Indexing On-line & Printed Material – Training Course Outline

It takes a lot of skill to create an index for a manual or Help system efficiently and accurately. This course has been designed specifically for authors who are required to create indexes from time to time. It takes you step by step through the principles and processes involved in producing an effective index.

What you will learn on this course

By the end of the course, you will know:

• The main principles of indexing
• The four main categories of index users and how to cater for their needs
• How to make a start on your index
• How to handle detailed and general information
• The indexing procedure
• How to test and proof the index
• How to deal with the specific needs of an online Help index

Course Duration

This course is a one-day interactive workshop. Delegates practise indexing skills, learning the techniques through group discussion, exercises and working on real documents you bring to the workshop.

If you have some experience of writing manuals or Help text and you wish to learn how to index or to improve your indexing skills, then this course is for you.

Follow up session

Get the most from a staff training day and make sure valuable ideas aren't forgotten by booking a follow-up session. Our trainer will visit you again a month to six weeks after your course to give delegates the chance to:

• discuss how they implemented what they learnt
• go over points from the course
• practise their skills by working on their own writing with the trainer’s help

Course Contents

1. The main principles of indexing

• What should an index be?
• What to aim for and what to avoid
• The relationship between an index and other navigational aids in a manual
• Some basic terminology

2. Reader profiles

• The four main categories of manual and index users
• How to cater for the four different needs

3. Methodology

• Before you start
• Indexing during the writing process (handling detailed information)
• Indexing after the writing process (handling general information)
• The Indexing Checklist
• Procedure
• Testing and proofing the Index

4. What makes a good indexer?

• A look at what makes a good indexer

5. Keyword indexes for online Help

• What is a keyword index?
• Types of keywords
• How to choose index entries
• When to index

Book Now!

For details of timetabled courses, see the schedule. For prices, see the costs table.

To reserve your places you can either book on-line or call us on +44 (0)1635 202013.