Options > Index S L O W loading time

[in...@lookwithinindexing.com]

Hi, Everyone.

When clicking on Options and then on Index, is it normal for it to be very slow? It just took 2 minutes and 45 seconds to open. My laptop sounds like an airplane while it's happening. It's as if the program has to trudge down to the basement, rummage around to find the page, and exert great effort to climb the stairs again.

This particular index only has 463 records at the moment.

Any way to make the process speedier?

Thank you,

Mary

[Deborah Patton]

We've heard that this happens but it hasn't happened to me in a long time. I shut down my machine every night which means closing all programs. Do you do that? That may clear this up. 

In some settings, I know people who don't shut down every day at least once and sometimes gremlins can creep in.

Deborah

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[in...@lookwithinindexing.com]

Thanks, Deborah. 

Yes, I close down every night. I also close the program a few times a day.

Mary

[AElfwine Mischler]

Mary,

If your computer sounds like that, my guess is that the problem is in your hardware, not in Sky. Laptops should not sound like airplanes. Maybe your fan is having a problem? Maybe something else (I'm no tech person) but such behavior would make me very nervous. Have you got a Plan B if disaster hits?

Ælfwine Mischler

Time zone: UTC +2

Personal email: aelfwine...@gmail.com

Business email: aelf...@mischlereditorial.com

Website: www.MischlerEditorial.com

American Society for Indexing (ASI)

[in...@lookwithinindexing.com]

Reviving this question. 

Following AElfwine's idea, can anyone suggest what I might do to find out if there's something wrong with my laptop? 

In addition to the slow loading time of Options > Index, SKY 8 also takes a long time to open and close files.

All other laptop functioning is normal. Only SKY is slow.

Thank you,

Mary

[AElfwine Mischler]

Are you operating on battery or plugged in? I have to keep my laptop plugged in when using Sky or it lags when I type. I have twice the amount of RAM that Sky wants, but it doesn't like to run on battery. I have my battery set so that it doesn't charge above 80%.

Ælfwine Mischler

Time zone: UTC +2

Personal email: aelfwine...@gmail.com

Business email: aelf...@mischlereditorial.com

Website: www.MischlerEditorial.com

American Society for Indexing (ASI)

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/skyindexusers/1294314a-7d38-4e56-b5f1-fc2fdf934b05n%40googlegroups.com.

[AElfwine Mischler]

🤔

Ælfwine Mischler

Time zone: UTC +2

Personal email: aelfwine...@gmail.com

Business email: aelf...@mischlereditorial.com

Website: www.MischlerEditorial.com

American Society for Indexing (ASI)

On Mon, Feb 2, 2026, 6:55 PM Mary Stevens <in...@lookwithinindexing.com> wrote:

Thanks, AElfwine.

I keep it plugged in. 

Mary

Mary Stevens
Book Indexer, https://www.lookwithinindexing.com/
www.linkedin.com/in/lookwithinindexingediting

Author of enough light, a poetry collection

[Mary Stevens]

Thanks, AElfwine.

I keep it plugged in. 

Mary

Mary Stevens
Book Indexer, https://www.lookwithinindexing.com/
www.linkedin.com/in/lookwithinindexingediting

Author of enough light, a poetry collection

On Mon, Feb 2, 2026, 11:49 AM AElfwine Mischler <aelfwine...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Rudy Leon]

I find the Index options take forever to load as well. (Not three minutes, but an annoying lag nonetheless) On all three computers I’ve had SKY installed on. And while I’m familiar with the airplane engine sound, I’ve never associated it with that specifically

I’m more surprised that some people don’t have the ridiculously slow options behavior

Thank you,

​

Rudy Leon

Rudy Leon Editorial Services

Editing, coaching, indexing, and faculty development services

http://rudyleon.com

Book a meeting with me

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/skyindexusers/1294314a-7d38-4e56-b5f1-fc2fdf934b05n%40googlegroups.com.

[AElfwine Mischler]

Come to think of it, I guess my Options are slow to load (not 3 minutes) but it’s never bothered me enough to think of it afterwards.

Ælfwine Mischler

Personal email: aelfwine...@gmail.com

Business email: aelf...@MischlerEditorial.com

www.MischlerEditorial.com

American Society for Indexing (ASI)

On Feb 2, 2026, at 7:18 PM, Rudy Leon <ru...@rudyleon.com> wrote:



To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/skyindexusers/CALD00-qN-L%2BkU38GD30C6cdaxUQoFr9rW2-V0yoXm8gT-AW3Dw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Deborah Patton]

RAM is a huge factor in index operation speeds. 8 MB on a Windows machine just isn't enough. 16 works well for me. 

How much RAM does your machine have, Mary? 

Start Key>System>About  --- you'll have to scroll down to find About.

That's where how much RAM you have is listed. 

If you don't have at least 16 MG, find a computer fix-it place and ask for help.

Deborah

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/skyindexusers/CACPMydfkhdbc-Zh0ORZ9qUW2ept-TVewNOPazzcPRa%3DGbMTvBQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[saqu...@gmail.com]

My experience is similar to Rudy’s.  Options, Index is at times very slow to load on my desktop (16 GB RAM) – at times I’ve walked away and made a cup of tea! On my laptop (32 GB RAM) it’s not slow, but still takes some seconds.  On the desktop I have sometimes suspected it may be related to index length but have not investigated this. Sky is quite fast in other functions.  I don’t get the airplane engine sound – sometimes the Dell desktop fan races, but that is a different issue. 

 

Sherrey Quinn

Aboutness Indexing Services

Canberra, ACT Australia

[Jochen Fassbender]

In SKY 7, which I'm using, the Options > Index delay is 1 or maybe 1.5
seconds in large or small files. I once asked Kamm why it is but he said
it can't be helped. But being able to walk away and make a cup of tea is
quite a delay indeed.

Jochen

Am 03.02.2026 um 05:19 schrieb saqu...@gmail.com:
> My experience is similar to Rudy’s.  Options, Index is at times very
> slow to load on my desktop (16 GB RAM) – at times I’ve walked away and
> made a cup of tea! On my laptop (32 GB RAM) it’s not slow, but still
> takes some seconds.  On the desktop I have sometimes suspected it may be
> related to index length but have not investigated this. Sky is quite
> fast in other functions.  I don’t get the airplane engine sound –
> sometimes the Dell desktop fan races, but that is a different issue.
>
> Sherrey Quinn
>
> Aboutness Indexing Services
>
> Canberra, ACT Australia
>

> *From:*skyind...@googlegroups.com <skyind...@googlegroups.com>
> *On Behalf Of *Rudy Leon
> *Sent:* Tuesday, 3 February 2026 4:11 AM
> *To:* in...@lookwithinindexing.com <in...@lookwithinindexing.com>
> *Cc:* SKYIndexUsers <skyind...@googlegroups.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [SKYIndexUsers] Options > Index S L O W loading time

>
> I find the Index options take forever to load as well. (Not three
> minutes, but an annoying lag nonetheless) On all three computers I’ve
> had SKY installed on. And while I’m familiar with the airplane engine
> sound, I’ve never associated it with that specifically
>
> I’m more surprised that some people don’t have the ridiculously slow
> options behavior
>

> Thank you, **
>
> ​**
>
> *Rudy Leon*
>
> */Rudy Leon Editorial Services/*
>
> *Editing, coaching, indexing, and faculty development services*
>
> *http://rudyleon.com
> * <http://rudyleon.com>
>
> *Book a meeting with me <https://app.simplymeet.me/rudyleon/>*
>
> **
>
> **

>
> On Mon, Feb 2, 2026 at 10:43 AM in...@lookwithinindexing.com

> <mailto:in...@lookwithinindexing.com> <in...@lookwithinindexing.com

> <mailto:in...@lookwithinindexing.com>> wrote:
>
> Reviving this question.
>
> Following AElfwine's idea, can anyone suggest what I might do to
> find out if there's something wrong with my laptop?
>
> In addition to the slow loading time of Options > Index, SKY 8 also
> takes a long time to open and close files.
>
> All other laptop functioning is normal. Only SKY is slow.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Mary
>
> On Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 12:08:02 AM UTC-5 AElfwine Mischler
> wrote:
>

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[in...@lookwithinindexing.com]

Thanks, Everyone.

My laptop has 16 GB of RAM.

A cup of tea it is, I guess! Challenging, when I have multiple tasks I want to do in Options > Index: after Save, one must load it again.

Perhaps I would more easily embrace it if it weren't a new thing. This long waiting has just started with the past couple of indexes. It doesn't have to do with number of records. Might an increasing number of indexes in the program be the cause?

And what of the taking a long time for a file itself to open and close? Not two minutes, but perhaps 30 seconds. Again, a new behavior.

Mary

[ju...@writeguru.com]

I'm also using SKY 7, and I've experienced none of these delays. I am using a gaming computer.
~Judi

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[ju...@writeguru.com]

I want to create subentries with a long dash –

 

Person

---bio: childhood, 1-6, 11, 14; education, 7-8, 15-16, 25-26

--employment: at company A; at company B; at company C

--relationships: marriage, 20; divorce, 22; remarriage, 30

 

How do I create that dash in SKY? I’m using SKY 7.

 

Thanks in advance.

~Judi Gibbs

 

 

 

 

[Jochen Fassbender]

Hi Judi,

I often have to use an en dash in front of subheadings in German
indexes, so am familiar with how to handle dashes:

1) Copy the dash you want to use -- in your case probably an em dash

2) Choose Options > Index

3) Click the Index Style tab

4) Click the Sub1 tab

5) In the Prefix 1 text box, change "\nl" to "\nl— " (paste the dash and
add a blank at the end if you want a blank)

6) Click OK

Using the Add Prefix option in Sub1 instead would add a dash in front of
all merged orphan subheadings as well which you don't want if you have
this setting selected.

Jochen

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> skyindexusers/0d0a01dcba0f%24a82a1c00%24f87e5400%24%40writeguru.com?
> utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.

[Theresa Duran]

Jochen describes an easy approach for adding a dash as a prefix. However, I would point out that to make your subs sort properly in this type of modified index, each sub needs to begin with "Person" in hidden text.

To make this process easier, I usually set up an acronym that expands to the Person's inverted name in hidden text (CTRL+T). For example, in an index on the Bellini family in the Italian Renaissance, I had the acronym "belg" expand to "Bellini, Giovanni" in hidden text.

I then set up a translation for the em dash. For example, in the translation table, you could specify that "=" (equal sign) translates to "—" (em dash, typed as Alt+0151). Thus, to get to the first letter of the actual sub, I would need to type the acronym (belg) followed by a period (so the acronym would expand without adding a space) followed by an equal sign. The next characters would be the start of the specific sub ("employment," "relationships," etc.).

I'm sure there are other approaches, but that's how I've done it. Good luck!

Theresa

---

From: skyind...@googlegroups.com <skyind...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Jochen Fassbender <j...@indexetera.de>
Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2026 9:35 AM
To: ju...@writeguru.com <ju...@writeguru.com>; skyind...@googlegroups.com <skyind...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [SKYIndexUsers] Creating a dash for subs

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[Jochen Fassbender]

Only now I realize that Judi might only want dashes in front of
subheadings under certain main headings (like personal names). If this
is the case, then Theresa's approach is indeed an appropriate one. My
approach is for adding dashes to all subheadings minus the orphan ones.

Jochen

Am 22.03.2026 um 18:52 schrieb Theresa Duran:
> Jochen describes an easy approach for adding a dash as a prefix.
> However, I would point out that to make your subs sort properly in this
> type of modified index, each sub needs to begin with "Person" in hidden
> text.
>
> To make this process easier, I usually set up an acronym that expands to
> the Person's inverted name in hidden text (CTRL+T). For example, in an
> index on the Bellini family in the Italian Renaissance, I had the
> acronym "belg" expand to "Bellini, Giovanni" in hidden text.
>
> I then set up a translation for the em dash. For example, in the
> translation table, you could specify that "=" (equal sign) translates to
> "—" (em dash, typed as Alt+0151). Thus, to get to the first letter of
> the actual sub, I would need to type the acronym (belg) followed by a
> period (so the acronym would expand without adding a space) followed by
> an equal sign. The next characters would be the start of the specific
> sub ("employment," "relationships," etc.).
>
> I'm sure there are other approaches, but that's how I've done it. Good luck!
>
> Theresa
>
>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* skyind...@googlegroups.com <skyind...@googlegroups.com>

> on behalf of Jochen Fassbender <j...@indexetera.de>

> *Sent:* Sunday, March 22, 2026 9:35 AM
> *To:* ju...@writeguru.com <ju...@writeguru.com>;
> skyind...@googlegroups.com <skyind...@googlegroups.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [SKYIndexUsers] Creating a dash for subs

> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/skyindexusers/ab60af51-
> faaa-46f9-9ddf-b9132a6f4510%40indexetera.de>.

>
> --
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> an email to skyindexuser...@googlegroups.com
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> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/
> skyindexusers/

> SJ0PR13MB5426123AA2F5581DA5EDC03CF84AA%40SJ0PR13MB5426.namprd13.prod.outlook.com <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/skyindexusers/SJ0PR13MB5426123AA2F5581DA5EDC03CF84AA%40SJ0PR13MB5426.namprd13.prod.outlook.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.

[ju...@writeguru.com]

Thank you!
~Judi

[Mary Stevens]

I don't see this thread in the SKYIndexUsers Google group. I saw it in my email.

Do I have to do something to make it show in the group?

Thank you,

Mary

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--

[Maria Sosnowski]

Hi Mary,

 

If you click the link on the bottom of the page “to view this discussion visit” it will take you to this thread.

 

It’s in the thread about loading time which is why you aren’t seeing it separately.  Unfortunately it looks like someone used the old thread to start a new topic rather than beginning with a brand new email, so this discussion about dashes is within the slow loading time thread.  They just changed the name on the subject line, which does not start a new conversation/thread.

 

Within the group “conversations” you can search for key words to find this topic.  So for example if you search “dashes” you will get this thread to come up.

 

Maria

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/skyindexusers/CAM%2BR%2B%3DBxK-2WQqKxqTrptfP1RvBiS%2Bm-cC-6An58Ghkpneqgxw%40mail.gmail.com.

[in...@lookwithinindexing.com]

Thanks, Maria!

Mary