Why can't I insert an index?

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Ange - 11 Mar 2008 17:31 GMT

I use Word 2007 and have a 150+ page document. I have manually marked over
300 entries, some with subcategories and others with cross references. When I
try to insert an index, it asks me if I want to override an existing index
(which there isn't one?) and then it does *nothing*.

I have followed step-by-step the instructions in the Microsoft Word help
file and it won't do anything. This is beyond frustrating both my coworker
and I, and she even went so far as to manually create an index, by hand,
which took her days.

Is there something I'm missing? I'm going through it all, step-by-step. It
just won't do much of anything. And, if there was a previous index, how do I
clear it? Any help would be MUCH appreciated... thanks!

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Klaus Linke - 11 Mar 2008 17:49 GMT

Hi Ange,

If Word says there's an index, let's first assume it's right <g>...
What happens if you use GoTo (Ctrl+G), then "Field > INDEX"?

If you see the field code { Index ...}, use Ctrl+F9 to toggle the view.

Regards,
Klaus

>I use Word 2007 and have a 150+ page document. I have manually marked over
> 300 entries, some with subcategories and others with cross references.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> I
> clear it? Any help would be MUCH appreciated... thanks!

Reply to this Message

Klaus Linke - 11 Mar 2008 17:52 GMT

Don't see my reply yet... but it had a mistake:
Use Alt+F9 to toggle the view between field codes and field results, not
Ctrl+F9.

Klaus

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Ange - 11 Mar 2008 18:08 GMT

That brings up the old "index" entry, which looks like a mess. But it's not
close to the one I created. I assume it won't let me create a new index while
the old one still exists. So, it does exist.

> Don't see my reply yet... but it had a mistake:
> Use Alt+F9 to toggle the view between field codes and field results, not
> Ctrl+F9.
>
> Klaus

Reply to this Message

Klaus Linke - 11 Mar 2008 18:31 GMT

> That brings up the old "index" entry, which looks like a mess. But it's
> not
> close to the one I created.

Well you said you were asked whether you wanted to replace the existing
index.

:-)

Did you replace it?

> I assume it won't let me create a new index while
> the old one still exists. So, it does exist.

Why would you assume that? Allow Word to replace the existing one.
Or delete it and create a new one if you want to.

If it still looks a mess, you'd need to tell in what way.
When you insert the index, you can explore the dialog for all the formatting
options.

Or is there's something wrong with the individual entries?

Regards,
Klaus

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Ange - 11 Mar 2008 19:46 GMT

Actually, it worked. And to get the formatting I needed, all I had to do was
'update index'. Thank you!

> Well you said you were asked whether you wanted to replace the existing
> index.
> :-)
> Did you replace it?

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