Creating an Index in Pages

Question

Level 1

16 points

Creating an Index in Pages

I have come up with a way of creating an index for a long document, such as a book, in Pages. Here goes.......

Firstly - Columns work on sequential pages In the document, pages laid out as if side by side and columns arranged L to R across the pages. This means the finished index can occupy 2 columns per page and A-Z lists can be read page after page without having to scroll up and down to follow the A - Z sequence.

I have developed this method using a desk top iMac.

My method

Use spreadsheet for building and sorting index.

Run basic edits, collation of duplicate entries etc. - Start to approach the look of the finished article.

Export the spreadsheet as CSV.

NOTE blank cells are interpreted as commas. So ensure there are no empty columns between data items EG Column has names, then next column has page numbers. No empty columns between the 2 sets if data.

NOTE - The file will be exported to the last folder you opened, or you can choose where.

In Finder

File: ..

Open with: - Open csv file with pages.

Edit up the index

NOTE Use find and replace to remove sets of ,,, It saves a lot of time.

Then copy and paste at index place in the book

Posted on Sep 17, 2019 1:32 AM

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Answer 1

VikingOSX

Level 10

127,384 points

Sep 17, 2019 7:31 AM in response to Umber

Tell us how many hours it would take someone with a 400 page book to use your method to build the index in Numbers, and then how many weeks of editing to get it to look correct in Pages. I very much doubt that people with no time to squander, would bother with this approach, but rather just use MS Word to generate the index within the word processing document and be done with it. Use the correct tools for the job.

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Answer 2

Umber Author

Level 1

16 points

Sep 17, 2019 12:01 PM in response to VikingOSX

I agree that MS Word has an excellent indexing capability. However. I have ditched MS office as too expensive. That aside. It doesn’t take too long to use my method for indexing. Yes it’s a work around Jneligant. But it will serve its purpose very nicely for me. I estimate 6 hours work for say a 300 page book with index of names and plCes

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Answer 3

VikingOSX

Level 10

127,384 points

Sep 17, 2019 12:21 PM in response to Umber

You do not need to sell me on the method for your own use. You know what you should be paid by the hour and what the workload will ultimately cost you. 😎. But how exportable beyond Pages is this solution and to what extent is formatting retained?

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