5

Desired index result

I want an index using makeindexto have entries like the following (where I've used ~~~ and ~~~~~~ to indicate indenting for subentries and sub subentries):

nothing, 1
~~~ nil, 1
~~~~~~ and zero, 1
~~~~~~ (see also null elements}
~~~ null, 1
~~~ See also zero elements
null elements, 1

zero (see zero elements)
zero elements, 1

Note the following formatting requirements shown:

  • A "See also ..." for a main entry begins with an upper-case "S".
  • A "(see also ...)" for a subentry is indented below the subentry and enclosed in parens.
  • A "(see ...)" cross-reference is enclosed in parens.
  • A "(see ...)" cross-reference does not include a comma after the (sub)entry on its line.
  • A "see" or "see also"/"See also" entry does not end with a page number.

Here's a screen shot of the printed index: enter image description here

A working source file that produces the result

The following source file will accomplish that:

\documentclass{book}
\usepackage{makeidx}

\newcommand\gobbleone[1]{}
\newcommand*{\seeonly}[2]{\ (\emph{\seename} #1)}
\newcommand*{\also}[2]{(\emph{\alsoname} #1)}
\newcommand{\Also}[2]{\emph{See also} #1}

\makeindex

\begin{document}

This is a short book about zero. Therefore, it's also about nothing.
Which means null (or nil).

\index{nothing}
\index{nothing!nil}
\index{nothing!nil!and zero}   % added for clarity
\index{nothing!nil!zzzzz@\also{null elements}|gobbleone}
\index{nothing!null}
\index{nothing!zzzzz@\Also{zero elements}|gobbleone}
\index{null elements}

\index{zero \seeonly{zero elements}|gobbleone}
\index{zero elements}

\printindex

\end{document}

Simplification & improvement sought

Can this be simplified by suitable definitions that would avoid having to explicitly include the |gobbleone in each "see only" and "see" entry? And it would even be better if I did not have to explicitly include the zzzzz@ sort key that puts the "see also" subentries after all others.

I would strongly prefer definitions written in LaTeX (using newcommand) rather than at lower-level TeX (using \def).

These related postings unfortunately do not seem to accomplish what I need:

Community
  • 1
murray
  • 7,944

1 Answers1

5

SECOND EDIT

(I don't know what is the usual practice. I have left the initial answer and edit at the bottom and the new one here at the start).

To fullfill all the requirements, instead of manipulating the argument of \index, I have made three new commands with two arguments to take care of it. The first argument is the entry in the index and the second the see text. The commands are:

\seeonlyindex{<index entry>}{<see text>} 
\alsoindex{<index entry>}{<see text>} 
\Alsoindex{<index entry>}{<see text>}

The result is:

enter image description here

The complete code is:

\documentclass{book}
\usepackage{makeidx}

\newcommand\gobbleone[1]{}
\newcommand{\seeonly}[2]{\ (\emph{\seename} #1)}
\newcommand{\also}[2]{\unskip(\emph{\alsoname} #1)}
\newcommand{\Also}[2]{\unskip\emph{See also} #1}
\let\oldindex\index
\renewcommand{\index}[1]{\def\exptoindex{#1}\expandafter\oldindex\expandafter{\exptoindex}}

\newcommand{\seeonlyindex}[2]{\index{#1@#1\protect\gobbleone|seeonly{#2}}}
\newcommand{\alsoindex}[2]{\index{#1!zzzz@\protect\gobbleone|also{#2}}}
\newcommand{\Alsoindex}[2]{\index{#1!zzzz@\protect\gobbleone|Also{#2}}}

\makeindex

\begin{document}

This is a short book about zero. Therefore, it's also about nothing.
Which means null (or nil).

\index{nothing}
\index{nothing!nil}
\index{nothing!nil!and zero}
\alsoindex{nothing!nil}{null elements}
\index{nothing!null}
\Alsoindex{nothing}{zero elements}
\index{null elements}

\seeonlyindex{zero}{zero elements}
\index{zero elements}

\printindex

\end{document}

OLD SECTION

To avoid the use of |gobbleone to get rid of the page numbers, you have to insert the commands the makeidx way with | and not the LaTeX way with \.

To have these entries in the last place, you still will need \gobbleone to eliminate the comma. 

\index{nothing!nil!zzzz@\gobbleone|also{null elements}}

edited to remove unwanted space (edited to remove unwanted space)

An additional command \lastentrymakes typing easier, but the \index command must be renewed and then a \def is required to have the content of \index expanded.

The complete code: (edited to remove unwanted space)

\documentclass{book}
\usepackage{makeidx}

\newcommand\gobbleone[1]{}
\newcommand{\seeonly}[2]{\ (\emph{\seename} #1)}
\newcommand{\also}[2]{\unskip(\emph{\alsoname} #1)}
\newcommand{\Also}[2]{\unskip\emph{See also} #1}

\makeindex

\begin{document}

This is a short book about zero. Therefore, it's also about nothing.
Which means null (or nil).


\let\oldindex\index
\renewcommand{\index}[1]{\def\exptoindex{#1}\expandafter\oldindex\expandafter{\exptoindex}}
\newcommand{\lastentry}{!zzzz@\protect\gobbleone}

\index{nothing}
\index{nothing!nil}
%\index{nothing!nil!zzzz@\gobbleone|also{null elements}}
\index{nothing!nil\lastentry|also{null elements}}
\index{nothing!null}
%\index{nothing!zzzz@\gobbleone|Also{zero elements}}
\index{nothing\lastentry|Also{zero elements}}
\index{null elements}

\index{zero|seeonly{zero elements}}
\index{zero elements}

\printindex

\end{document}
Raoul Kessels
  • 2,693
  • Although this is interesting, it has several defects: (1) the entry "zero, (see zero elements)" has an unwanted comma; (2) both the "(see also ...) and the "See also ..." entries are not correctly aligned (each has unwanted additional space at its start). I'm adding one more index entry and including a screen shot in my post to clarify what's needed. – murray Jul 08 '16 at 13:54
  • @murray The additional space is easily removed with \unskip. The comma might be more difficult to remove, since it is the default in the |construct in \makeidx. I edit my reply to remove the additional space. – Raoul Kessels Jul 08 '16 at 14:16
  • Need to get rid of that comma, too! – murray Jul 08 '16 at 18:12
  • @murray: The comma is gone now, but possibly not all thinkable circumstances are covered. In any case, the example now works as you wanted and mainly \newcommand has been used. – Raoul Kessels Jul 11 '16 at 18:04
  • I'm still getting a comma in the printed entry from \index{zero|seeonly{zero elements}} – murray Jul 11 '16 at 22:21
  • @murray: No, no. I have changed the whole thing. The new answer and commands are at the beginning. Now you should use \seeonlyindex{zero}{zero elements}. The other two forms have also been converted to commands with two arguments. I think that this is easier to use than having to write several commands in the \index argument some with \ and others with |. – Raoul Kessels Jul 12 '16 at 06:33
  • Oops, sorry I carelessly copied the wrong code block to try. This seems to work just fine. I'll bang on i to see if any odd situations arise, but definitely it does work as advertised. – murray Jul 12 '16 at 14:31