Automatic Book Indexing Software

Many people think that computers can write indexes for them because some word processing software have "index generation features". These software packages output a "concordance" which is decidedly different from an "index" written by a human book indexer who actually reads your book. A properly written index is carefully structured and anticipates a readers's needs - something a computer can't do.

A concordance is a listing of words and phrases with a long string of page numbers. Readers find a vast array of irrelevant information since a concordance lists the occurrence of every word in the book. A concordance lacks focus. Alternately, a back-of-the-book index provides references to the location of important information and deliberately excludes irrelevant information.

Ask yourself: how much is your book index is worth to you in terms of book sales, royalties, reviews, text adoptions, peer approval, personal satisfaction. The index is the road map that leads both experts and novices in your field to every pertinent sentence you have written - without the annoying detours and dead-ends that you will get with a concordance.

Creating an index takes understanding of the reader as well as the subject. It takes objectivity, perspective, a sense of proportion and priority, patience, speed, technical training and experience in indexing. Entrust you index to a professional book indexer.

Compare a "concordance" and an "index" in the chart below: