Re: Indices in FrameMaker

Subject: Re: Indices in FrameMaker
From: Lori Lathrop <76620 -dot- 456 -at- COMPUSERVE -dot- COM>
Date: Wed, 28 Dec 1994 17:54:57 EST

Robert Crews (robertc -at- amcc -dot- com) writes:

> I've seen a couple different index programs for FrameMaker, and
> I'm not impressed. I have not found a program that will do
> what a talented, human indexer can do.

And Laurie Mann (lmann -at- telerama -dot- lm -dot- com) says:

> I'm a big believer in indexing. It's going to take a really
> powerful AI program to replace a human indexer. Merely selecting
> keywords or grabbing terms from headings is completely inadequate.
> And putting the associated page numbers of ALL keywords in an Index
> can include many meaningless hits.

You're both right. Indexes are *written*, not *generated*. After all,
no matter how wonderful DTP software is, it *won't* make you a great
writer! However, if you have good writing skills, good DTP software
can make your job easier. Likewise, no matter how good indexing software
is, it can't make you a better indexer; it just makes it a little easier
(or faster) to create a good index if you use the tool correctly.

Tools simply make it easier for us to do our jobs. Tools do can't
possibly replace us. But, gee, wouldn't it be nice if I could just
buy a hammer and some other tools, and they would magically do all the
renovations on this old house? :-)

Lori Lathrop ----------> INTERNET:76620 -dot- 456 -at- compuserve -dot- com
Lathrop Media Services
P.O. Box 808
Georgetown, CO 80444
Phone: 303-567-4011


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