Index and sub-level 1 and multiple entries

Question

I'm creating a book index, entering all the topics first before I begin to mark references. Some main topics have multiple sub-topic level-1 entries. I can create these "by hand" by typing the main topic, typing one sub-topic, and entering, repeating the process for as many times as I have sub-topics. Is there a way to enter multiple sub-topics under the main topic at one time, separated by some sort of marker that InDesign recognizes as a "new line" character in the sub-topic list?

For example, one main topic is Abstention. It has five level-1 subtopics: Burford, Colorado River, Pullman, Thibodaux, and Younger. Below is a sample of what I'm trying to do:

Main topic: Abstention

Sub-topic: Burford [new line], Colorado River [new line], Pullman [new line], Thibodaux [new line], Younger [new line]

So that when I generate the index, it would line up like this:

***********************************************************************

Abstention

Burford

Colorado River

Pullman

Thibodaux

Younger

***********************************************************************

Abstention is easy; it has only five sub-topics, but I have a bunch of main topics that have 30 or more level-1 subtopics. I know that in the text I can enter a soft new line, but I don't know whether that will work in the index-entry pop-up box, and I've already put in enough work that I don't want to risk messing up what I've done.

Many thanks.

Peter Kahrel · Accepted Answer

First of all, use .jsx as the file type, not .idjs (idjs is a newer format; jsx is older but will be around for many years and is still more mature and stable).

Then copy/move the script to inDesign's Scripts folder, which is easy:

1. Open InDesign's Scripts panel (Windows > Utilities > Scripts)

2. In the panel right-click the User folder. Select Reveal in Explorer on the Mac that'll be Reveal in Finder)

3. Your OS's file manager is opened. Drop the script file on the Scripts Panel folder (or open that folder and drag the script file to it)

The script should appear in the panel. Double-click it to run it.

If you have a file with topics and their subtopics, the script could be modified to read all that and add the lot to the Index panel. That list would be a list of strings in the format set up for the script. If you're interested let me know.

As I mentioned, InDesign's index feature has a lot of shortcomings, but it's almost always possible to do a workaround. And many scripts exist to fix problems with InDesign's index, for example

https://www.kerntiff.co.uk/products-4-indesign/indexutilities

https://creativepro.com/files/kahrel/indesign/lists_indexes.html

https://creativepro.com/files/kahrel/indesign/index-fixes.html

Peter Kahrel · Answer

> Is there a way to enter multiple sub-topics under the main topic at one time, separated by some sort of marker that InDesign recognizes as a "new line" character in the sub-topic list?

No, that's not possible. And as you proceed with your index, you'll discover that InDesign's index feature has various limitations. But a script can do what you're after.

(function () {

  var items,
      index,
      topic,
      subtopics;

  items = prompt ('Topic#subtopic@subtopic@...', '', 'Multiple level-1 subtopics');
  if (!items) {
    exit();
  }

  parts = items.split('#');
  if (parts.length < 2) {
    alert ('Illegal format');
  }

  subtopics = parts[1].split('@');

  if (app.activeDocument.indexes.length === 0) {
    index = app.activeDocument.indexes.add();
  } else {
    index = app.activeDocument.indexes[0];
  }

  topic = index.topics.add(parts[0]);
  for (var i = 0; i < subtopics.length; i++) {
    topic.topics.add (subtopics[i]);
  }

}());

The script shows a rudimentary interface:

Enter the topic and its subtopics in the format as shown, then click OK to add them.

You can add more subtopics to the same topic later, just use the same format.

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