Introduction

An alphabetical product index, category index or brand index allows your catalog readers to easily search your catalog or long document.

This guide focuses on how to create an alphabetical product index using EasyCatalog. We have also included details on creating a category index or a brand index as all three indexes are created in a very similar way. To learn more about which table of contents method is right for your catalog requirements you may also like to review our Which table of contents method is right for my catalog? guide.

Understanding how catalog data is grouped

Catalogs are usually created with products presented by category and sub-category.

Catalog display

For example, a typical electrical catalog will categorise products into a series of cascading categories:

1. Switches & power points
   1. Socket outlets
      1. Standard size GPOs
      2. GPO with extra switch
      3. Skirting mount GPOs
      4. Shaver outlets
   2. Face plates
      1. Premium face plates
      2. Standard face plates
   3. Fan controls & dimmers
      1. Fan controls
      2. Leading edge dimmers
      3. Trailing edge dimmers

EasyCatalog panel grouping

Product data will typically be grouped by hierarchical category, e.g.:

• Category1ID
• Category2ID
• Category3ID
• CollectionID

Actual category names will vary depending on the fields contained within your product data.

Creating an alphabetical product index

An alphabetical product index can typically be created within a matter of minutes, including automatic cross references to all product page numbers.

EasyCatalog panel grouping

Instead of grouping your product data by hierarchical category you will typically group by the unique product identifier used within your catalog, e.g.:

• ProductCode

If a product is listed more than once within your catalog, you have the option of listing each product instance separately, or combining all products into a single record within the index.

Separate product records

Combined product record

When combining product records you can choose to list all page numbers individually (56, 57, 58, 92) or list them grouped as shown above (56-58, 92).

The EasyCatalog custom field GROUPNUMBERSEQUENCE – Create list of page number ranges is used to create grouped page numbers.

EasyCatalog library setup

A simple EasyCatalog library is created to match the data hierarchy.

Creating a category index

EasyCatalog panel grouping

• Category1ID
• Category2ID
• Category3ID
• CollectionID

EasyCatalog library setup

Table rows are configured to display the desired group value by accessing Table > Row Options on the EasyCatalog panel flyout menu. Learn more about configuring table rows within EasyCatalog in our separate Table – Configure tables, rows, columns and cells guide.

Creating an brand index

EasyCatalog panel grouping

• Brand

EasyCatalog library setup

Table rows are configured to display the desired group value by accessing Table > Row Options on the EasyCatalog panel flyout menu. Learn more about configuring table rows within EasyCatalog in our separate Table – Configure tables, rows, columns and cells guide.