![]() | Create or edit an index |
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Word automates most of the work involved in creating an index and enables you to easily make updates or apply formatting changes. To create an index, you must first mark your index entriesA field code that marks text that you want to include in an index. When you mark text as an index entry, Word inserts an XE (Index Entry) field and formats it as hidden text. by providing the name of the main entry and the cross-reference in your document. After your index entries are marked, you can create an index.
![]() | Step 1: Mark index entries |
You can create an index entry for a specific word, phrase, or symbol, or for a topic that spans a range of pages.
Select the text that you want to use as an index entry.
On the Insert menu, click Index and Tables.
On the Index tab, click Mark Entry.
![]() | Tip To go directly to the Mark Index Entry dialog box, press ⌘+OPTION+SHIFT+X. |
Type or edit the text in the Main entry box.
![]() | Tips |
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Do one of the following:
To mark | Click |
---|---|
The index entry | Mark |
The first occurrence of this text in each paragraph in the document that exactly matches the uppercase and lowercase letters in the entry | Mark All |
![]() | Tip To mark index entries for symbols such as @, in the Main entry box, immediately following the symbol, type ;# (semicolon followed by the number sign), and then click Mark. When you build the index, Word puts the symbols at the beginning of the index. |
To mark additional index entries, select the text or click immediately after it, click in the Mark Index Entry dialog box, and then repeat steps 4 and 5.
![]() | Note Word
inserts each marked index entry as an XE (Index Entry)
fieldA set of codes that instruct Word
to automatically insert text, graphics, page numbers, and other information into a document. For example, the DATE field inserts the current date, and the TIME field inserts the current time. You can also use fields to insert variable data into data-merge documents, such as form letters.
in hidden text format. If you do not see the XE field, click Show/Hide ![]() |
Select the range of text that you want the index entry to refer to.
On the Insert menu, click Bookmark.
In the Bookmark name box, type a name, and then click Add.
![]() | Note Do not include spaces in the bookmark name. |
In the document, click at the beginning of the range of text that you selected.
On the Insert menu, click Index and Tables.
On the Index tab, click Mark Entry.
In the Main entry box, type the index entry for the marked text.
Under Options, click Page range.
In the Bookmark box, type or select the bookmark name that you typed in step 3.
Click Mark
Click Close.
![]() | Note Word
inserts each marked index entry as an XE (Index Entry)
fieldA set of codes that instruct Word
to automatically insert text, graphics, page numbers, and other information into a document. For example, the DATE field inserts the current date, and the TIME field inserts the current time. You can also use fields to insert variable data into data-merge documents, such as form letters.
in hidden text format. If you do not see the XE field, click Show/Hide ![]() |
![]() | Step 2: Edit or delete index entries (optional) |
If you change the index entries in the finished index, Word deletes your changes the next time that you rebuild the index. To permanently keep your formatting changes, format the index entry fields in the document.
Edit the text inside the quotation marks.
Main entry
Cross reference
If you do not see the XE (Index Entry) fields, click Show/Hide on the Standard toolbar.
Select the whole index entry field, including the braces {}, and then press DELETE.
Main entry
Cross reference
If you do not see the XE (Index Entry) fields, click Show/Hide on the Standard toolbar.
![]() | Step 3: Design and build an index |
After you create the index entries, you can build the index in your document. An index typically appears at or near the end of a document. However, you can insert the index anywhere in the document.
To make sure that the document is paginated correctly, hide field codes and hidden text before you build your index. If the XE (Index Entry) fields are visible, on the Standard toolbar, click Show/Hide to hide them.
Click in your document where you want to insert the finished index.
On the Insert menu, click Index and Tables, and then click the Index tab.
In the Formats box, click a design.
Select any other index options that you want.
Click in your document where you want to insert the finished index.
On the Insert menu, click Index and Tables, and then click the Index tab.
In the Formats box, click From template, and then click Modify.
Click a style in the Styles box, click Modify, and then apply any formatting that you want.
Select any other index options that you want.