Indexing functionality in 1.7.0

Previous topic - Next topic

MrB

Hi

I've just committed an indexing function to 1.7.0.svn that I've written. Typical indexing options with styles based formatting. Uses Marks based text selection for tagging words.

Craig

PatJr


sersha

Thank you very much, Craig!
I started to test the waters with 1.7.x and to my delight found this indexing functionality. I made a test file, then, lo and behold - out came an index! Pure magic...
In quite a few occasions, books I produced would really benefit from an index.
The only question I have - every time to mark a word for index takes quite a number of movements, namely: Highlight the word-Right click-Insert Mark-Index Entry-OK.
Then the Message box closes. (It would have been quicker, if it would stay onscreen, ready to accept the next word to be indexed - sort of an Action Mode).
Anyhow, when there are few thousands words to be marked this way, the process becomes really tiresome.
Therefore, the question: Is there a way to assign a shortcut to it? Say, select the word, press the shortcut combo, done!
Thank you again for your wonderful input!

a.l.e

For the shortcut, you can use the "Action search"

- ctrl+/
- type "index"
- Enter

If you are a fast typist, it might be faster than a ("bad") dedicated shortcut.

sersha

Yes, that works indeed, and it is certainly faster than plowing through menus. The only small problem is, that it does not focus on the OK button automatically at the end, so one is still forced to grab the mouse to press it. If that worked too, great method.

a.l.e

mmmm... not sure where the problem is, but in the "Index" dialog you can use tab to focus on the field with the "Entry" and then press the "Enter" ("Return"...) key to confirm.

No need to touch the mouse for me.

sersha

#6
And yet another way I found is:
File-Preferences-Keyboard Shortcuts-Insert-Index Entry and then I assigned "x". Together with previous recommendations, it becomes quite manageable then!

And while we are at this topic, it would be golden to have a way to see the words marked for indexing, some sort of the highlighting via the menu. Maybe even all marks should have a way to be revealed. Like View-Text Frames-Show Control Characters. It might be very handy on the occasion.

sersha

Quote from: sersha on December 25, 2025, 02:56:12 PMAnd yet another way I found is:
File-Preferences-Keyboard Shortcuts-Insert-Index Entry and then I assigned "x". Together with previous recommendations, it becomes quite manageable then!

sersha

And to really speed the entry would be to already have preset OK in the message box for indexing, so no tabbing would be required, just press Enter.
To sum the way it could work:
Make a shortcut, say "x" for indexing. Mark the word, press "x", and then Enter when the message box appears.

MrB

I can take a look at some of the suggestions in the new year