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<span id="Predefined-Indices"></span><div class="header">
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<span id="Predefined-Indices-1"></span><h3 class="section">11.1 Predefined Indices</h3>
<p>Texinfo provides six predefined indices. Here are their nominal
meanings, abbreviations, and the corresponding index entry commands:
</p>
<dl compact="compact">
<dt>‘<samp>cp</samp>’</dt>
<dd><span id="index-cp-_0028concept_0029-index"></span>
<span id="index-cindex"></span>
<p>(<code>@cindex</code>) Concept index, for general concepts.
</p></dd>
<dt>‘<samp>fn</samp>’</dt>
<dd><span id="index-fn-_0028function_0029-index"></span>
<span id="index-findex"></span>
<p>(<code>@findex</code>) Function index, for function and function-like
names (such as entry points of libraries).
</p></dd>
<dt>‘<samp>ky</samp>’</dt>
<dd><span id="index-ky-_0028keystroke_0029-index"></span>
<span id="index-kindex"></span>
<p>(<code>@kindex</code>) Keystroke index, for keyboard commands.
</p></dd>
<dt>‘<samp>pg</samp>’</dt>
<dd><span id="index-pg-_0028program_0029-index"></span>
<span id="index-pindex"></span>
<p>(<code>@pindex</code>) Program index, for names of programs.
</p></dd>
<dt>‘<samp>tp</samp>’</dt>
<dd><span id="index-tp-_0028data-type_0029-index"></span>
<span id="index-tindex"></span>
<p>(<code>@tindex</code>) Data type index, for type names (such as structures
defined in header files).
</p></dd>
<dt>‘<samp>vr</samp>’</dt>
<dd><span id="index-vr-_0028variable_0029-index"></span>
<span id="index-vindex"></span>
<p>(<code>@vindex</code>) Variable index, for variable names (such as library global
variables).
</p></dd>
</dl>
<p>Not every manual needs all of these, and most manuals use only two or
three at most. The present manual, for example, has two indices: a
concept index and an @-command index. (The latter is actually the function
index but is called a command index in the chapter heading.)
</p>
<p>You are not required to use the predefined indices strictly for their
canonical purposes. For example, suppose you wish to index some C
preprocessor macros. You could put them in the function index along
with actual functions, just by writing <code>@findex</code> commands for
them; then, when you print the “Function Index” as an unnumbered
chapter, you could give it the title ‘Function and Macro Index’ and
all will be consistent for the reader.
</p>
<p>On the other hand, it is best not to stray too far from the meaning of
the predefined indices. Otherwise, in the event that your text is
combined with other text from other manuals, the index entries will
not match up. Instead, define your own new index (see <a href="New-Indices.html">New Indices</a>).
</p>
<p>We recommend having a single index in the final document whenever
possible, however many source indices you use, since then readers have
only one place to look. Two or more source indices can be combined
into one output index by using the <code>@synindex</code> or
<code>@syncodeindex</code> commands (see <a href="Combining-Indices.html">Combining Indices</a>).
</p>
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