Re: Is a bad index better than no index?

["David M. Brown" <dmbrown -at- brown-inc -dot- com>]

David Castro wrote:
> 
> ...is it better to create an index that isn't great...or to leave the
> document without one?
> 
> ...Do you think it would be worth the effort to create the index, on
> the off chance that someone might skim the index looking for something
> to prompt their memory, or to lead them to the answer to a question
> they don't know how to ask?

Unless it's a *really* lousy index, I'd say it's better to include one.
Fortunately, there are resources for tech writers who create indexes.
Here are a few I found in a quick search of today's messages on the 
Index-L list:

 *  "Read Me First: A Style Guide for the Computer Industry" by 
    the Sun Technical Publications group

    Quote:  "It contains an excellent chapter on indexing that 
             gave me a very strong 'jump start'..."

 *  "The Art of Indexing" by Larry Bonura

 *  The chapter on indexing from the "Chicago Manual of Style"

 *  "Indexing Books" by Nancy C. Mulvany

 *  The American Society of Indexers (ASI) web site at 
    http://www.asindexing.org

Many of the skills used in tech writing are also used in indexing.

Don't despair!

--David

=============================
 David M. Brown - Brown Inc.
    dmbrown -at- brown-inc -dot- com
=============================

A V A I L A B L E   N O W !        http://www.html-indexer.com/ 

HTML Indexer 3, still the easiest way to create and maintain real 
back-of-the-book indexes for web sites and other HTML documents.

Now including options for HTML Help and JavaHelp indexes, too!

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

*** Deva(tm) Tools for Dreamweaver and Deva(tm) Search ***
Build Contents, Indexes, and Search for Web Sites and Help Systems
Available now at http://www.devahelp.com or info -at- devahelp -dot- com

Sponsored by Information Mapping, Inc., a professional services firm
specializing in Knowledge Management and e-content solutions. See
http://www.infomap.com or 800-463-6627 for more about our solutions.

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot-  Visit 
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.