself some time back that an<indexterm>  inside a
> footnote caused an error. I was using oXygenXML v12 at the time. Not sure
> if this is still the case.

"Footnotes aren't normally indexed" is one piece of advice. So perhaps
docbook is right.


> I did have a problem with the placement of the<indexterm>  but that was
> answered at:
> http://www.docbook.org/tdg51/en/html/indexterm.singular.html
> Whitespace around<indexterm>  may affect placement of the IDs in PDFs
> generated.

This is the sort of issue to which I referred (nothing like experience?)


> Here are two examples of the<indexterm>  that have worked for me.
>
> <!-- SIMPLE INDEX ENTRY EXAMPLE  -->
>
> SHAKESPEARE<indexterm><primary>Shakespeare</primary></indexterm>
>
> <!-- STARTOFRANGE TO ENDOFRANGE  -->
>
> <indexterm class="startofrange" xml:id="aaa1">
> <primary sortas=" Shakespeare ">The Shakespeare</primary>
> </indexterm>
>   . . . .
>   . . . .
> <indexterm class="endofrange" startref="aaa1" />


I knew it existed, though I haven't used it.

> Overall I have been pretty satisfied indexing with docbook.
>
> And Dave, I know you are familiar with Bob Sagehill's book which has the
> following:
> http://www.sagehill.net/docbookxsl/GenerateIndex.html
>
> Indexing an e-text it is very easy to over index. Generally an indexer is
> allotted a limited number of pages for an index, but in an e-text what's a
> few more bits. A bigger index does not mean a better index.

Common sense and balance? Paper (modulo 32 is not an issue in my case).


> Happy Indexing

I'll report back!

Thanks.




regards

--
Dave Pawson
XSLT XSL-FO FAQ.
http://www.dpawson.co.uk