Indexing issues

["Marilyn A. Dunning" <106720 -dot- 1144 -at- COMPUSERVE -dot- COM>]

Hi. This is my first attempt to post a message, so please forgive me if I
don't do it correctly.

Can I count on your help? I am currently investigating indexing issues as
experienced by writing professionals  (versus professional indexers). I am
specifically interested in gathering info from professionals whose mother
tongue is not English (Francophones for starters but all who take the time
to respond are warmly welcomed and heartily thanked in advance). 

I am interested in collecting the following information:

- What resources on indexing are available to you (i.e. books and training
materials)?
- What tools do you use to create indexes?
- Are any of the above resources and tools written directly in your mother
tongue?
- If the materials have been translated, are the examples and cases
directly applicable (or do you have to localize them yourselves)?
- Do you feel that there is a need for training on indexingt? Why? Why not?
- Are courses on indexing readily available? In English? In your mother
tongue?

- If you had a choice, would you prefer resources in your mother tongue?
What difference, if any, would this make to you?

- Who writes the indexes for your documents?
- Who do you feel is best apt to write the index, a translator, the actual
writer, another writer who is familiar with the subject matter, another
writer who is not familiar with the subject matter, or a professional
indexer?

- Do you plan your indexes?
- Do you write indexes with your audience in mind?
- Do you raise quality issues when thinking about indexes?
- Do you review your indexes? 
- Do you test your indexes?

Please answer me privately so as to not clog up the mail boxes of those for
whom this issue may have little interest. If there is interest though, and
if I get enough info to be of interest,  I would be willing to try and
summarize it for all to see later on.

Thanks for your replies to:
Marilyn A .Dunning
WDS
106720 -dot- 1144 -at- compuserve -dot- com

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