Re: [docbook-apps] Indexing.

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

On 11/05/12 21:27, Bob Stayton wrote:
> Regarding the (continued) label for long index entries that break across
> a column, I've implemented that feature for a client in XEP using its
> extension property rx:table-omit-initial-header, in a manner similar to
> that feature for repeating table titles across page breaks. In this
> case, each primary indexterm is placed in a one-column table. I think
> the XSL 1.1 retrieve-table-marker feature could probably do the same
> thing without resorting to an extension, but I've not tried it.
>
> Bob Stayton
> Sagehill Enterprises
> bobs@sagehill.net

If this is implemented in axf, do you think it is a worthwhile addition Bob?

http://www.antennahouse.com/xslfo/fo.htm
6.13.7 fo:retrieve-table-marker	Extended	yes	

So it seems it is?

regards




> ----- Original Message ----- From: "davep" <davep@dpawson.co.uk>
> To: <docbook-apps@lists.oasis-open.org>
> Sent: Monday, May 07, 2012 12:10 AM
> Subject: Re: [docbook-apps] Indexing.
>
>
> > On 06/05/12 22:45, John W. Shipman wrote:
> > > There are certain very specific fetishes I have about indexing
> > > that I see violated quite often.
> >
> > !Not sure you should be talking about your fetishes in public John!!
> >
> >
> > > The index to the "Guide to LaTeX" by Helmut Kopka has an example
> > > of a horrible flaw that severely compromises its usefulness:
> > > if a major topic is continued over a page break, the major
> > > topic is NOT repeated on the continuation column.
> >
> > ?? Continuation column?
> >
> > topic page 4 - 5
> > Is the '5' the continuation column?
> >
> > > Think about how you use an index: you depend on the top words
> > > of each column to be in alphabetical order. But on page
> > > 584 of Kopka's book, the entire column is a continuation of
> > > major topic "package", but the first entry is "amsmath".
> > > So you think you're in the "a" section of the index, but you're
> > > actually in the "p" section!
> >
> > I think I interpret your 'continuation column' as meaning
> > the part of the back of the book index which happens to have
> > a page break in the middle of a main entry? Is that right?
> >
> > > It should look like this, but in many books I don't see a
> > > line like the first one:
> > >
> > > package (continued)
> > > amsmath, 191, 269-270
> > > amsopn, ...
> >
> >
> > a) I don't think (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that we'd
> > see the first line in a db output? Happens with table headers
> > but indexes? I.e. we'd only see
> > amsmath, 191, 269-270
> > amsopn, ...
> > Where the reader has to infer the sub-topic from the indent?
> >
> > > An obvious application for marks.
> >
> > Yes.
> >
> > > My next suggestion may slightly increase the page count, so I
> > > never mentioned it back in the day when dead trees were the
> > > only route to publication. However, the increase is small,
> > > and inexcusable if you expect most people will e-read your
> > > book.
> > >
> > > As an example, the discussion of the amsmath package should
> > > have two entries:
> > >
> > > amsmath package, 372
> > > packages, 366
> > > amsmath, 372
> > >
> > > In general, if an indexable phrase has more than one important
> > > word, it should appear in the index under each of those words.
> >
> > +1 with your example. Covered in the book I'm reading, though
> > the author cations on making it an iron rule. Again the reader
> > comes first.
> >
> >
> > > I can't give you any useful suggestions on current tools. Back
> > > in the day I just invented a file format for entering all the
> > > indexable references and then wrote my own software in C to
> > > generate the index in TeX. This approach assumes that the
> > > page numbers are all cast in stone, which was fine because
> > > in my cases the rest of the book had all been put to bed.
> >
> > Which is the case the author talks about (quite endlessly in fact)
> > but not so in my case. I'm thinking I may be able to have a two
> > swipe go at it, but that's for the future.
> >
> > Thanks John.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > regards
> >
> > --
> > Dave Pawson
> > XSLT XSL-FO FAQ.
> > http://www.dpawson.co.uk
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > To unsubscribe, e-mail: docbook-apps-unsubscribe@lists.oasis-open.org
> > For additional commands, e-mail: docbook-apps-help@lists.oasis-open.org
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> To unsubscribe, e-mail: docbook-apps-unsubscribe@lists.oasis-open.org
> For additional commands, e-mail: docbook-apps-help@lists.oasis-open.org



regards

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