Specifying an Index Entry Separator

Summary: One of the switches you can use with the index field allows you to specify how index entries should be separated from the page numbers following the entry. Here's the skinny on how to get just what you want. (This tip works with Microsoft Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, Word 2003, and Word 2007.)

When you use an index field in your document you can indicate how you want Word to separate the index entry (or subentry) from the page number references or cross-references when it actually creates the index. This is done by adding the \e switch to your index field. You can use up to three characters for the separator, in the following manner:

\e "sep"

where sep represents the characters to use as the separator. For instance, if you use the following index field:

{index \e ": "}

Word, when compiling the index, will translate index entries to the following:

Widgets: 32, 38, 92

Notice that the index entry (Widgets) is separated from the page references by a colon and a space—exactly what was specified after the \e switch.

Tip #794 applies to Microsoft Word versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

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Specifying an Index Entry Separator