Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1993 11:23:07 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: "Nancy C. Mulvany" Subject: Request for Comments ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- REQUEST FOR COMMENTS (Dec. 9-31, 1993) I have been told by publishers of major document processing programs that the reason why their indexing modules are not enhanced is because users do not complain about the embedded indexing functions. They interpret the lack of complaints to indicate satisfaction. My experience in the field leaves me with an entirely different perception of user wants and needs in regard to embedded indexing software. In my consulting capacity with many technical documentation departments I have yet to find even one group of technical writers satisfied with their embedded indexing software. Over the years I have seen departments using a wide variety of embedded indexing software including WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, FrameMaker, Interleaf, Ventura Publisher, Script, etc. Is my view on this incorrect? Have you no complaints about embedded indexing software? Are the embedded indexing software modules contained in document processing software really OK? It is my opinion that current versions of embedded indexing software are extremely unsophisticated and tedious to use. Publishers of this type of software could be doing a much better job. I need your help. Think of this as a market survey. I need evidence. I need data. I need your input. Please give me your opinion of embedded indexing software. Name the program(s) that you use. Are you satisfied? Do you have any complaints? What features would like to see added? Please deluge me with responses (between now and Dec. 31, 1993). I will collate all responses. Your input on this topic could make a very big difference regarding the future development of online indexing software. I will post the results of this survey on INDEX-L and the WELL Indexing Conference. ********************************************************* * * * Please respond directly to me at: * * * * nmulvany@well.sf.ca.us * * * ********************************************************* This Request for Comments is originally posted on INDEX-L, please re-post this message on any other appropriate list. Time is of the essence. Take a few minutes, please share your thoughts. Thanks, -nancy Nancy Mulvany Bayside Indexing Service Kensington, California (510) 524-4195 (510) 527-4681, fax nmulvany@well.sf.ca.us ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1993 13:11:15 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: George Klima Subject: Justify That Index ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Most of our projects have greatly increased the resource we put into indexes. We do this because our analysis of customer's comments shows that access to information is a major issue. And of course, an index is a tool for access. We are authors, and we all use the IBM BookMaster formatting tool to tag and "build" our books. So we use "Bookie" for indexing because it has extensive indexing functionality and flexibility. I've worked with other products which are great for small simple jobs. However, speaking for myself, as an author who does some indexing, full functionality, flexibility, and control are key features which I'd hate to give up. 2A/21/844 Toronto Info Development IBM Canada Lab klima@vnet.ibm.com Phone: 416/448-3623 (tie 778-) "Observing recent govenment actions, we see that insensitivity is now elevated to official status as Thought Crime." ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1993 13:27:52 ECT Reply-To: Michael Kalen Smith Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Michael Kalen Smith Subject: Indexing Rates ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- I'm a little astonished by the rates you quote, 'cause I don't get anything close to that and I reckon I'm doing pretty well.... About 14 yrs side-time freelance (I've been on the professional staff at the Dallas Public Library for 26 yrs) in copyediting and back-of-the-book indexing, and I'm presently charging $2.50 page -- based on an expectation of turning over 10pp/hr = $25/hr -- for both services. The philosophy books I do for Indiana Univ Pr take longer, the sports biogs I do for Harcourt go much quicker, but that's a fair average. Now, I don't do "technical" works (i.e., engineering, biomedical, etc), but even so, would a "general" indexer in the Bay Area get $40/hr? Really? (That's not sarcasm, Nancy -- I'm asking!) It used to be, a decade ago, that I could undercut NYC-based indexers because it was significantly cheaper to live in DFW; my "spending dollar"/hr earned was similar to indexers charging more who lived in higher=priced cities. That's not so much the case anymore. I know lots of indexers, and other professionals, are leary about divulging the amount they can charge clients without losing said clients. This doesn't bother me at all, as it happens. I have to wonder if perhaps the folks on INDEX-L earn more per hour because they deal with publications of a more specialized nature and can get more -- or whether indexers who are online are simply more savvy or more aggressive in the first place. Maybe we need an economic survey among the subscribers to INDEX-L.... Mike ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Michael Kalen Smith / Dallas, TX Internet: mksmith@taproot.win.net / CompuServe: 73177,366 *** It doesn't TAKE all kinds; we just HAVE all kinds *** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1993 13:28:59 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: "BITNET list server at BINGVMB (1.7f)" Subject: Problem processing mail file from TJJOHNSN@MACC.WISC.EDU Date: Tue, 14 Dec 93 12:03 CDT From: Timothy Joel Johnson Subject: "How to do an Index" - Reader's Digest condensed version To: INDEX-L@BINGVMB.CC.BINGHAMTON.EDU X-VMS-To: IN%"index-l@bingvmb.cc.binghamton.edu",TJJOHNSN 14 DEC 93 To whom it may concern: I am looking for a Reader's Digest condensed, MTV generation, quick-and-dirty bottom-line book(s) and/or article(s) on how to manually create a back-of-the-book index for an annotated bibliography. (If not specifically on annotated bibliographies, then something on how to manually create back-of-the-book indexes generally). If any of you out there have any sort of citation(s) for at least one good simple source for the novice indexer, I would appreciate it if you would please send me the cite(s) in care of my E-mail address: TJJOHNSN@macc.wisc.edu [for Internet] or TJJOHNSN@wiscmacc [for Bitnet]. Many thanks. Timothy Johnson ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1993 16:09:01 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Carolyn Weaver Subject: Good general source for novice indexer In-Reply-To: <9312141832.AA14528@carson.u.washington.edu> ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- When I started free-lancing a couple of years ago, my experience was all in medical serials indexing, but I wanted to branch out into back-of-the-book indexing for more general subjects. So as part of my self-education, I bought a copy of Wellisch's (sp?) then-brand-new "Indexing A to Z" and read it cover to cover. It filled in the gaps in my knowledge, taught me how book indexing differs from serials indexing, provided lots of valuable tips, and (most important!) gave me a GREAT sample index to fall back on when in doubt about formats, etc. I also read (or scanned) every other book on indexing that I could find in the Univ. Washington Libraries; but this was the only one I was willing to shell out money for! Carolyn Weaver Seattle e-mail: cweaver@u.washington.edu voice: 206/930-4348 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1993 16:09:43 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Carolyn Kidder Subject: Re: Problem processing mail file from TJJOHNSN@MACC.WISC.EDU ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Timothy, One good resource for "how to" information on indexing is The Chicago Manual of Style (chapter 18 in the 13th ed, chapter 17 in the 14th ed). Another source is Webster's Manual of Style. Both of these sources are used as materials for the USDA Graduate School's Basic Indexing course. Hope this helps. Carolyn Kidder carolyn@cray.com =========================================================================