Subs not sorting alphabetically

[in...@lookwithinindexing.com]

Hi, Everyone.

I have a (run-in) array that is appearing like this:

tuition: out-of-state, 4, 40-41, 85-91; in-state, 5, 40-41, 70-71

Why isn't SKY alphabetizing the subs? It's doing it correctly everywhere else.

I can do a workaround by putting aain-state and hiding the aa. But I'd feel more comfortable if SKY would sort correctly.

Thank you,

Mary

[AElfwine Mischler]

Is it only that one that’s giving you a problem? It’s probably related to prepositions being ignored at the beginning of subs, though I can’t quite see its logic. It’s perhaps easiest to just code these two. But if this sub will occur throughout the index, a better solution might be preferred. (Sorry, I’m off the computer now and running to get dinner.)

If all sorts of subs are mis-sorting, I have another idea what might be going on. Let me know.

Ælfwine Mischler

Personal email: aelfwine...@gmail.com

Business email: aelf...@MischlerEditorial.com

www.MischlerEditorial.com

American Society for Indexing (ASI)

On Apr 21, 2025, at 5:54 PM, in...@lookwithinindexing.com <in...@lookwithinindexing.com> wrote:



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[gina weightoftheword.com]

Hi Mary,

I think it might be because "in" is a preposition and is one of the words in the ignored list. You could remove it from the ignored list and it should sort the way you want it to. But if you have any other subs that begin with "in" as a preposition, it will sort on "in", so just something to be aware of.

Warmly,

Gina

___________________

Gina Guilinger

Weight of the Word Indexing Service

https://www.weightoftheword.com/

gi...@weightoftheword.com

​

President, American Society for Indexing, 2022-2023

Officer ASI/Rocky Mountain Chapter, 2012-2016

Member Indexing Society of Canada

Member Editorial Freelancers Association

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From: skyind...@googlegroups.com <skyind...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of in...@lookwithinindexing.com <in...@lookwithinindexing.com>
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2025 9:54 AM
To: SKYIndexUsers <skyind...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [SKYIndexUsers] Subs not sorting alphabetically

 

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[Deborah Patton]

You can find the SKY list of words to ignore here: Options>Preferences>Data Entry>Ignored Words. "In' is on the list, but "out" is not.

And the way to override one is to hide the word 'in' right before 'in-state.' It'll look stupid in the Grid and your spell checker will hate it, but it'll work. I'm using bold to indicate hidden text:

inin-state

Deborah

[in...@lookwithinindexing.com]

Oh, thank you,  Ælfwine, Gina, and Deborah. 

Yes, the Ignored Words feature is probably making it do that.

I'll just force-sort "in-state." I don't want to mess anything else up.

All the best,

Mary