Generate Index of PDF For Mac

Literary works intended for publication usually need to have an associated index attached, which makes it easier to locate certain terms throughout the document.

Generate Index of PDF is a lightweight application that can create these indices automatically, using a user-created list of terms saved to a standard text file. The process consists of a few simple steps, and detailed documentation is included to help you out.

Before attempting to generate an index, you need to save all the important search terms in a standard text file, one per line. They can be simple, consisting of only one word, or be made up of entire phrases.

While this all seems simple enough, you can also use regular expressions to define more complex search terms, ensuring that all important items are indexed. In case you are not familiar with the supported patterns, you can consult the app’s extensive documentation to get up to speed.

Once your list of terms has been prepared, you can launch the application and complete the necessary steps as instructed. You need to import the PDF file and the text document containing the search terms, select the desired index type and, optionally, enter an offset.

There are two types of indices to choose from, namely ‘subject or author’ and ‘chapter and verse’. The former lists all pages where a specific term is found, while the latter is designed for indexing chapters and references.

If your PDF file includes front matter before the content that needs to be indexed, you can specify how many pages should be skipped. However, it is not possible to have the app process only specific pages from the document.

When the app has generated the index, it is saved to a TXT file that can then be processed and attached to the initial document. Some additional editing is usually required to ensure the content is formatted correctly.

To conclude, Generate Index of PDF is a simple, no-nonsense application that can be very helpful for authors and offers comprehensive documentation detailing every aspect of its functionality.