Indexing On-line & Printed Material – Training Course Outline
It takes a lot of skill to create an index for a manual or Help system efficiently and accurately. This course has been designed specifically for authors who are required to create indexes from time to time. It takes you step by step through the principles and processes involved in producing an effective index.
What you will learn on this course
By the end of the course, you will know:
- The main principles of indexing
- The four main categories of index users and how to cater for their needs
- How to make a start on your index
- How to handle detailed and general information
- The indexing procedure
- How to test and proof the index
- How to deal with the specific needs of an online Help index
Course Duration
This course is a one-day interactive workshop. Delegates practise indexing skills, learning the techniques through group discussion, exercises and working on real documents you bring to the workshop.
If you have some experience of writing manuals or Help text and you wish to learn how to index or to improve your indexing skills, then this course is for you.
Course Contents
Pre-Course Questionnaire
When you book we send you a questionnaire which we ask you to return to us before you attend the course. This enables our Trainers to assess your needs in advance.
1. The main principles of indexing
- What should an index be?
- What to aim for and what to avoid
- The relationship between an index and other navigational aids in a manual
- Some basic terminology
2. Reader profiles
- The four main categories of manual and index users
- How to cater for the four different needs
3. Methodology
- Before you start
- Indexing during the writing process (handling detailed information)
- Indexing after the writing process (handling general information)
- The Indexing Checklist
- Procedure
- Testing and proofing the Index
4. What makes a good indexer?
- A look at what makes a good indexer
Want Something a Little Different?
Give us a call today and we will tailor a course to suit you!
5. Keyword indexes for online Help
- What is a keyword index?
- Types of keywords
- How to choose index entries
- When to index
For details of timetabled courses, see the schedule. For prices, see the costs table.
To reserve your places you can either book on-line or call us on +44 (0)1635 202013/+44 (0)207 0960 749.
