Automatic Justification of FrameMaker Index

[defaultcbj1p6qywajq]

In my Indexes, I have found that the page automatically justifies the index text entries. Is there a setting or method where justification is not automatic, so that I can get more text on the pages?

Thanks in advance.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

I'm not visualizing what you're saying is happening - can you post a screenshot of what you think the issue is? Use the picture icon to include an image inline (don't use attachments - makes it harder for people to see what you're talking about)

[defaultcbj1p6qywajq]

Unfortunately, I choose not to display it at this time because I have manually wrapped all of the index text lines to where I want them for a PDF output. Let me check to see if I have another book.  Bottom line is that the text is justifying entirely across the column., instead of having equal spacing between words...big gaps between letters.  Let me see if I can find another one.

[defaultcbj1p6qywajq]

Ok, Jeff, I found out that FrameMaker apparently set the default in the Basic tab of the Paragraph Designer to Justified for the Index, because I never recall setting it to Justified myself. I will see if there is something in the Reference pages that gives me a clue.

Thanks!

[Bob_Niland]

In the IX.fm file, what are the Alignment properties for the various Paragraph formats used?
In the most recent book I did, it appears that FM might have defaulted to:
GroupTitlesIX: Center
Level1IX: left
Level2IX: left
… no Justified in sight.

Settings on Reference Page IX could also be doing things that might look justified, via Tab Stops.

[defaultcbj1p6qywajq]

Ok, found out that FrameMaker apparently set the default in the Basic tab of the Paragraph Designer to Justified for the Index, because I never recall setting it to Justified. I will see if there is something in the Reference pages that gives me a clue.

Thanks!

[Barb Binder]

In my experience, FrameMaker does default to Justified for Level1IX, Level2IX, etc. While you are editing those styles, consider removing the hyphenation and increasing the widow/orphan lines to keep index entries from breaking across columns. 

~Barb

[defaultcbj1p6qywajq]

Hmmm  Not sure why the Justified was set, because I didn't set it. Perhaps the Reference pages already had the setting, because I didn't create or edit them myself. Hyphenation is already removed, but I will increase window/orphan for the breaks.

Thanks Barb!

[K.Daube]

Thanks, Barb for this information.

I haven't notices this in the past 25 years, because it strangly enough does not influence my perception of the formatting. TABs must anyhow be inserted before the page number and formats were set long agao in my template...

I rencenty run into another quirk. Amidst an index the Level2IX entry got local formatting, which can be seen easily  at the leader dots. This is not indictaed by an * in the status area behind the format name... Applying the ¶ format again did not resolve - but applying Default ¶ font did it...

[Barb Binder]

I teach indexing once a month to my advanced students. It's a brand new book, and a brand new index, and I can tell you that we always need to change the justification to align left. The index styles default to justify. 

This would be an excellent feature request, as would adding a tab between <$paratext> and <$pagenum> on the TOC reference pages. It's only been 30 years of manually changing these two things. LOL

Now, you could modify the Level1IX , etc definition(s) either on the reference pages or on the body pages. It doesn't matter. They both control the same content.

~Barb