Alphabetizing table of content

[@Js1212]

I have a index that i produce of a list of peoples names that are formatted Last, First

when i tell the table of content function to create the list in alphabetical order it breaks down on the comma

ie Lam should come before Lamb but the comma comes after "b" so the list is not accurate

Lamb, Bob ............ 10

Lam, John ....................6

is there any way to fix this?

scott

[Barb Binder]

To alphabetize a TOC, check Sort Entries in Alphabetical Order:

That said, I'm not clear if you are trying alphabetize a TOC or an Index—they are two entirely different features in InDesign.

~Barb

[@Js1212]

I am using the TOC function to create a index hence the confusion...lets just call it a TOC

I am aware and am using "sort entries in alphabetical order" function but it is breaking down in the example i provided where a shorter name will come after a longer name with the same first characters because of the comma that is placed after a last name when the name is listed as First, Last

ie

Lam, John should come before Lamb, Bob but it does not because a comma comes after a b. i need indesign to ignore the comma for alphabetical purposes

[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

As a heads up, for some reason, on both of your posts, and in both Chrome and in Safari, the left edge of your info is being cut off, so I couldn't see the beginning of the line. No idea why, and I looked around—it's only happening on those two posts.

Anyway...

I am using the TOC function to create a index hence the confusion...lets just call it a TOC

That's the issue. To address both of your questions, you'll need to use the index feature to create the index, and not the TOC to get the results you are looking for, unless you are OK manually editing the results after you generate it.

~Barb

[Jason Burnett]

Simply doesn't work. I am trying to alphabetize a TOC based on Recipe Names and it gets all the recipes, but refuses to alphabetize them. In fact, as best I can tell, they aren't in numerical order by page nor are they in alphabetical order by name. It's as though they have randomized the entries.

[@Js1212]

thank you...i glanced at indexing and it does appear that is my problem...

is there any easier way to create entries into the index? for the TOC i just needed to assign a particular paragraph style and it was done. can index entry be based off of a paragraph style?

scott

[Barb Binder]

No, sadly. Indexing requires adding index markers, but there is an option to locate and mark the same word multiple times.

~Barb