Embedded Indexing Resources

Document preparation/publishing software with embedded indexing features:
Third-party add-on utilities providing expanded indexing functionality for many of these packages are listed in the Software tools for facilitated embedded indexing section on this page.

• FrameMaker (Adobe) – excels in text-based page layout/design. Used to write and publish long technical documents such as instructions or manuals. Current versions are subscription based only.
• InDesign (Adobe)– is widely used for large-scale print and digital media projects, handling graphics and sophisticated formatting styles. Current versions are subscription based only.
• LaTeX – is a document preparation system for high-quality typesetting that includes features designed for the production of mostly technical and scientific documentation. It is available as a free software license.
• Word (Microsoft) – is a widely used word processing program and text editor. Most recent versions are available for purchase only as part of the Office suite of products.

Software tools for facilitating embedded indexing:

• DEXembed – Microsoft Word add-in to embed indexes, created in CINDEX, SKY Index, or MACREX into Word or DocBook XML.
• DEXter – Microsoft Word add-in to embed indexes directly in Word documents.
• InDesignConverter – Saves Word documents as InDesign tag files, also allowing the import of Word index entries into InDesign.
• IndeXExploit – add-in for Microsoft Word users wanting to use embedded index entries to find information fast, and for professional indexers and others wanting to create and debug embedded indexes.
• Index-Manager – Dedicated indexing software which creates embedded index entries in Word, InDesign, or XML files.
• IXGen – Indexing and marker management productivity tool for FrameMaker.
• IXMLembedder – Embeds index entries created in CINDEX and certain versions of SKY Index into Word documents, InDesign documents, and tagged XML files. (currently unavailable)
• Kerntiff Publishing Systems IndexUtilities – A collection of scripts and plugins that help embed index markers in InDesign.
• TExtract – semi-automated indexing software, which includes a Word embedding option.
• WordEmbed  – Converts an index created in CINDEX, SKY Index, or Macrex into a Word embedded index.

Online workshops:

• Active indexing: creating indexes for eBooks, a workshop with four modules offered through the Society of Indexers (UK). ASI members can contact ASI for the code to receive a 22% discount.
• Embedded Indexing in InDesign, three one-hour presentation recordings, taught by Lucie Haskins, offered through the American Society for Indexing.
• Learning about KPS (Kerntiff Publishing Systems) Indexing-related Plugins for InDesign, one-hour presentation recording, taught by Lucie Haskins, offered through the American Society for Indexing.
• Embedded Indexing in MS Word Online Workshop, originally developed by James Lamb, offered through the Society of Indexers (UK) only to members of SI and affiliated ICRIS indexing societies.
• Embedded Indexing Skype-based workshop offered by Kevin Broccoli, kevin@bim.net

Webinar replay:

• Introduction to Embedded Index Creation Using IXMLembedder, David K. Ream, offered through the American Society for Indexing, October 26, 2016.

Video:

• How to build an index in Word 2007, Dummies.com, Feb 26, 2009.

Web resources:

• “How to be the Interface between Publishers and Digital Indexing techniques,” Terry Casey, Jan Wright, and Pilar Wyman, ASI Conference, Cleveland, OH, April 28, 2018:
  • Benefits of eIndexes
  • Questions for Indexers to Ask Clients (Authors/Publishers)
  • Matrix Flowcharts of Software Tools, Processes, and Outputs
• Lucie Haskins Resources on embedded indexing

Discussion group:

• InDesign Indexing Yahoo Group

Published resources below are listed in chronological order, the most recent first.

Articles:

• “IXMLembedder: What Does It Do and How Would You Use It?,” Lucie Haskins and Angela Howard, Key Words, vol. 25, no. 1, Spring 2017, pp. 17–24.
• “A Comparative Look at Embedded Index Entry Encoding in Selected Publishing Systems,” David K. Ream,  Key Words, vol. 24, no. 4, Winter 2016, pp. 18-24.
• “Jumping on the Embedded Indexing Bandwagon… or Should I?,” Lucie Haskins The Indexer, vol. 34, no. 2, 2016, pp. 54–59.
• “Does Embedded Indexing Have a Future,” Cheryl Landes, The Indexer, vol. 34, no. 2, 2016, pp. 59–63.
• “What’s Going on with Embedded Indexing? The Way Forward,” Steve Ingle, Key Words, vol. 23, no. 11, December, 2015, pp. 151–153.
• “What’s Going on with Embedded Indexing? Ebooks and the Future of Indexing(—ers),” Steve Ingle, Key Words, vol. 23, no. 11, November, 2015, pp. 127–138.
• “Working Smarter, Not Harder with the KPS Indexing Plugins,” Lucie Haskins, The Indexer, vol. 31, no. 4, 2013, pp. 143–150.
• “XIndex: A Cautionary Tale,” Denise Sutherland, The Indexer, vol. 31, no. 2, 2013, pp. 66–67.
• “No, Not Embedded Indexing: CUP-XML, Elsevier, OUP et al,” Maureen MacGlashan, March 2013.
• “Publishing, XML and Indexers,” Nic Gibson, The Indexer, vol. 30, no. 1, 2012, pp. 44–46.
• “Indexing in InDesign,” Lucie Haskins. 2012.
• “XML Indexing,” Michele Combs, The Indexer, vol. 30, no. 1, 2012, pp. 47–52.
• “Troubleshooting Those Horrible Microsoft Word Index Problems,” by Seth A. Maislin, March 2011.
• “Future Publishing Technologies and Indexes,” James Lamb blog, February 11, 2011.
• “Index Syntax in Microsoft Word,” Seth A. Maislin, May 2010.
• “Myth of the Reusable Index,” Bill Johncocks, The Indexer, 2005, vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 213–217.
• “Embedded Indexing,” James Lamb, The Indexer, vol. 24, no. 4, 2005, pp. 206–209.
• “Digging In for the Long Haul: How to Get a Handle on the Embedded Word Indexing Utilities Out There,” Lucie Haskins, Key Words, vol. 13, no. 2, April-June 2005, pp. 51-56.
• “CUP-XML Unique Numbers and MS Word,” James Lamb, February 20, 2004.
• “Embedded Indexing, Peg Mauer, 2001.

Presentations:

• “Jumping on the Embedded Indexing Bandwagon… or Should I?,” Lucie Haskins, ISC/SCI Conference, Victoria, BC, Canada, 2015.
• “Working Smarter, not Harder, with KPS Indexing Plugins,” Lucie Haskins, ASI conference, Seattle, WA, 2015.
• “DEXembed, WordEmbed, and IndexDeconstructor,” Lucie Haskins, ASI Conference, San Diego, April 21, 2012
• “Embedded Indexing” (FrameMaker and Microsoft Word), Lucie Haskins, Pacific-Northwest Chapter of ASI, 2006.

Book chapters:

• “Embedded indexing: Learning the Smart Ways to Index in Adobe FrameMaker and Microsoft Word,” Lucie Haskins, in: Janet Perlman and Enid L Zafran (eds.) Index It Right! Advice from the Experts, volume 2, American Society for Indexing, 2010, pp. 111–34.
• “Embedded Indexing Software,” Glenda Browne and Jon Jermey, The Indexing Companion, Port Melbourne, Victoria: Cambridge University Press, 2007, pp. 183–186.
• “Indexing in Microsoft Word,” in Max McMaster and Sue Woolley, Indexing for Technical Communicators, Melbourne: Monarch Computing Services, 2004, pp. 103–112.
• “Embedded Indexing,” Peg Mauer, in Sandi Schroeder  (ed.) Software for Indexing, American Society of Indexers, 2003, pp. 83–98. [Word and FrameMaker]
• “The Trials and Tribulations of Embedded Indexing with Word,” Joanne Clendenen, in Sandi Schroeder (ed.) Software for Indexing, American Society of Indexers, 2003, pp. 83–98.
• “Indexing with PageMaker,” Jan C. Wright, in Sandi Schroeder (ed.) Software for Indexing, American Society of Indexers, 2003, pp. 83–98.
• “The World of Embedded Indexing,” Jan C Wright, in Diane Brenner  and Marilyn Rowland (eds.) Beyond Book Indexing: How to get Started in Web Indexing, Embedded Indexing, and Other Computer-Based Media, American Society of Indexers, 2001, pp. 3–12.