makeindex
makeindex is a utility program used in conjunction with document preparation systems like LaTeX to create an index from a specially formatted input file. It reads a file, typically named `yourdocument.idx`, which contains index entries generated by the LaTeX document's markup commands. makeindex sorts these entries alphabetically and groups them by page number, producing a structured output file, often `yourdocument.ind`. This output file is then incorporated back into the LaTeX document during a subsequent compilation step to generate the final index.
The process typically involves several steps. First, LaTeX is run on the source document, which generates the