How do you prefer your indices?

[Asmor]

I'd prefer a single index, but I could live with the sub-index idea.

 

[Balgus]

I like sub indices with its own Table of contents.

That way, you can hve all your tables and charts where you can find them - and the table of contents will make them easy to find.

 

[RFisher]

I have come to understand that creating good indices is a specialized field. Even if you can't afford to hire someone qualified to do it, I think you'd probably be better of seeking advice from people with a knowledge of the art rather than the preferences of readers. Surely there are some good books on the topic.

But, to give my answer: A single index is preferable. Trying to guess the category when you're in the gray areas is frustrating. That said, some categories sometimes deserve their own index. Though I would think you'd still want those items to appear in the main index as well.

 

[Nifft]

IMHO, the Index is the Index. It has everything.

Lists of related stuff (illustrations, maps, people, whatever) should be in the Table of Contents, or perhaps an Appendix, if it'll take up a whole page.

Cheers, -- N

 

[KB9JMQ]

A single index is far superior. When you consider that the people most likely to use the index may not KNOW if the fictional name they are looking up is a person, place, or thing, then you're better off giving them just one index to look through, not three or more.

Couldn't say it better myself.

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

I have come to understand that creating good indices is a specialized field. Even if you can't afford to hire someone qualified to do it, I think you'd probably be better of seeking advice from people with a knowledge of the art rather than the preferences of readers. Surely there are some good books on the topic.

I don't see why it should be that complicated - as long as you use good software for it. All you need to do is decide on which keywords you want to use for it and mark the appropriate positions in the text.

Frankly, I can barely afford to hire artists, and I am still deliberating whether and how to do so. But I'm certainly not going to hire someone else for something which I can do myself...

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

Well, I've created a first index for my manuscript - you can download the whole PDF here. The index is, naturally, at the end of the document.

I still have to figure out how to shrink the index text a bit further and then display it in three columns instead of two, but that's a low priority for now...

 

[Mark CMG]

How do you prefer your indices?

Alphabetical and hyperlinked.


BTW, You need to include your own product in the section 15. Also, mention of the full name of the Dungeon Masters Guide is a no no (initials only), plus no page referencing is allowed. just a couple of the obvious problems I spotted that I figured you'd want to correct right away before you continue to distribute it.

 

[Mercule]

Single index. IME, I don't always agree with an author about which sub-category something falls.

Yalius has a workable middle ground, but that's as far as I'd go.

 

[diaglo]

IMHO, the Index is the Index. It has everything.

Lists of related stuff (illustrations, maps, people, whatever) should be in the Table of Contents, or perhaps an Appendix, if it'll take up a whole page.

Cheers, -- N

ditto.

in diaglo terms this is shaken and not stirred. skewered olive on the side.