Re: professional indexing

Subject: Re: professional indexing
From: Kelly Hoffman <kelly -at- NASHUA -dot- HP -dot- COM>
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 1994 11:18:52 -0500

Jack Shaw <jsh -at- SOFTWARE-AG -dot- DE> writes:

> [justified complaint about 1-page index in 600-page book]

> To be learned from this is, I feel:
>
> [items 1 & 2 deleted]
>
> 3. Resolve in the new year to improve your indexing acumen...

Good advice to all, whether they've bought this book or not. ;-)

I'd also add:

4. Write a letter to the publisher and, if appropriate, the
author indicating your displeasure. Keep it brief and
to-the-point. If you follow the advice in item 5, be sure to
say so in the letter.

5. If the book isn't useful without a decent index, return it and
spend your reference budget elsewhere.

6. If you're really feeling ornery, post a note about the
uselessness of the book's index in an appropriate
newsgroup/mailing list (that is, one for the book's target
audience). Mention that you've done so or plan to do so in the
letter to the publisher. To be fair, offer to post any reply
the publisher/author has to the same newsgroup/list.

Cheers,

kkh

--
Kelly K. Hoffman kelly -at- nashua -dot- hp -dot- com
Learning Products Engineer
Hewlett-Packard, Network Test Division "Reading the manual is
One Tara Blvd., Nashua, NH 03062 admitting defeat."


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