Chain indexing is a method of subject indexing developed by Dr. S. R. Ranganathan. It involves classifying documents using a preferred classification scheme and representing the class number as a chain of links moving from general to specific subjects. Specific subject headings and related references are then derived from analyzing the chain of links. The headings and references are alphabetically arranged to complete the chain indexing process.

1. CHAIN INDEXING
Presented by
Ezhilan

2. Introduction
•
Indexing has to specify exactly the
content of documents. This needs a
language by which the contents could be
described precisely (i.e. Indexing
Language).
• Indexing includes :
a) Conceptual Analysis, and
b) Representation (of the Contents)

3. Types of Indexing Techniques :
There are broadly two types of Indexing
Techniques or Indexing Methods. They are :
a) Pre-Coordinate Indexing, and
b) Post-Coordinate Indexing.
Pre-Coordinate Indexing Systems : It means the
key works are Co ordinated at the time of
indexing. ( PRECIS, POPSI and chain indexing)
Post-Coordinate Indexing Systems:
It means the key works are Co ordinated at the time
of searching. Ex. Uniterm indexing.

4. Chain Indexing
• Dr. S. R. Ranganathan developed a
method of indexing, called chain
procedure of subject indexing or simply
Chain Indexing. It is a method of deriving
alphabetical subject entries from the chain
of successive subdivisions of subjects
needed to be indexed leading from
general to specific level.
•

5. Definition
• According to Ranganathan,chain indexing
is a “procedure for deriving class index
entry (i.e. subject indexentry) which refers
from a class to its class number in a more
or less mechanical way.”

6. The basic steps in chain indexing are enumerated
below:
• a).Classify the subject of a document by
following a preferred classification
scheme.
• b) Represent the class number in the form
of a chain in which each link consists of
two parts: class number and its verbal
translation in standard term or phrase
used in the preferred classification
scheme.

7. Cont….
• c) Determine different kinds of links:
sought, unsought, false and missing links.
• d) Derive specific subject heading for the
specific subject entry from the last sought
link and moving upwards by taking the
necessary and sufficient sought links in a
reverse rendering or backward rendering
process.

8. Cont…
• e) Derive subject reference heading for
the subject reference from each of the
upper sought links.
• g) Prepare ‘see’ references for each
alternative and synonymous term used in
the specific as well as subject reference
headings.

9. Cont…
• h) Merge specific subject entries, subject
references (i.e. ‘See also’ references) and
‘See’ references and arrange them in
single alphabetical sequence.

10. Thank you.