Better quality through better indexing

ABSTRACT

Readers of technical documentation generally agree that the information in those manuals is only as good as the ease with which they can find it. An informative and accurate index is one of the best tools for helping the reader find information quickly and easily. Yet indexes are one of the most neglected areas of technical documentation, in part because the tools used for creating indexes have not kept pace with other document creation tools. This paper discusses the qualities of a good index, and how different index creation tools can hinder or contribute to achieving those qualities. The method developed at Burroughs, which provides capabilities for generating high-quality indexes easily, is described.

REFERENCES

• 1: Skillen, Marjorie E., Robert M. Gay, et al. Words into Type. Third Edition. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1974.
• 2: University of Chicago Press. The Chicago Manual of Style. Thirteenth Edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1982.

INDEX TERMS

Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
      H.3.1 Content Analysis and Indexing
          Subjects: Indexing methods

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.7 DOCUMENT AND TEXT PROCESSING

General Terms:
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