networks

Macrex

Since the days I had to give up alphabetizing with my multi-colored index cards inside a variety of boxes that I collected, I began my computer use with Macrex indexing software on an AT&T desktop with a blinky yellow green text on black screen, no graphics capacity, and 35 MB of disk space.

Though at first I resisted giving up the serenity of my desk to the humming and beeping of a computer, I no longer sigh nostalgically for the days before I had to use a computer.

Until I retired in 2019, I continued using Macrex, full of color, along with many GB of disk space in my computers, far beyond what Macrex needs, but now I use computers for far more than just Macrex.

Macrex alphabetizes, formats, stores a variety of formats for different presses, and prints to word processors or printers, to mention only the simplest of its services.

email discussion groups

I have learned so much from the many indexers who subscribe to a growing collection of indexers' email discussion groups, starting with Index-L, which gushes so voluminously, I was inspired to establish separate addresses for group email discussions, which eventually included groups such as the Indexer's Discussion Group (IDG), scholarly indexing groups, Macrex lists, and the FREELANCE listserv.

When I first subscribed to these, I felt I had to read everything, but by now I've learned to use the delete button and select just the topics that grab my attention.

I can't begin to describe the unbelievable amount of information I've absorbed from these online groups, not just about indexing but also about subjects such as other computer programs indexers use, computer and other communications hardware, ergonomic office furniture, Internet services, taxes, and how to clean pet hair out of every conceivable place.