Indexing with Open Source Tools
http://journals.syne.org/pub/index.php?journal=IJTC&page=article&op=view&path[]=15
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  peer-reviewed

Brown, Fred
International Journal for Technical Communication
2006

Abstract:

The index can often be the most heavily used 'chapter' in any publication and helping the user find an answer is the key to fulfilling the technical document's mission, justifying the effort and expense for its creation. Yet, indexing facilities in open source packages for document creation remains largely unexplored, offering a marvelous opportunity to do it right! This article provides a generic specification (with reasons) to open source developers for creating useful indexing facilities in packages such as OpenOffice and Scribus. It also informs writers about what to look for and what to ask for in any indexing tool. Finally, the article demonstrates the need for software developers to work closely with practitioners and users.