Backofbook indexing for websites

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Back-of-book indexing for websites

• Jon Jermey

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Book indexing

• Long history development over time
• Doesnt come naturally author indexes often
  very bad
• Indexing professionals need to pass registration
  criteria
• Training available for beginners and
  practitioners in related professions

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Features of B-o-B indexing
Word choice

• accidents, see injuries and illnesses
• aircraft incidents
• 1998 election campaign 299
• emergency landing in Albury 105
• in Laos and Thailand 110111
• in Vietnam 6566
• Akihito, Emperor of Japan 168
• Akubra, see Hat, The
• Albury, see also Wodonga
• BjelkePetersen rally 121122
• emergency landing in 105
• NP branch 117
• siege 212214

Structure
Sequence
Joh for Canberra expanded
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Features of B-o-B indexing

• A skilled human does semantic analysis of the
  text
• The index is ordered and structured
• Cross-references indicate relationships
• Page locators indicate length and special
  features
• The indexer chooses appropriate search words
• Abbreviations and nicknames are spelt out in the
  index

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Problems with text searching

• Retrieves all mentions, even passing ones
• Fails to find synonymous terms in the text
• Finds false hits Prime Minister
• Spelling is critical Peter Costelo
• Order is critical

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Trends in website indexing

• Software being developed
• Embedded indexing via metadata goes with the
  page
• Simple hyperlinked keyword lists
• Back-of-book style can be expanded
• Requires updating

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Australian Society of Indexers

• Supports indexers and publishes newsletter
• Publishes Indexers Available
• Provides training
• http//www.aussi.org

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References

• Australian Society of Indexers - www.aussi.org
• Browne and Jermey Website Indexing. Auslib
  Press, Adelaide, 2001 see also
  www.optusnet.com.au/webindexing
• Electronic book indexing an offshoot of web
  indexing www.ebookindexing.com
• HTML Indexer software for indexing websites
  www.html-indexer.com
• Queensland Environmental Protection Agency site
  index /www.env.qld.gov.au/environment/misc/siteind
  ex