Re: How! -- Index with Balanced Columns
> Dear Lyxers
> I am using Lyx 1.6.7, Book Class, on openSUSE 11.1. I want to convert
> the standard two-column Index behavior to achieve balanced columns on
> the last Index page.( that is, from a single column down the left-hand
> side of the page with an empty column the right-hand side, to two
> columns of equal length reaching approxmimately half-way down the page).
>
> I have searched and found the following advice and code.
> Load the multicol package.
>
> \usepackage{multicol}
>
> Enter code in ERT just before the Index label
>
> %change the index environment to achieve balanced columns on last page
> \let\orgtheindex\theindex
> \let\orgendtheindex\endtheindex
> \def\theindex{%
> \def\twocolumn{\begin{multicols}{2}}%
> \def\onecolumn{}%
> \clearpage
> \orgtheindex
> }
> \def\endtheindex{%
> \end{multicols}%
> \orgendtheindex
> }
>
> This code is pasted from the Internet but not for the Lyx Book Class;
> although the code appears in several places in almost indentical form.
> It does not throw up an error, not does it have any effect on the Index;
> but it does mess up the following page by moving a float picture. So
> there is some interaction, but not that desired. There is one small
> additional effect -- the word Index in normal font appears at the end of
> the Index.
>
> Would anyone explain how this approach can be made to work?
>
> Thanks for your expertise.
>
> Kind Regards,
>
> -- Clive Libotte, IEng. MInstMC.
>
> The code works for me in the standard book environment. However for book it
> might be a good idea to change the \clearpage to \cleardoublepage to be
> certain that it does not change the floats.
>
> Why it does not work for you is difficult to know? I would suggest that you
> make a copy of your book and remove all the hand painting and special stuff
> and see if you can get the index to work. If it works start adding back the
> hand painting and specials to it stops working :)
>
> Ingar
>
Hi Ingar,
Thanks for your help. I came across the same code on the Internet but
with an extra final line which is {\relax}. The explanation of this code
was not altogether clear, so I inserted it to find out -- then
everything worked perfectly. The consequences of my ignorance may become
apparent when the book is printed -- I'll wait and see.
> Hi Clive,
>
> I am going to suggest (again) the package idxlayout. I am worried
> about weird interaction between packages as much as you, but I found
> out a good package is often safer that adding several lines of latex
> code in the preamble (as you found out). Here is what I use for the
> index in my latest book project, the options are self-explanatory:
>
> \usepackage[indentunit=15 pt,%
> itemlayout=relhang,%
> justific=RaggedRight,%
> columnsep=27 pt,
> unbalanced=false, this line produces the balanced columns
> initsep=13pt plus 5pt minus 3pt]{idxlayout}
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Stefano
Hi Stefano.
Thanks for you help and concern,
Well I'm in full agreement here, I have now used two packages that came
with Lyx 1.6.7 so I'm comfortable using them. They are tocloft and
multicol, strangely, I have idxlayout in my notes as the next package to
try if multicol did not work. So, for the time being I shall trust
multicol, as I have finished my layout of the book internals.
Thanks again.
Kind Regards,
--
Clive Libotte, IEng. MInstMC.
Re: How! -- Index with Balanced Columns
Hi Clive,
I am going to suggest (again) the package idxlayout. I am worried
about weird interaction between packages as much as you, but I found
out a good package is often safer that adding several lines of latex
code in the preamble (as you found out). Here is what I use for the
index in my latest book project, the options are self-explanatory:
\usepackage[indentunit=15 pt,%
itemlayout=relhang,%
justific=RaggedRight,%
columnsep=27 pt,
unbalanced=false, this line produces the balanced columns
initsep=13pt plus 5pt minus 3pt]{idxlayout}
Cheers,
Stefano
SV: How! -- Index with Balanced Columns
The code works for me in the standard book environment. However for book it might be a good idea to change the \clearpage to \cleardoublepage to be certain that it does not change the floats. Why it does not work for you is difficult to know? I would suggest that you make a copy of your book and remove all the hand painting and special stuff and see if you can get the index to work. If it works start adding back the hand painting and specials to it stops working :) Ingar
How! -- Index with Balanced Columns
Dear Lyxers
I am using Lyx 1.6.7, Book Class, on openSUSE 11.1. I want to convert
the standard two-column Index behavior to achieve balanced columns on
the last Index page.( that is, from a single column down the left-hand
side of the page with an empty column the right-hand side, to two
columns of equal length reaching approxmimately half-way down the page).
I have searched and found the following advice and code.
Load the multicol package.
\usepackage{multicol}
Enter code in ERT just before the Index label
%change the index environment to achieve balanced columns on last page
\let\orgtheindex\theindex
\let\orgendtheindex\endtheindex
\def\theindex{%
\def\twocolumn{\begin{multicols}{2}}%
\def\onecolumn{}%
\clearpage
\orgtheindex
}
\def\endtheindex{%
\end{multicols}%
\orgendtheindex
}
This code is pasted from the Internet but not for the Lyx Book Class;
although the code appears in several places in almost indentical form.
It does not throw up an error, not does it have any effect on the Index;
but it does mess up the following page by moving a float picture. So
there is some interaction, but not that desired. There is one small
additional effect -- the word Index in normal font appears at the end of
the Index.
Would anyone explain how this approach can be made to work?
Thanks for your expertise.
Kind Regards,
-- Clive Libotte, IEng. MInstMC.
--
Tel: 08 9403 0129
Mob: 043 571 5607
How! -- Index with Balanced Columns.
Dear Lyxers
I am using Lyx 1.6.7, Book Class, on openSUSE 11.1. I want to convert
the standard two-column Index behavior to achieve balanced columns on
the last Index page.( that is, from a single column down the left-hand
side of the page with an empty column the right-hand side, to two
columns of equal length reaching approxmimately half-way down the page).
I have searched and found the following advice and code.
Load the multicol package.
\usepackage{multicol}
Enter code in ERT just before the Index label
%change the index environment to achieve balanced columns on last page
\let\orgtheindex\theindex
\let\orgendtheindex\endtheindex
\def\theindex{%
\def\twocolumn{\begin{multicols}{2}}%
\def\onecolumn{}%
\clearpage
\orgtheindex
}
\def\endtheindex{%
\end{multicols}%
\orgendtheindex
}
This code is pasted from the Internet but not for the Lyx Book Class;
although the code appears in several places in almost indentical form.
It does not throw up an error, not does it have any effect on the Index;
but it does mess up the following page by moving a float picture. So
there is some interaction, but not that desired. There is one small
additional effect -- the word Index in normal font appears at the end of
the Index.
Would anyone explain how this approach can be made to work?
Thanks for your expertise.
Kind Regards,
--
Clive Libotte, IEng. MInstMC.
