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D.Mitchell
Inspiring
September 21, 2022
Answered

I’m trying to check Index markers in a translated document that’s 333 pages long.

  • September 21, 2022
  • 4 replies
  • 821 views

Dear community, 

 

I’m trying to check a translated document (RU-RU), and ensure that the translated Index markers match the translated text that they’re embedded within.

 

However InDesign doesn’t seem to support selecting the marker within the text flow, and having the Index panel display that marker (like it does when selecting a cross-reference). It also doesn’t seem to support finding by page number in the Index panel, to help narrow down the list of markers. 

 

So I’m at a loss on how to proceed. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

D.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer D.Mitchell

Final Update: It turns out that there’s an error with InDesign and the Index Panel.

 

When you open a single chapter, and select an Index Marker within the text, the Index Panel will display that marker. This happens whether or not “Book” is checked in the Index Panel.

 

However when you open all chapters in a book, and have “Book” checked, the Index Panel will not display the selected marker. You have to uncheck that option, and reselect the marker, to have the Index Panel display the selected marker. 

4 replies

D
D.MitchellAuthorCorrect answer
Inspiring
September 22, 2022

Final Update: It turns out that there’s an error with InDesign and the Index Panel.

 

When you open a single chapter, and select an Index Marker within the text, the Index Panel will display that marker. This happens whether or not “Book” is checked in the Index Panel.

 

However when you open all chapters in a book, and have “Book” checked, the Index Panel will not display the selected marker. You have to uncheck that option, and reselect the marker, to have the Index Panel display the selected marker. 

P
Pickory
Legend
September 22, 2022

There is a free script IndexNavigator.

https://www.kerntiff.co.uk/products-4-indesign/indexers-corner/kps-index-utilities/indexnavigator

 

    D
    D.MitchellAuthor
    Inspiring
    September 22, 2022

    Thank you Pickory.

     

    Please note that the utility suggested is doesn't appear to be free any longer. The page as a "here" bit of text but there's no link. Instead their Shop link seems to have: IndexUtilities is £UK 75.00 Buy me (please email for details).

     

    So I've reached out to them...

     

    All my best,

    D.Mitchell 

    D
    D.MitchellAuthor
    Inspiring
    September 22, 2022

    Doing an Update since I can't figure out how to edit my previous reply.

     

    Turns out it is free! I reach out to them and they kindly sent me IndexNavigator via e-mail. 

    Joel Cherney
    Community Expert
    Joel CherneyCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 22, 2022

    Ooh, that's no fun at all. I've been in your shoes before.

     

    It is, however, totally possible to select an index marker in the text flow, but they're zero width characters. So, to see them you will have to have Hidden Characters turned on (Type -> Show Hidden Characters) and you'll have to do the selecting with the keyboard by getting right up next to the index marker with the arrow keys, then shift-selecting it.

     

    I am not sure if I understand your second I-can't-do-this-thing statement, though. How is it that you can't find by page number in the Index panel? You set the radio button to References, you select the entry you want to find, then you click the "Go to selected marker" button at the bottom of the Index panel. Is that not what you're asking for?

     

    Lastly: it has been quite some time since I needed to QA an index in InDesign. Like James, I try to keep that work outside of InDesign when I can. However, if that's not an option, you may want to look at third-party indexing tools, to see if any of them have functionality that might make your QA project less time-consuming. IndexMatic may be worth a look. 

    D
    D.MitchellAuthor
    Inspiring
    September 22, 2022

    Thank you Joel. 

     

    I know how to view and select Index markers in the text, I just wish when you did the Index panel would display the selected markers like the Cross-Reference panel does when you select a cross-reference. As far as I can tell there's no way to view what marker you have selected, and that's the issue as I need to see what the marker text is to ensure that it matches the text on the page. 

     

    The second issue is this: Say I got to page 2 and there are 3 Index markers visible. I can't then display the Index panel and search/display by page number to have it display the 3 markers on page 2.

     

    This RU files has a 7 page Index so there are far too many to click each one open to display the page number. 

     

    All my best,

    D.Mitchell

    James Gifford—NitroPress
    James Gifford—NitroPress
    Legend
    September 21, 2022

    ID is not a very good tool, overall, for managing index and end note entries. It has the features, and will do just as competent a job of inserting and managing them as any equivalent tool, but it lacks the more sophisticated options that, say, FrameMaker takes for granted.

     

    That it is difficult to search for, review and validate an index is not surprising, unfortunately. Such work is best done in a source document tool like Word, but I am not sure there's any good way to get there and back into ID. If the doc came to you in another format (such as Word or another word/content-focused app), you might try doing the cross checking there.

     

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