index pane weirdness in Sky 8

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Siusan Moffat

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Jun 20, 2026, 11:18:10 AM (14 days ago) Jun 20
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Hello!

Still never figured out the main issue with my Sky now allowing me access to "Options>index" - I've been lucky that my indexes so far have templates. I'm really dreading what will happen when someone asks for a change...

But this is a new issue. My index pane has gotten weird. I don't usually work in it, but I use to see other subs I've used. When I'm in the other side, going about my index, I'm noticing the index pane barely showing anything (like one entry, and not the one I'm working on) and today I've noticed it's doing this thing where it's splitting my entries. 

Yes there are two lands - "land" and "Land" but the index pane is showing me 7+!

I'm sure this is just a configuration I need to adjust? 

(or maybe it's connected to my main issue as mentioned above. I don't know. All I know is that the creator of this software refuses to go beyond the basics of helping me figure it out.)

Siusanindex pane of sky software

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Siusan Moffat,
absoluteindexing.com
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Millis Indexing

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Jun 20, 2026, 11:26:43 AM (14 days ago) Jun 20
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Hi, Siusan,

The issue you're seeing with the "land" and "Land" entries is something that I've seen in my own indexes in similar instances -- two entries that are very similar getting chopped up rather than grouped as two entries. If you change one of them to be something different (such as by adding a hidden character to the end of one of the two versions), I believe that will make them different enough that they will sort properly. Of course, any hidden character will impact the alphabetization, so you will need to factor that in when choosing what to add and which entry to add it to.

Best,
Kendra
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Lora Marchand

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Jun 20, 2026, 11:31:58 AM (14 days ago) Jun 20
to Millis Indexing, skyind...@googlegroups.com
This may be obvious so apologies if you've already done this! 

I would copy/paste one instance of "land" to all the other instances so it is exactly the same entry, including whatever might be hiding out in there. I currently work in Excel a lot and this is a common trick in that financial context. 

Good luck with it! I hope it resolves for you soon.

Lora

Lora Marchand
Maplewood Indexing




Siusan Moffat

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Jun 20, 2026, 11:43:11 AM (14 days ago) Jun 20
to Lora Marchand, Millis Indexing, skyind...@googlegroups.com

Thanks Lora and Kendra,

YES! I actually printed the index and that is what I see, I little invisible blip that has caused the entries to be different, even though they are visually not. I've definitely had this happen before!

Although it doesn't solve the other issue, with me indexing and only one entry in the Index Pane (SOMETIMES). I have to scroll up to see other entries... and I don't know about you all but scrolling the Index Pane has ALWAYS been an issue for me - it hesitates, jumps, doesn't move etc. 

Siusan

Lora Marchand

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Jun 20, 2026, 11:49:19 AM (14 days ago) Jun 20
to Siusan Moffat, Millis Indexing, skyind...@googlegroups.com
Siusan, 

It sounds like you are getting closer to a solution!

One other trick I've stayed with in Sky is to keep the index located in the file folder that Sky opens it in. Someone in my Berkeley class several years ago suggested that and it definitely cuts down on the blips. When I am done and converting it to a Word document or whatever, I'll move a copy out of Sky and into my own index business folders, but not while actively working on it. 

I also don't like the index pane and avoid it whenever possible! It can be tricky to escape out of there. I often just change the sort selection (by page #, by alpha sort, etc.) to jump back out. That seems to help. 

Good luck!

Lora

Lora Marchand
28 Center Road
Corinth, VT 05039



Deborah Patton

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Jun 20, 2026, 12:12:13 PM (14 days ago) Jun 20
to Siusan Moffat, Lora Marchand, Millis Indexing, skyind...@googlegroups.com
I'm so sorry you continue to have Index Pane problems, Siusan!
Thanks for including this snippet with your land, Land problems. First another word about that -- the issue was clear to me -- SKY is very particular about any character that's different. One of yours began with a lower case letter, and the other with upper case. If you'd just made them to conform -- either all upper or all lower, they would have conflated where they needed to be.
Back to the Index Pane. I like a different configuration for where it sits in relation to the Grid. Since you've uninstalled and reinstalled, rebooted and all the rest, maybe another tweak might help (I hope!). 
Go to View and click on Preview Pane on Left. The Grid and Pane will then divide top and bottom instead of left/right. Will that shake yours up enough to right your other issues? I believe a shake-up however we can effect it might help.
Best,
Deborah

Siusan Moffat

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Jun 20, 2026, 12:23:31 PM (14 days ago) Jun 20
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Yes! There are definite issues that arise when you move the Sky file! Big no no! LOL

Deborah- I actually need to keep "Land" and "land" separate! Sky should be able to do that :) (we did figure out why I had more 7!) 

Siusan

Deborah Patton

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Jun 20, 2026, 12:47:43 PM (14 days ago) Jun 20
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Siusan,
Hehe -- just thought I'd see if that would jerk your program into knowing what it ought to do. Oh well! 
I think the separation of Land and land has to do with record number and differentiating between caps and lower case. I've had entries splay out like that. The thought of copying/pasting often works, but not here.
You need the hidden character trick as already described. Which goes first? I checked the character map in SKY and A (ASCII code 0041) precedes a (ASCII code 0061).
I put the code at the end so it doesn't confuse alpha order:
Land1
land2
where the numerals are hidden text.
Hope that helps --
Deborah
I know you've rebooted, uninstalled, etc. Have you uninstalled, rebooted, and then reinstalled? This is such a mystery...



Siusan Moffat

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Jun 20, 2026, 1:14:26 PM (14 days ago) Jun 20
to Deborah Patton, skyind...@googlegroups.com

Thanks Deborah! Always up for new tricks :)

Siusan

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