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Anonymous
June 5, 2017
Answered

Updating index with new text

  • June 5, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 3776 views

Hello,

I have generated an index for an indesign book with chapter documents. The book will still need some edits. I have created references with the "Add All" feature which shows all instances of the word(s), in all documents, in the index. After adding a paragraph of new text, when I generate a new index, it does not include "All" instances of the word in the book; it ignores the new text.

How can I update the index to include new text? What am I missing?

So far I am unable to find the answer to this question. It cannot be true that this is not a possibility.. otherwise the text would have to be PERFECT before generating an index..

Thank you.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Barb Binder

    Unfortunately, that's a limitation of the Add All command in InDesign. It's adding all occurrences of the selected text present in the document or book at that time. As you add more content, you will need to go ahead and index that yourself because if you choose Add All again, InDesign adds index markers to all text that matches the selected text—regardless of whether the text has been indexed—so you will end up with multiple entries that you then have to edit. Alternatively, you can wait until the content is finalized before using it in the first place.

    I know this isn't the answer you were hoping for, but you can always put in a feature request here: Wishform - Adobe InDesign​.

    1 reply

    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Barb BinderCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    June 5, 2017

    Unfortunately, that's a limitation of the Add All command in InDesign. It's adding all occurrences of the selected text present in the document or book at that time. As you add more content, you will need to go ahead and index that yourself because if you choose Add All again, InDesign adds index markers to all text that matches the selected text—regardless of whether the text has been indexed—so you will end up with multiple entries that you then have to edit. Alternatively, you can wait until the content is finalized before using it in the first place.

    I know this isn't the answer you were hoping for, but you can always put in a feature request here: Wishform - Adobe InDesign​.

    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
    Jongware
    Community Expert
    JongwareCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 5, 2017

    While Barb's answer correct, I don't think it's a worthwhile addition to add it the way she proposes.

    "Add all" is not a "live function", it's a single one-time 'find' instead. It is equivalent to the Find/Change Text function: it'll find and change only once, not all the time.

    Imagine you are adding index markers for a name index, and you find a certain "Doctor Who" in your list. You press "Add All" to add all "Who"s, only to find out that most of these are duds. Currently, you'd simply remove the wrong whose, either by deleting the entry in the index panel, or the physical marker where you come across it. But with a "live" Add All that would not be possible anymore!

    > ... otherwise the text would have to be PERFECT before generating an index...

    Ideally, it should! (Where "ideally" = "cause the least amount of work).

    What use is a partially correct index? Not only plain text edits may invalidate it, but even moving a single figure to a next page invalidates the entries on the affected pages. Very few things bother me more than receiving text edits -- sometimes pretty major ones that cause whole chapters of text to re-flow -- right after I generated an index. In practice, I always have to throw it away and start a-new.

    Also, remember that indexing is a profession. Just as there are editors that need to check facts, spelling, and grammar of text, there are also professional indexers. A flat generated index is not as useful and rich in content as a professionally reviewed and edited one. InDesign can generate a helpful lookup list, but an indexer will look for context (to avoid "mere mentions"; an example is "I'm a doctor, not a carpenter!" with a reference to "carpenter"), cross-links, and see and see also references.

    A
    Anonymous
    June 6, 2017

    1/ Learn Javascript and write such a script!

    2/ Make researches and pray for finding such an existing script!

    3/ Wait for someone enough cool to give you a link for such a script or write for free such a script!

    4/ Pay someone for writing a specific script for you!

    (^/)


    1/ Be kind to people you don't know!

    2/ Be helpful on forums!

    3/ If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all!

    I think nothing productive will come from this conversation. Thanks for leading me on and not actually helping me with my legitimate question.

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