Comments on: How To Create a Usable Index — Interview with John McGhie http://idratherbewriting.com/2006/10/20/how-to-create-a-usable-index-john-mcghie/ The Latest Trends in Technical Communication Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:02:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Maximo Hook http://idratherbewriting.com/2006/10/20/how-to-create-a-usable-index-john-mcghie/comment-page-1/#comment-151226 Maximo Hook Thu, 13 May 2010 15:57:45 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2006/10/20/how-to-create-a-usable-index-john-mcghie/#comment-151226 Thanks for the entry on <a href="http://www.1800prepare.com" rel="nofollow">disaster preparedness</a>. I will have to put this into effect. Thank you! Thanks for the entry on disaster preparedness. I will have to put this into effect. Thank you!

]]> By: Tom Johnson http://idratherbewriting.com/2006/10/20/how-to-create-a-usable-index-john-mcghie/comment-page-1/#comment-149759 Tom Johnson Mon, 12 Apr 2010 03:09:58 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2006/10/20/how-to-create-a-usable-index-john-mcghie/#comment-149759 Jean, thanks for taking the time to comment. This podcast with McGhie is full of useful information about indexing. As far as creating a site index, why not use a system of categories and tags like on <a href="http://www.blogherald.com/" rel="nofollow">The Blog Herald</a>? If I remember correctly, John McGhie is mostly talking about indexes for documents. With documents, a lot of people just search for keywords rather than turning to an index. I can imagine the same would be true for a website, right? If you can implemented faceted browsing on the search, I think that's also cool. Jean, thanks for taking the time to comment. This podcast with McGhie is full of useful information about indexing. As far as creating a site index, why not use a system of categories and tags like on The Blog Herald? If I remember correctly, John McGhie is mostly talking about indexes for documents. With documents, a lot of people just search for keywords rather than turning to an index. I can imagine the same would be true for a website, right? If you can implemented faceted browsing on the search, I think that’s also cool.

]]> By: Jean http://idratherbewriting.com/2006/10/20/how-to-create-a-usable-index-john-mcghie/comment-page-1/#comment-149728 Jean Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:30:21 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2006/10/20/how-to-create-a-usable-index-john-mcghie/#comment-149728 Hi, I just wanted to convey that this podcast was truly helpful, very informative and overall - worth my time to hear. I appreciated the non-music background, I love how the topics were directly answered and formalities with small talk weren't included. This audio podcast was brief and concise information that I needed to hear - and I would have paid money to hear this interview as well - it's that valuable! I'm not a technical writer but a web architect who is trying to illustrate how difficult an index is to construct for websites - since a website is a moving/changing/instable content provider - it's hard to create an auto-index of subjects that readers would want to lookup. I think this audio presentation represents my view more constructively and can voice my opinion in a logical manner - far better than my own words - since the topics covered are from the tech writer expert of Microsoft - hence more weight in the argument. Again - I can't thank you enough for sharing this and I will have to keep this in my favorites for all time - I look forward in hearing more topics from "Tech Writers" - since I also face challenges in writing documentation for CMS applications to users who have difficulty in using the "internet" period....patience has been my greatest skillset. Hi,

I just wanted to convey that this podcast was truly helpful, very informative and overall – worth my time to hear. I appreciated the non-music background, I love how the topics were directly answered and formalities with small talk weren’t included.

This audio podcast was brief and concise information that I needed to hear – and I would have paid money to hear this interview as well – it’s that valuable!

I’m not a technical writer but a web architect who is trying to illustrate how difficult an index is to construct for websites – since a website is a moving/changing/instable content provider – it’s hard to create an auto-index of subjects that readers would want to lookup.

I think this audio presentation represents my view more constructively and can voice my opinion in a logical manner – far better than my own words – since the topics covered are from the tech writer expert of Microsoft – hence more weight in the argument.

Again – I can’t thank you enough for sharing this and I will have to keep this in my favorites for all time – I look forward in hearing more topics from “Tech Writers” – since I also face challenges in writing documentation for CMS applications to users who have difficulty in using the “internet” period….patience has been my greatest skillset.

]]> By: Organization Monkey » Blog Archive » topic index of the program of the AAA http://idratherbewriting.com/2006/10/20/how-to-create-a-usable-index-john-mcghie/comment-page-1/#comment-136407 Organization Monkey » Blog Archive » topic index of the program of the AAA Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:57:46 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2006/10/20/how-to-create-a-usable-index-john-mcghie/#comment-136407 [...] to instructions on how to create an index. i found a particularly good one by a technical writer at how to create a usable index [...] [...] to instructions on how to create an index. i found a particularly good one by a technical writer at how to create a usable index [...]

]]> By: Tom http://idratherbewriting.com/2006/10/20/how-to-create-a-usable-index-john-mcghie/comment-page-1/#comment-131533 Tom Tue, 27 May 2008 05:16:35 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2006/10/20/how-to-create-a-usable-index-john-mcghie/#comment-131533 It's amazing for me to know that podcasts recorded years ago still provide valuable information. This one was densely packed with excellent information on indexing. I'm glad you found it useful. Thanks for leaving a comment. It’s amazing for me to know that podcasts recorded years ago still provide valuable information. This one was densely packed with excellent information on indexing. I’m glad you found it useful. Thanks for leaving a comment.

]]> By: Betsy Williams http://idratherbewriting.com/2006/10/20/how-to-create-a-usable-index-john-mcghie/comment-page-1/#comment-131497 Betsy Williams Mon, 26 May 2008 16:11:20 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2006/10/20/how-to-create-a-usable-index-john-mcghie/#comment-131497 I just listened to the interview about how to create an index and feel better equipped to create one for a little cookbook I have just finished writing. It was my first podcast and I was delighted with the tone and attitude of both speakers. You are good teachers, very clear and down to earth. I took notes which I will carefully file when I'm done. Thank you, thank you both for being there when needed. Betsy I just listened to the interview about how to create an index and feel better equipped to create one for a little cookbook I have just finished writing.

It was my first podcast and I was delighted with the tone and attitude of both speakers. You are good teachers, very clear and down to earth. I took notes which I will carefully file when I’m done.

Thank you, thank you both for being there when needed. Betsy

]]> By: How To Create a Usable Index — Interview with John McGhie | I'd Rather Be Writing http://idratherbewriting.com/2006/10/20/how-to-create-a-usable-index-john-mcghie/comment-page-1/#comment-90866 How To Create a Usable Index — Interview with John McGhie | I'd Rather Be Writing Tue, 22 Jan 2008 23:12:22 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2006/10/20/how-to-create-a-usable-index-john-mcghie/#comment-90866 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] How To Create a Usable Index — Interview with John McGhie [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> [...] How To Create a Usable Index — Interview with John McGhie [...]

]]> By: Alan http://idratherbewriting.com/2006/10/20/how-to-create-a-usable-index-john-mcghie/comment-page-1/#comment-79186 Alan Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:09:24 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2006/10/20/how-to-create-a-usable-index-john-mcghie/#comment-79186 I meant to say that this is an EXCELLENT podcast in my previous comments. I meant to say that this is an EXCELLENT podcast in my previous comments.

]]> By: Alan http://idratherbewriting.com/2006/10/20/how-to-create-a-usable-index-john-mcghie/comment-page-1/#comment-79185 Alan Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:08:20 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2006/10/20/how-to-create-a-usable-index-john-mcghie/#comment-79185 If you are interested in creating indexes, this is an podcast. The few times I tried to create an index have proven how hard creating a good index is. John McGhie has provided many helpful tips about indexing and he really seems to be an expert. If you are interested in creating indexes, this is an podcast. The few times I tried to create an index have proven how hard creating a good index is. John McGhie has provided many helpful tips about indexing and he really seems to be an expert.

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