Labels fading in SKY8

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in...@lookwithinindexing.com

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Jan 14, 2026, 9:31:16 AMJan 14
to SKYIndexUsers
Hi, Everyone.

Once in a while for an hour or two, the label colors in the index pane change. What is the normal color in the grid becomes kind of pale in the index pane: turquoise becomes pale green; bright green, an avocado green; hot pink, a turnip color; brown, a peach; and red, a pale blue. They are often impossible to read. Some of the words become clear when highlighted in the index pane b/c of the contrast with the blue background. But I shouldn't have to click on something just to be able to read it!

This usually happens in the afternoon or early evening, but it is happening this morning. 

Adjusting the brightness level on my laptop doesn't change anything.

Nor does changing the lighting in my office (turning off lights, closing the curtain). I thought perhaps the overcast day was causing some adjustment in my computer.

Any idea what's going on and how to fix it? It's a hamperance!

Thank you,

Mary

Cheryl Lenser

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Jan 14, 2026, 9:38:51 AMJan 14
to SKYIndexUsers
Hi Mary,

Do you happen to have Night Light (or something similar) turned on for your laptop? Mine turns the entire screen a pinkish hue after sunset/before sunrise, which can affect other colors on the screen.

Does this happen only in Sky, or are other programs experiencing color shifts, too? If so, it might be a physical issue with your laptop screen. Hope it's not that!

Cheryl

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Cheryl Lenser
Professional freelance indexer & editor
Treasurer, American Society for Indexing

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Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2026 9:31 AM
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Subject: [SKYIndexUsers] Labels fading in SKY8
 
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Mary Stevens

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Jan 14, 2026, 11:21:37 AMJan 14
to Cheryl Lenser, SKYIndexUsers
Thanks, Cheryl.

I do have a low-blue light program, and I did suspect it might be affecting it. I wasn't sure that was the cause, though, b/c I didn't think there should much of a change in outdoor light at 9am or 2pm, which are working hours for me. If it happened at 4pm (in winter) or later, I would expect it b/c the coloring of Netflix changes then. I'll check it out in the evening and see if it happens then too. Surprised that it happens in the middle of the day, though. Maybe the LBL program is less subtle than reality . . .

Mary


Line by Line Indexing

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Jan 14, 2026, 12:32:25 PMJan 14
to Mary Stevens, SKYIndexUsers
Hi Mary,

Did you recently run the Statistics check in Sky?  Whenever I do that, the colors of my labels in the Index Pane change, pale, faded, and often a different color.  This sounds like what you're describing, but I'm not sure.  If this is the case, here's the remedy: Go to  File > Compact  

You'll know that the file "compacted" when a "notice" window pops up saying that the index has been compacted.

I hope this helps!  Let us know if this resolves your issue.

-Michelle

Michelle Guiliano
📚  indexer | medicine & nursing | natural sciences | social sciences
🎧  podcast | Freelance Indexer Exchange


 

Mary Stevens

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Jan 14, 2026, 1:04:58 PMJan 14
to Line by Line Indexing, SKYIndexUsers
OMG, Michelle, yes, I do run the statistics check quite often, especially toward the end of the day, when I'm tidying up a bit more! I just tried running Statistics, and the colors did, indeed, fade.

And closing/compacting and reopening the index did, indeed, bring back the robust colors!

Far out--and Why?

Thank you! 

Mary


Line by Line Indexing

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Jan 15, 2026, 8:00:53 AMJan 15
to Mary Stevens, SKYIndexUsers
Mary,

I'm happy to hear that compacting the file worked for you!

One thing to note - you don't have to close your index. Simply "compacting" should do the trick :)  Let me know if that doesn't work.

I'm not sure why the labels change colors when the statistics check is run. I have a feeling it's the way the statistic check processes the index file.

-Michelle

P.S. Does anyone know if there will be a SKY 9.0?


in...@lookwithinindexing.com

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Jan 15, 2026, 6:49:42 PMJan 15
to SKYIndexUsers
Hi, Michelle.

Actually, when I click Compact, the program just shuts down and I get this error message: 

"Compaction Failed. Your index is intact but was not compacted. The error was: Database already exists."

After the SKY study group finished this past June, I asked Kamm about a new version coming down the pike. He says there will be an update to SKY8, but it will be called 10, not 9. He says he doesn't make estimates of when updates will be released because in the past he was always wrong.

All the best,

Mary

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