Use the Type tool to place the insertion point where the index marker should appear or select text to use as the index topic.
Last updated on
Jun 2, 2026
Learn how to use index markers in Adobe InDesign to tag content for inclusion in your document index.
Index entries pair topics (terms readers search for) with page or cross-references. You add them by placing index markers in the text, which InDesign compiles into an index. Markers appear at the insertion point or selected text and are visible when you select Type > Show Hidden Characters.
Add a basic index entry
Select Window > Type & Tables > Index.
Select Reference.
Select the panel menu icon, then select New Page Reference.
In the first Topic Levels option, type the main topic name, or verify that the selected text is correct.
For subtopics, type entries in the second and third Topic Levels boxes to create hierarchical levels (for example, animals, then cats, then calicos).
In the Type menu, select a page range option, such as Current Page, To Next Style Change, or For Next # of Paragraphs.
To change the way an entry is sorted in the final index, use the Sort By options.
To emphasize an index entry, select Number Style Override and then specify a character style.
To add an index entry, select one of the options:
- Add: Add the current entry and keep the dialog box open.
- OK: Add the entry and close the dialog box.
After adding entries, they appear in the Index panel preview area with page numbers.
Note
If you select Cancel after clicking Add, the entries you just added are not removed. Use the Undo command to remove these entries.
Add a cross-reference entry
Use the Type tool to place an insertion point.
Select Window > Type & Tables > Index.
In the Index panel with Reference selected, select the panel menu icon, then select New Page Reference.
In the first Topic Levels option, type the topic that will include the cross-reference.
From the Type menu, select a cross-reference prefix, such as See also or See.
In the Referenced field, type the target topic name.
Select Add.
Index all occurrences of selected text
In the document window, select the text you want to index.
Select Window > Type & Tables > Index.
Select Reference.
Select Book to create index entries for any open documents in the book.
Select the panel menu icon, then select New Page Reference.
Verify the selected text appears in the first Topic Levels field.
Select Add All. Add All is case-sensitive and matches whole words only. For example, selecting cheetah will not index cheetahs or Cheetah.
Create a new entry from an existing one
Place the insertion point or select the text where the index marker should appear.
Select Window > Type & Tables > Index.
Select Reference, then locate the entry you want to copy.
Select the entry and then select Create a new index entry while holding down Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS).
Make any needed changes in the dialog box, then select Add or OK.
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