Script to integrate an index created in Word into existing InDesign file

[Mark Ben]

Hi everyone,

Please, i need your help urgently. I need a script that can help me integrate an index created in Ms Word into an existing InDesign file. The book is about 800 pages and has already been meticulously designed in InDesign based on this same Word manuscript but without the index. At this point, i cannot use the "place" function in Indesign because the indesign document has already been designed and formatted (using place function will mean starting the design all over from the beginning).

The word document already has all the index entries marked and index created. So i need a custom script to import this index into InDesign and automatically update page references to align with the InDesign layout.

Please, this is very urgent. Kindly help me with this. Thanks.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Doable - AS LONG AS texts - by contents - are almost identical...

Can you share your files - InDesign and WORD? Can be on priv.

Unless - and I'm just brainstorming as it's still early - "side loading" of your indexed WORD doc would load all Index Topics and then InDesign could use them to find all corresponding references in your already formatted text...

Of course try it on the copy of your document. 

[Mark Ben]

Thanks but the indesign is already formatted and and the layout has been
done. I do not want to touch the designs and layout. All i want is just to
extract the marked indexes into the same document indesign file.

[Mark Ben]

1. How do i share the both files with you so you can check to understand the situation?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

1. How do i share the both files with you so you can check to understand the situation?

By @Mark Ben

Click on my nickname - you'll see Message button. 

ZIP / RAR INDD + WORD file, upload it somewhere and send me a link. 

[Mark Ben]

Or, can you explain to me what you mean by side loading. Maybe explain a little how i can go about it. Thanks.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Or, can you explain to me what you mean by side loading. Maybe explain a little how i can go about it. Thanks.

By @Mark Ben

Add new page at the end of the document, place your WORD file, check Index panel - re-generate references - delete last page.

Of course - do it on the copy of your document. 

[Mark Ben]

Okay. Meanwhile, please let me send the documents to you.

[Robert at ID-Tasker · Accepted solution]

@Mark Ben 

Full credit goes to @Peter Kahrel and his script:

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

I just run it - it took about 15 minutes on my laptop - but I might have run it "wrong" - there is an option to turn off "Strict matching" - first option mentioned in the description - so you should probably read the description and run it yourself.

From the quick look - I think it works - but you need to check much more carefully.

The steps I took:

1. at the end of the document - I've imported your WORD file and reflowed it,
2. checked Index panel - new topis and references to the imported text has been already added,
3. run the above script - new references to your old text has been added.

And that's it.

[Mark Ben]

Kindly note that the documents are large documents.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Kindly note that the documents are large documents.

By @Mark Ben

I've just sent you link to the processed file - on priv.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

If you can't add the Word index to the existing pages "because the ID document is formatted," how do you expect to add index entries at all?

I'll just say that sometimes, "done" isn't done, and the shortest path to a solution is to back up a few steps. Going to extremes to try and import an index after a layout is "done" may be... counterproductive.

[Mark Ben]

Thanks for your input. However, it was achievable and layout is not affected.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Yeah, not to be a Debbie Downer on a search for a solution, but sometimes trying to fix something afterwards is more work — too much work — too risky, up against just backing up and doing an overlooked or prior step. Glad this worked out.