Editing Your Index

1. Editing Your Index Presented by Maria Coughlin Saturday, October 26 ASI Colorado Area Chapter Fall Conference Louisville, Colorado Seattle 2002

2. Introduction • Who are you? • What do you want to get out of this presentation? • Ask questions! • Who am I to tell you anything? Seattle 2002

3. Topics this morning • Some philosophy; What is a good index?; Theory and practice of indexing (esp. for tech writers). • What is editing?; What does editing require?; When does it begin?; When does it end? • 10:45-11 BREAK • Two brief practicums to illustrate editing errors and develop your editing chops. Seattle 2002

4. Some philosophy • There is no “silver bullet.” • Two things I won’t stop talking about: • Everything changes according to the idiosyncrasies of the particular case (“It depends!” or content and users meet in context). • and Being consistent is more important than being right (Dick Evans). Seattle 2002

5. Would a Big League glove give you confidence? • Nobody (Mulvany, Wellisch, Coughlin) is right all the time, because: • Indexing is a craft (not an art; not a science). • A craft doesn’t separate design and manufacture. Seattle 2002

6. However… • The artfulness of your index can be measured by how well it helps the user make sense of the concepts. • The index supplies insight and illumination, not description. • The index is a content audit or inventory. Seattle 2002

7. Which means that … • To make an index, the indexer has to analyze the text (problem-seeking – “What would the reader user/look for?”) and synthesize the entries (problem-solving – “Here’s a concept that should be entered in the index.”). Seattle 2002

8. The Craft of Indexing • THINK before you INDEX. • But, making entries may be a way of thinking. • Still, don’t get too attached to one form too soon. • What you index reveals how you understand the concepts you’re making available – how the content makes sense. Seattle 2002

9. You’re making something that makes sense! An index is a systematic interpretation of the content. Seattle 2002

10. What an index is not A concordance – An alphabetical list of significant words in the domain. A list of topic titles – Though topic titles are often entered as index keywords, this only produces an alpha-sorted table of contents (TOC). An index is not an outline of the domain. It is not hierarchical! A commentary – Indexes are not a place for the indexer’s opinions. Indexes are domain-centric and exegetical (the analysis is taken from the text, not read into it). An afterthought – The index is not an accessory. Seattle 2002

11. A definition An index is a retrieval device that allows access to all the important topics, facts, names, and concepts in an information domain. An index is arranged alphabetically or by function, command, procedure, or topic. The subject matter and purpose of the domain determine what is important. The user doesn’t have to know anything about the domain, because the index is informative and browseable. From Larry Bonura, The Art of Indexing (1994, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-01449-4). The Chicago Manual of Style, 14th Ed., Chapter 17, “Indexes.” And Meisheid (see Resources) Seattle 2002

12. Why index? • To add value. • A good index makes any [document] more valuable to all [users]. From Bonura • Usable indexes increase profits…[because] • Usable indexes improve documentation… • Usable documentation improves products… [and] • Usable products sell… • From Kurt Ament, Indexing: A Nuts-and-Bolts Guide for Technical Writers (2001, William Andrew Publishing, ISBN 0-8155-1481-6). Seattle 2002

13. What makes a good index? • A good index is: • Accurate • Complete • Concise • Cross-referenced • Logical • Reader-appropriate • Reliable • Usable (and reusable) Seattle 2002

14. What makes a good index? • Accurate – Each item references a relevant topic. • Comprehensive – Every relevant term is included. • Concise – References are well-chosen. • Cross-referenced – Seeand See also bring in relations of terms. “…with a well-defined network of cross references, the mob becomes an army…” – Charles Ammi Cutter • Double posted – Entries are inverted (double posted) as necessary to facilitate access. Seattle 2002

15. What makes a good index? • Encompassing – References for all similar concepts scattered throughout the information space are gathered into the index (Bonura calls this “depth of indexing”). • Parallel and consistent – Terms are grammatically comparable and similarly represented. • Text-centered – The index serves the text of the information space and not the prejudices of the indexer. • From Meisheid Seattle 2002

16. Rules for indexing • In plain language! • If you pick it up, pick it up. – Do Mi Stauber • You can have fast, cheap, good. Pick two. – Dick Evans • Know thy audience. – Meisheid • It depends. Seattle 2002

17. GLOSSARY •  acronyms If you pronounce an abbreviation as a word (“ASCII”), it’s an acronym. • body The body of the text is the narrative “stuff” that isn’t in titles, headings, diagrams, tables, or boxes. It includes lists and examples. •  concept The topic of an entry. It does not necessarily use exactly the same word, words, or phrasing as the text. See also keywords. Seattle 2002

18. GLOSSARY • cross-references • A See reference leads from a term not used as an index entry to the synonym or alternate term that is used (the target term). This could be a similar term, a reversed term, an expansion of an abbreviation, or a general or specific class. • A See also reference leads to related terms (information) under another heading (target term). • A missing entry is a cross-reference to a target term that doesn’t exist. An absolute No-No. Seattle 2002

19. GLOSSARY • double-posting A topic is entered in the index under various iterations of its keyword(s) or existing subentries are made into main entries: • cocktail dress and dress, cocktail • casserole broccoli cabbage elver • become, in addition: • broccoli casserole • cabbage casserole • elver casserole Seattle 2002

20. GLOSSARY • entry An entry is a topic plus a locator. There are levels of entries: • a main entry is the primary (first-level) entry. • subentriesare the secondary (tertiary, etc.) levels that fall under the main entry. Seattle 2002

21. GLOSSARY headings In the text, a heading is a word or phrase (usually in a different type size and font from the narrative text and set off with space above and below it) that divides one part of the narrative from another. In an index, “heading” is a synonym for “entry.” Seattle 2002

22. GLOSSARY keywords Keywords are significant words that are prime candidates for index entries. They differ from topics in that every keyword has a topic, but not every topic has a keyword. While a concordance is a list of words, an index uses words, but only insofar as they serve as concepts (topics) and modifiers. Confused? Ignore this definition entirely and think Keyword = Entry. Seattle 2002

23. GLOSSARY locator A locator indicates where the concept is to be found. It may be a page number (also called a page reference), a tag/URL, or a compound of section + paragraph number or volume + issue + page numbers. topic The topic is the subject of the main index entry. Seattle 2002

24. What to index Technical Publications • Acronyms • Alternate names and common synonyms (?) • Command names • Error conditions and messages • Examples (?) • Figures • Glossary terms • Introductory information (?) • Keyboard keys and shortcuts Seattle 2002

25. What to index üMeasurements üMenu options üOverviews (?) üProper names üRestrictions üScreen selections üSpecial characters or symbols üSystem messages üTables üTasks üTools (?) = maybe (it depends) Seattle 2002

26. Indexing, step by step As you follow the steps outlined below, always keep in mind that you should index topics in the same manner in which the reader/user will attempt to find them. As Ament says: “Walk in the shoes of your users. Look at the world from their perspective. Speak their language. Localize your index to the idiosyncrasies of your users.” Seattle 2002

27. Also, don’t try to index the whole document at once. Approach the document by chapter or section and work through them one at a time, completing each one as you go. Seattle 2002

28. Indexing, step by stepStep 1. IDENTIFY YOUR USERS If you’re the author of the document, you already know its organization, orientation, and content, and you are probably prepared to determine suitable indexing topics. If you’re not the author, you need to determine who will be using your index. Seattle 2002

29. Indexing, step by stepStep 1. IDENTIFY YOUR USERS If you can ask the author in person, because she sits in the next cubicle, then ask her: Who is your audience? Programmers? Tech support? Engineers? End-users? Students? If the document has a preface or introduction, you can usually glean clues from reading it. Seattle 2002

30. Indexing, step by stepStep 1. IDENTIFY YOUR USERS If you’re not the author, this is also a good time to glance through the text, noting its organization and content, particularly headings, boxed materials, bold-faced or italicized terms, lists, glossaries or vocabulary terms, summaries, or “what you’ve accomplished”-type lists. Seattle 2002

31. Indexing, step by stepStep 2. INDEX THE CHAPTER TITLES Analysis: Is the chapter title descriptive (narrative) or prescriptive (procedural)? Descriptive titles answer the classic “who-what-where-when-why” quintet. Prescriptive titles answer the solo “how.” Seattle 2002

32. Indexing, step by stepStep 2. INDEX THE CHAPTER TITLES Method: To create an index entry for a descriptive title, choose the prominent answer(s) to the quintet (e.g., mice, men, monkeys). To create an entry for a procedure (task), choose a term that describes the procedure (e.g., installing, exiting, scratching). For the locator, enter the page or page range that covers the topic (e.g., 3 or 3-10). Index all the chapter titles at once, so that you get an overview of the whole document. Seattle 2002

33. Indexing, step by stepStep 3. INDEX TASKS (PROCEDURES) Analysis: Tasks described in the main body of the text are usually easy to locate. They are often contained in headings, they indicate an action (e.g., “strangling your cat”), and they contain instructions. You can index the tasks in each chapter as you work your way through it, or you can create index entries for all the procedures in the text at once. Don’t forget tasks discussed in appendices. Seattle 2002

34. Indexing, step by stepStep 3. INDEX TASKS (PROCEDURES) Method: Create an entry for the task. If the discussion of the task is longer than one page, use a page range for the locator. Seattle 2002

35. Indexing, step by stepStep 4. FIND TOPICS Analysis: Topics in the text also answer the “who-what-when-where-why” quintet. They may be contained in headings, they may be printed in boldface or italic type, and they may be ideas in words, phrases, paragraphs, examples, table titles, table contents, diagrams, or glossaries. Selecting topics is the most challenging part of creating an index. Here are some hints for analyzing topics: Seattle 2002

36. Indexing, step by stepStep 4. FIND TOPICS Names are usually topics (including product names, people’s names, place names, and company names) if they are discussed meaningfully, not given as examples or mentioned in passing. (Ask yourself: If the user comes to this page, will he learn anything substantial or relevant about “X”?) Drugs have generic names and brand names. They are usually entered under their generic name (“aspirin”) with the brand name cross-referenced back to the generic (“Bayer. See aspirin”). Seattle 2002

37. Indexing, step by stepStep 4. FIND TOPICS NOTE: If a person, product, company, or drug is the primary topic of the whole document, you will probably not enter it in the index! That’s because the primary topic is understood to be the context for all your index entries. Cross-reference all trademarked names: WinWord. See Microsoft Word Seattle 2002

38. Indexing, step by stepStep 4. FIND TOPICS This is a good point for our discussion of capitalization. It’s important that you always capitalize proper names, including product brand names, in the index. Currently, the trend in indexing is to leave all other terms lower-cased, even when they are the main entry. Seattle 2002

39. Indexing, step by stepStep 4. FIND TOPICS Definitions are easily identified as topics. Definitions can occur in the body of the text or in the glossary. Although sometimes the glossary is not indexed, all definitions given in the body of the text should be indexed, because definitions are keys to understanding the document. Seattle 2002

40. Indexing, step by stepStep 4. FIND TOPICS Acronyms and abbreviations are shortened forms of names, words, or phrases. Familiar (common) abbreviations usually can serve as main entries because they’re more familiar to the user than the terms they abbreviate (e.g., DNA, IBM, URL, XML). Uncommon abbreviations or acronyms or those that stand for more than one thing are usually cross-referenced to their fully spelled-out form (“UMB. See University of Maryland at Baltimore; Untitled memory block”). Seattle 2002

41. Indexing, step by stepStep 4. FIND TOPICS Be consistent in your approach to abbreviations. Most often, your procedure will be to use the acronyms and abbreviations as the main entries and to cross-reference their fully spelled-out versions to the acronym/abbreviation as the target (“Extensible Markup Language. See XML”). Seattle 2002

42. Indexing, step by stepStep 4. FIND TOPICS Warnings, notes, error conditions and messages, and system messages are fairly obvious topics. For example: if a printer manual says “!WARNING: Spilling liquids on the printer will cause an electrical hazard” you should index that topic, probably under both the term “electrical hazard” and the category “warnings,” and maybe also under “safety.” Can you think of another topic you might also enter it under? (Not “stupidity.”) Seattle 2002

43. Indexing, step by stepStep 4. FIND TOPICS Special characters and symbols present an interesting challenge. They are clearly topics, but where do they go in the index? At the top, under their actual symbol (“™, use of, 20”)? In the text, under their spelled-out form (“trademark (™), use of, 20”)? Or both places? Where would you look for them? Seattle 2002

44. Indexing, step by stepStep 4. FIND TOPICS Command names, menus,screen selections, tools, and keyboard keys and shortcuts are other obvious topics. But don’t make them into hierarchical lists, because that puts a non-intuitive layer between the user and the index entry. For example, does the reader know that “Edit” is both a command and a menu? A user interested in editing should be given an indication of both conditions in one stop. Seattle 2002

45. Indexing, step by stepStep 4. FIND TOPICS Bad: Good: Commands Add command, 10 Add, 10 Document menu, 14 Edit, 15 Edit command, 15 Save, 20 Edit menu, 15 Menus Save command, 20 Document, 14 Tools menu, 22 Edit, 15 Tools, 22 Seattle 2002

46. Indexing, step by stepStep 4. FIND TOPICS BUT you can “nest” commands as subentries under their menu, because the user interested in editing can browse the possibilities. Seattle 2002

47. Indexing, step by stepStep 4. FIND TOPICS In the CINDEX™ manual, the entry looks like: Edit menu, 248-256 Undo, 248 Cut, 248 Copy, 248 Paste, 248 Clear, 248 Select All, 248 New Record, 249 Edit Record, 249 Duplicate, 249 Deleted, 249 Labeled, 250 Find, 250-252 Replace, 252-253, 252f New Group, 253 Save Group, 254 New Abbreviation, 254 Preferences, 254-256, 254f What order are these subentries in? What does f mean? Seattle 2002

48. Indexing, step by stepStep 4. FIND TOPICS • Figures (diagrams) and tables usually state their topic clearly in their legend (caption) or title. Some indexers put f or t after the locator to indicate that the index entry is found in the figure or table, respectively. • Restrictions are not as easily identified as topics, but they are. Look for clues like rules, cautions, notes, or default values and options. In other words, things you can do or change, but with (possibly dire) consequences. Seattle 2002

49. Indexing, step by stepStep 4. FIND TOPICS An indexing manual, for example, might have the entry: Sorting, 137-156 rules of, overriding, 149-156 The subentry here is a restriction, and if you go to pages 149-156, you’ll find all the consequences of overriding the sort rules. Seattle 2002

50. Indexing, step by stepStep 4. FIND TOPICS • Alternate names and common synonyms, examples, introductory information, and overviewsmay be topics, depending on your users. Remember, know your users and you’ll know whether they’ll need to find these topics. Seattle 2002