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Subject:Indexes for online use From:"M. Maler" <mmaler -at- videotron -dot- ca> To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com Date:Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:20:18 -0400
Has anyone seen any literature about the utility of indexing content
that is primarily destined for online display?
I know that maybe15 years ago (at least) there were articles in the STC
Technical Communication magazine (and elsewhere) on how much an index
contributed to user satisfaction. But I'm wondering if there's been any
more recent research into the topic.
I've convinced my current client to invest in a decent index, but as I
work on it, I find myself using full-text search to locate my own index
entries to check their targets, and I'm starting to wonder if maybe my
end users might not be inclined to do the same.
BTW -- I'm producing documentation for users of a content-management
system (primarily tech writers). The primary display format is Eclipse
Help, but users have access to a PDF version of the document.
Use Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word, or HTML and
produce desktop, Web, or print deliverables. Just write (or import)
and Doc-To-Help does the rest. Free trial: http://www.doctohelp.com
Explore CAREER options and paths related to Technical Writing,
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