Re: Indexing Online Books: Cost Effective?

[Chuck Banks <chuck -at- ASL -dot- DL -dot- NEC -dot- COM>]

Mark Hagen writes:

>In hypertext (assuming the hypertext is well designed) this alternative
>reading approach is available through the links.  Relations between topics
>are "links" in hypertext.  An index becomes redundant and, I would argue
>unnecessary.  (Though a user must be presented with choices allowing
>himself or herself an access point to the information sought)

I don't agree.  I find an index a valuable navigation tool in a
hypertext document.  Related links can be spread over several screens
in the document.  The index assembles them, in structured form for quick
and easy access.

I often skim through a presentation, looking for particular
information, unless there is an index.  In that case, I call up the
index and save myself a great deal of skimming and searching.

In help systems, I read/view the context-sensitive help, follow a
few links, and, if I still need more information, I call up the index,
if available, or table of contents.

I find indexes to be great time savers when using a document or help
system.  And with such tools as FrameMaker 4.0, which can automatically
build hyperlinks from a generated index to the document, time during
spent linking an index and a document are greatly reduced.  For a small
increase in development time, I and my users get the benefit of an
automated index.

Best Regards!

Chuck Banks
--
__        ________     ______
|\\   |  ||          //              Chuck Banks
| \\  |  ||_______  ||               Senior Technical Writer
|  \\ |  ||         ||               NEC America, Inc.
|   \\|   \\______   \\______        E-Mail:      chuck -at- asl -dot- dl -dot- nec -dot- com
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