[ANN] IndexMatic³ for InDesign 2023 (and CS6/CS5/CS4)

Report · Jan 23, 2023

Hello community,

The 2023 version of the IndexMatic script is on its way. This is a huge update of an “indexing tool” that has been often mentioned on this forum—and maybe I did not always answer the questions that had arisen, sorry about that 😉

Anyway this topic is dedicated to iX³ users, so fell free to ask questions here if the manual (or exchanges through Twitter) were not enough.

How to try IndexMatic³?
Click the TRY button here, unzip and install the script.
https://indiscripts.com/category/projects/IndexMatic

Where do I find the documentation?
A richly detailed manual is available here (PDF).
https://indiscripts.com/blog/public/scripts/en_IndexMatic3-Manual.pdf

What's new for iX² users?
Lots of things, but the transition should be easy.
Main changes from IndexMatic² to IndexMatic³ are summarized here:
https://indiscripts.com/blog/public/scripts/en_IndexMatic3-Manual.pdf#page=12

When will the PRO version be available?
Tomorrow the latest. Look out for the special launch price at indiscripts.com!

A few screenshots of the main dialog:

Thank you in advance for the welcome you'll give to this script!

Best,

Marc

Report · Jan 24, 2023

Thanks very much for creating this impressive script, Marc.

The manual is excellent, and informative about indexes in general, providing much food for thought. Apart from anything else it's also a good overview of the problems a human indexer will inevitably face when compiling an index!

Peter

Report · Jan 24, 2023

🙂

[Peter is too modest to tell you that he actively helped and advised me during the development of IndexMatic³. I warmly thank him for the lucidity he brought to me.]

Marc

Report · Jan 26, 2023

For those who plan to migrate from IndexMatic² to IndexMatic³, or simply want to know “what's new” in the v3, here is a summary of all the practical info:

https://indiscripts.com/post/2023/01/indexmatic3-what-s-new

Best,

Marc

Report · Jan 28, 2023

À l'attention des InDesigners francophones un petit bonus en VF pour vous initier à IndexMatic³ :

A+

Marc

Report · Jan 31, 2023

Hi @Marc Autret your plug in looks very comprehensive. Thanks for developing it.

I'm working on a way to export my index terms from a product information database (PIM) for a product catalogue.

Each product would have predefined index terms exported to a page (in a table) and I would use your plug-in to search for them using a paragraph style.

What is the best way to create Index entries from this data?

For example:

/USB Flash Drives/

/Verbatim/USB Flash Drives

I would want to create this as follows:

U

USB Flash Drives 49

V

Verbatim

USB Flash Drives 49

I can see that your plug-in works with InDesign Books, which is ideal as I have single pages kept in a book file.

Thanks for your help

Report · Jan 31, 2023

Hi @SteveP-Integra

Thanks for your feedback on iX³

1. In the Finder, select the Query List mode and create a new Query List:

2. If your items come from your database in the form

/USB Flash Drives/

/Verbatim/USB Flash Drives

…

or more generally, either /key/ or /parent-topic/key,

your query list should be formatted:

// For simple keys
/USB Flash Drives/ => $

// For <parent>/<key> forms
/USB Flash Drives/ => Verbatim > $

I've assumed that “USB Flash Drives” is still the key that you're looking for in the second query, and “Verbatim” a parent topic.

3. Now, if you have a zillion of such elements to treat, IndexMatic directives will help you reformat the incoming list automatically:

→ https://indiscripts.com/blog/public/scripts/en_IndexMatic3-Manual.pdf#page=69

4. In Output > Destination, don't forget to activate “Create Alphabetic Headings”:

Hope that helps.

Best,

Marc

Report · Jan 31, 2023

Thanks @Marc Autret

I can see that working as I already have a query list I can use to search.

One small question I have come across so far...

If I escape the / in the query eg. SDHC\/XC Cards how do I stop that appearing in the index export?

I will continue to test using the free version and purchase a copy when I'm happy that it will work for me.

Report · Jan 31, 2023

Hi @SteveP-Integra

A user reported that issue yesterday (working on it!), it specifically affects regex queries with implicit term. Fix coming soon! In the meantime you can use the explicit scheme:

// Workaround for escape sequences
/abc\/def/ => $0

Best,

Marc

Report · Feb 01, 2023

Hi @SteveP-Integra

Problem solved in v3.23021 available today. The $ variable—and the implicit term—in a regex query now resolves escape sequences (like `\/`) and character specifiers (like `\x2F`). So the regex query