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SKY Index Macros

Macros in SKY Index can be great aids in increasing efficiency. I invite others using this dedicated indexing software to offer their suggestions.

While I have tried to make these macros as settings-independent as possible, please check them carefully within your software to be certain they meet your purposes.

To use these macros:

  • Select the macro code from this listing, press Ctrl+C to copy
  • Open the Data Entry Options dialog box from the Options menu and select the Macros tab.
  • Place the cursor in the Macros field for the function key you want to activate, press Ctrl+V to paste.
  • You have the option of adding a description that will appear on the button.

    Macros included:

  • Text formatting
  • Bold entry
  • Italics entry
  • Italics or bold delete
  • Cross references
  • See also reference
  • See reference for abbreviations
  • Entry creation
  • Page ranges
  • Copy entry without first word
  • Symbols & abbreviations
  • Title (Author)
  • Heading creation from sub-head with capitalization
  • Entry editing
  • Mark for delete

    • See also reference
    DESCRIPTION: type entry for cross reference. Then use this macro to place previous main head as term for See also
    CODE: {END}{UP}{HOME}^C{DOWN}{END}see also ^V
    EXAMPLE:
    Create full entry for index term. "Computers, 350"
    Type term for cross reference, tab out of field (or press F2 for View mode) Press macro function key. "Personal computers [macro key]" will result in
    "Personal computers,, see also computers"
    LIMITATIONS:Entry must be in View mode; works for new entries

    Page ranges
    DESCRIPTION: creates page range current-next from current page
    CODE: ^{END}^C{+}{LEFT}{F2}{HOME}^V-
    EXAMPLE:
    In page field, place beginning page number"Computers, 340"
    Press macro function key. Result will be page-page+1. "Computers, 340-341"
    .
    LIMITATIONS:Will only work on newly created entries. Since it makes use of SKY's auto-increment feature, it requires a blank entry below the entry being edited.
    Bold entry
    DESCRIPTION:adds bold code to current heading or page entry
    CODE: {HOME}^B{END}^B
    EXAMPLE:
    Locate entry for bolding "Safety, 251"
    Place cursor in field to be changed. Press [F2] for edit mode. Press macro function key"Safety, /b1251/b0"
    LIMITATIONS:PLEASE NOTE: you must be in the appropriate field & in edit mode for this macro to work properly.
    Italics entry
    DESCRIPTION:Adds italics code to current heading or page entry
    CODE: {HOME}^I{END}^I
    EXAMPLE:
    Locate entry for italics"Keywords, 224"
    Place cursor in field to be changed. Press [F2] for edit mode. Press macro function key"Keywords, /i1224/i0"
    LIMITATIONS:PLEASE NOTE: you must be in the appropriate field & in edit mode for this macro to work properly.

    Italics or bold delete
    DESCRIPTION:Deletes italics or bold codes from beginning & end of current heading or page entry
    CODE: {END}{F2}{BS 3}{HOME}{DEL 3}
    EXAMPLE:
    Locate entry with code to be deleted"Keywords, /b1224/b0"
    Place cursor in field to be changed. Press macro function key"Keywords, 224"
    LIMITATIONS:PLEASE NOTE: you must be in the appropriate field & in View mode for this macro to work properly. Used most often when the auto-repeat feature is used & code is retained for new entry. Can be used at any time in the editing process.

    Copy entry without first word
    DESCRIPTION:copies complete entry without first word. Useful when there is a series of similar items that each need separate entry (e.g. Copy button; Paste button; Save button)
    CODE: ^D{F2}{HOME}^(+{RIGHT}){DEL}
    EXAMPLE:
    Create first entry"Find dialog box, 442"
    Press macro function key. Entry will be copied without the first word with the insertion point placed for addition of new first word"dialog box, 442"
    LIMITATIONS:

    Symbols & abbreviations
    DESCRIPTION:Creates second entry for full term when first entry is in format: [symbol] ([name of term])
    CODE: ^D{F2}{HOME}^(+{RIGHT})^X{DEL}{END}{BS} {(}^V{BS}{)}
    EXAMPLE:
    Create entry "ASI (American Society of Indexers), 221"
    Press macro function key to add new entry."ASI (American Society of Indexers), 221"
    "American Society of Indexers (ASI), 221"
    LIMITATIONS: First item must not contain spaces but may be any other special characters (e.g. * (asterisk); ? (question mark); etc) single or multiple; or abbreviation

    Title (author)
    DESCRIPTION:Creates new entry in the format of "Title (Author)" from "Author, Title"
    CODE: ^P{RIGHT}{F2}{HOME}^(+{RIGHT})^C{F2}{DEL}{LEFT}{F2} {(}^V{left}{left}{)}{DEL}
    EXAMPLE:
    Create entry for author with title as subheading "Smith, John, /i1Virginia Explorations/i0"
    Press macro function key to add new entry"Smith, John, /i1Virginia Explorations/i0"
    "/i1Virginia Explorations/i0 (Smith)"
    LIMITATIONS:Note that there must be a space in your macro if you want a space between the title & the open parenthesis for the author. This is particularly easy to leave out accidentally if your browser breaks the line at the space. If you do have the code split between lines, you may find it necessary to perform 2 copy & paste operations to place each segment in your macro.

    Mark entry for delete
    DESCRIPTION:Since entries deleted are permanently removed from the index database, there are times I find it better to mark the records I want to delete but leave the final decision until I've completed my edit. This macro adds "ZZZ"to the beginning of the entry. This moves the entry to the end of the sorted listing, making for an easy final evaluation where all marked entries can be selected and deleted.
    CODE: {HOME}{F2}{HOME}ZZZ
    EXAMPLE:
    Go to the questioned entry."Open dialog box, 387"
    Press macro function key"ZZZOpen dialog box, 387"
    LIMITATIONS:The macro switches View/Edit mode; therefore, you must be in View mode before pressing macro. In Edit mode your heading would be replaced by the "ZZZ"

    The following macros were provided by Susan Hernandez:

    Capitalized main head created from sub
    DESCRIPTION:Creates main heading from sub and capitalizes first character
    CODE: ^D+{F1}^R{ENTER}
    EXAMPLE:
    Place cursor on original entry".zip file, documentation"
    Use macro"Documentation "
    LIMITATIONS:

    See reference for abbreviation
    DESCRIPTION:Creates see reference from abbreviation to full term from the entry including the full term and abbreviation in parentheses
    CODE: ^(+{LEFT})^X{DOWN}^V{F2}{BS}{HOME}{DEL}{UP}^C{END}{DOWN}{DEL}{F2}see ^V
    EXAMPLE:
    Create entry in format: term (abbreviation)"United States (US)"
    use macro"US, see United States"
    LIMITATIONS:

    Page prepared by Nancy Anderman Guenther
    Last revision: January 6, 2000
    nanguent@chesco.com