From: SMTP%"@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU:LISTSERV@BINGVMB.BITNET" 15-JAN-1995 19:55:16.19 To: SOLIBJA CC: Subj: File: "INDEX-L LOG9412C" Date: Sun, 15 Jan 1995 19:53:42 +0000 From: BITNET list server at BINGVMB (1.8a) Subject: File: "INDEX-L LOG9412C" To: Julius Ariail ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Dec 1994 14:36:29 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Lisa J Guedea Subject: Cindex review & related issues ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Wow! I just read a review of Cindex in the Dec. 12 issue of The Seybold Report on Publishing Systems. The author (David Gertler) was thoughtful and fair, and he really did his homework. He talked about built-in "indexers" found in common DTP and wordprocessing packages (to an audience of whom the majority probably don't know that anything else exists), and carefully explained the advantages of a dedicated indexing package like Cindex -- "the obvious choice for any but the smallest, simplest indexes." Gertler also mentioned ASI, Macrex, Leverage Technologies, and the recent controversy over Indexicon, saying that his review of Cindex reached a conclusion similar to that of the reviewers of Indexicon in Keywords several months ago. From the Seybold review: "We remain skeptical that natural-language document analysis is sophisticated enough now to produce a professional-quality index of a typical document. . . Now that we've found Cindex, we've sworn off using word processors for indexing." I know that this is not news to many indexers, and that there are more thorough reviews of dedicated indexing software to be found in the professional indexing literature. The reason I'm pointing out this particular review, though, is that it's so refreshing to see it in a journal that probably reaches a different, and perhaps wider, audience than indexers. Some people in our IS department read the Seybold Reports, for instance, and I would guess many people in the publishing world do too. One of our catalog production people referred to the Seybold reports as his "Bible" of electronic publishing. Now I realize there's some overlap between "indexers," "computer people," and "publishing people," and in fact, my own job is a case in point that such dividing lines are often blurred. But I suspect that many of those who don't actually *do* the indexing -- and perhaps some who do -- don't really understand (or believe?) the critical, substantive difference between an inverted file of words from a text (i.e. a concordance prettied up to look like an index) and a carefully-thought-out subject index by someone who knows the intricacies and incongruities of words, meaning, and information-seeking behavior. And sometimes I grow weary of trying to "educate" people about that difference without sounding like I'm pooh-poohing technology or getting defensive about my skills, etc. That's why I am so excited to see someone dealing with this issue in a well-known, respected publishing/technology publication that will be read by people who may not want to listen to my preaching. Enough of my soapboxing! Read the article! The full citation is as follows: "Cindex: Simplifying the Production of Indexes Using a PC," by David Gertler The Seybold Report on Publishing Systems vol. 24 #7 (Dec. 12, 1994) pp. 12-15 Lisa Guedea W5527 Highway 106 P.O. Box 800 Corporate Librarian Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-0800 Highsmith, Inc. 414-563-9571 phone LGuedea@world.std.com 414-563-7395 fax