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sidneydavenport
Inspiring
November 12, 2024
Answered

Index for print book

  • November 12, 2024
  • 4 replies
  • 600 views

Whether I hire a pro or do it myself, is the first step up to me or editors to create a list of tags?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer James Gifford—NitroPress

Indexing is one of two things: a list of keywords and where they are to be found, and a guide to small elements of content that may or may not conform to any one keyword. InDesign's features, like most app features, are designed only to do the first. So if a list of keywords you think readers might want to find seems useful, that's the place to start.

 

But real indexing, as done by a pro, means reading the book and creating entries for both every entry of "Gibbet, Flibber T." and ones for "Engineers, spaceflight" or "Minds, great."

 

Note that by 'pro' I do not mean here someone who is exceptionally skilled with the keyword listing features. And that for e-books, such indexes are largely obsolete, given searchability. If a book is of significant value to need an index, it needs to serve readers who are looking for ideas and concepts and events and explanations, not just keywords.

 

A more direct answer: if you're going to pay someone to index your book, you don't really need to provide them with a list of keywords.

4 replies

Derek Cross
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 13, 2024
sidneydavenport
Inspiring
November 16, 2024

Thanks, Derek.

Dave Creamer of IDEAS
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 12, 2024

If you do go about hiring a professional indexer, make sure they are a SME with your book's topic.

 

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
sidneydavenport
Inspiring
November 16, 2024

Dave, that isn't going to be possible. It's a small niche market.

James Gifford—NitroPress
Legend
November 12, 2024

Indexing is one of two things: a list of keywords and where they are to be found, and a guide to small elements of content that may or may not conform to any one keyword. InDesign's features, like most app features, are designed only to do the first. So if a list of keywords you think readers might want to find seems useful, that's the place to start.

 

But real indexing, as done by a pro, means reading the book and creating entries for both every entry of "Gibbet, Flibber T." and ones for "Engineers, spaceflight" or "Minds, great."

 

Note that by 'pro' I do not mean here someone who is exceptionally skilled with the keyword listing features. And that for e-books, such indexes are largely obsolete, given searchability. If a book is of significant value to need an index, it needs to serve readers who are looking for ideas and concepts and events and explanations, not just keywords.

 

A more direct answer: if you're going to pay someone to index your book, you don't really need to provide them with a list of keywords.

Derek Cross
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 12, 2024

If you have a complex book I suggest you get a professonal indexer to produce it. How you implement that in InDesign/PDF is another matter.