Created attachment 173836 [details] Screenshot of part of an alphabetical index Version: 7.1.3.2 / LibreOffice Community Build ID: 47f78053abe362b9384784d31a6e56f8511eb1c1 CPU threads: 4; OS: Linux 5.4; UI render: default; VCL: gtk3 Locale: en-GB (en_GB.UTF-8); UI: en-GB Calc: threaded The attached screenshot shows part of the alphabetical index of a book. Note that "Socialism" is the Level 1 entry. In this case it has NO numbered entries: these are not required as the latter are associated with the sublevels instead (a fairly common occurrence in book indexes). However, there is a problem if the user specifies a character fill (such as full stops / periods) in the TAB area before the page number. The user only needs the fill characters to be displayed if there are page numbers following; if there are NO page numbers following (as in the attached example, "Socialism") then the fill character area should be left blank. SUGGESTION: If an alphabetical index entry has no page numbers associated with it, any TAB fill characters should be ommitted.
I can't confirm the problem with Version: 7.2.0.1 (x64) / LibreOffice Community Build ID: 32efc3b7f3a71cfa6a7fa3f6c208333df48656cc CPU threads: 4; OS: Windows 10.0 Build 19043; UI render: Skia/Raster; VCL: win Locale: de-DE (de_DE); UI: en-GB Calc: CL In the index dialog, you can delete the tab or only the filling characters. Please specify the problem and add a sample document. => NEEDINFO
Created attachment 174176 [details] Writer file with Index showing tab fill characters See the attached Writer file ("index_fill_characters"). Look at the (partial) alphabetical index at the end. Notice that top-level entries, without subentries, like "Baxter (clergyman)", "Cambridge", and "Rupert, Prince" contain tab fill characters followed by page number(s). In these cases the use of tab fill characters may be desirable. However the entry "Charles, King" is different. It consists of a top-level entry with no associated page numbers, the latter, instead, being allocated to the secondary entries below. In this case the tab fill characters after "Charles, King" serve no purpose except to obscure the structure of the index somewhat. (Of course, in many cases this top level entry would not be empty and then tab fill characters may, or may not, be desirable.) In any case, it's a good idea to give the user the option to hide the fill characters if there is no page number following the entry.
Thank you for the sample document. I confirm it with Version: 7.2.0.1 (x64) / LibreOffice Community Build ID: 32efc3b7f3a71cfa6a7fa3f6c208333df48656cc CPU threads: 4; OS: Windows 10.0 Build 19043; UI render: Skia/Raster; VCL: win Locale: de-DE (de_DE); UI: en-GB Calc: CL So steps to reproduce might be: 1. Open attacment 174176 2. Mark a word. 3. Insert => TOC and Index => Inex Entry 4. Insert a word as 1st Key, that is not in the document => Press "Insert" and close 5. Update Alphabetical index I think we don't need an option, but (as you suggested) a solution with no tab, if there is no page number. cc: Design-Team for input and decision about the best solution.
You can omit the page number in indices but keep the tabs (Entries: E#-E-T). But this entry still would have a page number and I agree, if this association is not given we better hide the filling. No option needed.
Version: 7.5.4.2 (X86_64) / LibreOffice Community Build ID: 36ccfdc35048b057fd9854c757a8b67ec53977b6 CPU threads: 2; OS: Linux 5.4; UI render: default; VCL: gtk3 Locale: en-GB (en_GB.UTF-8); UI: en-GB Calc: threaded This bug is effectively a blocker for this type of index. To see the difference it makes go to the Sibelius manual: https://www.sibelius.com/helpcenter/updates/Sibelius%20First%20User%20Guide.pdf Look at the index at the back and note that there are no fill characters where the index entry is blank.
Created attachment 190729 [details] Image showing spurious comma at end of blank index entry This fix should also ensure that other characters, apart from the tab fill, are also removed when there is no associated page number – such as the commas that go between page numbers. This is to stop the occurence of a comma, for example, appearing at the end of an entry with no page number – see the attached image.