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Subject:RE: To Index of not to Index From:"C. A. Cherry" <cherry_c_a -at- comcast -dot- net> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 4 May 2004 10:58:09 -0400
Dan is wondering whether his company's manuals need indexes --
In my opinion, almost any hardcopy manual that contains more than ten pages
becomes more user-friendly with an index. Even if you make the manuals
available in a searchable form, an index helps users find information about
concepts that are described, but not named, in the text.
Dan said he's not sure where to start. A good place is the American Society
of Indexers Web site. You'll find info about resources and the "Indexer
Locator", which helps you find a professional indexer: http://www.asindexing.org/locator/
If you decide to do the indexes yourself, I highly recommend the chapter on
indexing in the second edition of "Read Me First! - A Style Guide for the
Computer Industry" from Sun Microsystems Press (ISBN 0-13-142899-3).
Regards,
Cheryl Cherry
+++++++
Cheryl A. Cherry
Freelance Technical Writer
cherry_c_a -at- comcast -dot- net
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