## 2.4. Using the `indexterm` editor

This dialog box, displayed by menu item Topic → Insert or Edit indexterm, allows to insert or edit an `indexterm` element.

We'll explain with examples how to use the `indexterm` editor.

- If you want to get this kind of entry in your back of the book index:

      P
      Pet 12

  specify Term=`Pet`.
- Back of the book index:

      P
      Pet
          Cat 26

  specify Term=`Pet`, Term #2=`Cat`.
- Back of the book index:

      P
      "+" 54

  specify Term=`"+"`, Sort as=`plus`. Without this Sort as specification, the index entry corresponding to `"+"` would have been found in the Symbols category:

      Symbols
      "*" 53, 78
      "+" 54
      "-" 55, 91-95
      ...

- Back of the book index:

      D
      Domesticated animals 34 See also Pet

  specify Term=`Domesticated animals`, See also=`Pet`.
  Note that the content of the See also field must refer to an existing index entry. That's why instead of typing "`Pet`", you can select this index entry by using the dialog box displayed by the Pick from list button found at the right of the See also row.
  The above dialog box supports autocompletion. Note that if, for example, you want specify compound term "`Pet Cat Siamese`", you must type a space character between each simple term.
- Back of the book index:

      F
      Felis catus See Pet, Cat

  specify Term=`Felis catus`, select "Redirect to the following term" then specify Redirect=`Pet`, Redirect #2=`Cat`. (In the above example, notice that `Felis catus` has no associated page number.)
  Like See Also, the content of the Redirect field must refer to an existing index entry. Unlike See Also, a Redirect entry is merely a redirection to an actual index entry.
- Back of the book index:

      O
      Operation
          Additive
              "+" 87-90

  1. Insert a first `indexterm` element at the beginning the range (this will give us page number 87).
     In order to do that, use Topic → Insert or Edit indexterm and specify Term=`Operation`, Term #2=`Additive`, Term #3=`"+"`, Sort as #3=`plus`.
     Then check "Start range having the following name" and give your range an identifier by specifying "`plus_reference`" in the Start range field.
  2. Insert another `indexterm` element at the end the range (this will give us page number 90).
     In order to do that, use Topic → Insert or Edit indexterm, check "End range having the following name" and specify the same identifier, "`plus_reference`", in the End range field. All the other fields must be left blank.
     Note that instead of typing "plus_reference" in the End range field, you can select this identifier by using the dialog box displayed by the Pick from list button found at the right of the End range field.

### Related information

‣ The "Insert or Edit indexterm" menu item