Quote:
Originally Posted by xianfox
I'm not really looking for the procedure to create an index, I can handle that part. What I'm looking for is opinions on how you'd like to see indices handled in ebooks. I don't necessarily think that the pbook model is ideal for ebooks and I'd like to explore how an index might be retooled for ebooks. Should an index even exist in a format that has searching ability?
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An index is useful as it is smarter than a straight search. An index is fine at the end of the document so long as there is a link to the index in the TOC so the user knows it exists and has a good way to get to it. TOC handling is not universal in that sometimes it cannot be found easily so placing it at the beginning as early as possible always helps. The Index could be anywhere after that since the toc can be used to skip over it.
An index serves the purpose of finding text but it also has topical uses and can even reference items that are implied in the text but no singe would will do. It can also be browsed by some users as a way into the document. Creating an index is a lot of work but does increase the usability of an electronic document as well as a paper one. Of course for electronic it should include links, page numbers are not very useful.
Dale