Automating a list of aronyms from an existing document

[Guest]

I have a long document with extensive use of acronyms. I am required to generate an acronym list at the end of the document. Is there a way to automate that process (the acronyms will be all caps, obviously, if that helps)? Is there a way to ensure that each acronym is shown only once in the acronym list

Thanks.

 

[Jezebel]

Basic rule for editing: never use acronyms that need to be explained. They
are device relied on by the incompetent and illiterate (ie Microsoft and the
military). They make life harder for everyone, and create work for writers
and readers (witness this task you now face). Be brave and eliminate the
damned things.

I have a long document with extensive use of acronyms. I am required to

generate an acronym list at the end of the document. Is there a way to
automate that process (the acronyms will be all caps, obviously, if that
helps)? Is there a way to ensure that each acronym is shown only once in
the acronym list?

 

[Greg Maxey]

Jezebel,

Nice that you can hurl insults at the military while you hide behind a
handle and bogus e-mail address.

Be brave yourself. Eliminate the "Jezebel" and stop the needless insults.

 

[Greg Maxey]

DeRobertis,

A better way may come around.

I don't know how you could completely automate this task, but you could
simplify it by automarking your acronyms using
Insert>Reference>Index>Automark.

First we have to create a Automark file. This file needs to be an
alphabetical listing of your acronyms. You indicated that they were
dispersed throughout your document in ALL CAPs.

Save your document as new file (Call it Automark). Lets use Edit>Replace
and wild cards to see if we can eliminate everything is this new document
except the words in ALL CAPS. Click the More button and check use
wildcards.

In the find what field, type [!A-]
In the replace with field type +
Select Replace All

Now lets get rid of single CAP letters.

In the find what field, type +[!+]+
In the replace field, typr =
Select Replace All
Delete the first single letter at the beginning of the document.

Next lets make a list of the words separated with paragraph marks

In the find what field, type +{1,}
In the replace with field, type ^p
Select Replace All

Next sort the list.
Select the list
Table>Sort>By Paragraphs>Text>Ascending

Finally lets elliminate duplicates
In the find what field, type (*^13){1,}
In the replace with field, type \1
Select Replace All

Save your AutoMark file

Now you can use this file to automark the acronyms in your document to
create and index.

HTH

 

[Greg Maxey]

DeRobertis,

I was in a hurry and got careless.

The first Find/Replace should be:

In the find what field, type [!A-Z]
In the replace with field type +
Select Replace All

The second should be:

In the find what field, type +[!+]+
In the replace field, type +
Select Replace All
Delete the first single letter at the beginning of the document.


--
Greg Maxey
A peer in "peer to peer" support
Rockledge, FL
To e-mail, edit out the "w...spam" in (e-mail address removed)

DeRobertis,

A better way may come around.

I don't know how you could completely automate this task, but you
could simplify it by automarking your acronyms using
Insert>Reference>Index>Automark.

First we have to create a Automark file. This file needs to be an
alphabetical listing of your acronyms. You indicated that they were
dispersed throughout your document in ALL CAPs.

Save your document as new file (Call it Automark). Lets use
Edit>Replace and wild cards to see if we can eliminate everything is
this new document except the words in ALL CAPS. Click the More
button and check use wildcards.

In the find what field, type [!A-]
In the replace with field type +
Select Replace All

Now lets get rid of single CAP letters.

In the find what field, type +[!+]+
In the replace field, typr =
Select Replace All
Delete the first single letter at the beginning of the document.

Next lets make a list of the words separated with paragraph marks

In the find what field, type +{1,}
In the replace with field, type ^p
Select Replace All

Next sort the list.
Select the list
Table>Sort>By Paragraphs>Text>Ascending

Finally lets elliminate duplicates
In the find what field, type (*^13){1,}
In the replace with field, type \1
Select Replace All

Save your AutoMark file

Now you can use this file to automark the acronyms in your document to
create and index.

HTH

I have a long document with extensive use of acronyms. I am required
to generate an acronym list at the end of the document. Is there a
way to automate that process (the acronyms will be all caps,
obviously, if that helps)? Is there a way to ensure that each
acronym is shown only once in the acronym list?

Thanks.