Hi Julian,

How about using the keys in every instance?

\setupregister[index][n=1,method={zc,pc,zm,pm,uc},style=WORD]
\defineprocessor[special][style=italic]

\starttext
P\index[Plenary+periti]{Plenary Council+{\it periti} (experts)}
B\index[Plenary+beriti]{Plenary Council+{\it beriti} (experts)}
A\index[Plenary+aeriti]{Plenary Council+aeriti (experts)}

S\index[animals+special]{animals+‘special kinds’}
B\index[animals+bpecial]{animals+bpecial}
A\index[animals+apecial]{animals+‘apecial’}
U\index[animals+upecial]{animals+‘upecial’}
T\index[animals+tpecial]{animals+tpecial}

\placeindex
\stoptext

See result in: https://live.contextgarden.net/cgi-bin/result.cgi?id=j46XhZ

Adam

On Mon, Jan 31, 2022 at 10:38 PM jbf via ntg-context <ntg-context@ntg.nl>
wrote:

> Let me come back to the unresolved (for me) question of two situations in
> sub entries to a book index (register). Sub entries that have formatting or
> sub entries that are surrounded by quote marks (straight or curly, it makes
> no difference) do not appear in the correct alphabetical order.
>
> Two attempts on my part:
>
> text before \index[Plenary+periti]{Plenary Council+{\it periti} (experts)}
> text after.
>
> text before \index{animals+‘special kinds’} text after. Or alternatively,
> \index[animals+special]{animals+‘special kinds’}
>
> The setup for my register is a pretty standard one. The processor is not
> for the 'periti' case above but I use it for book titles.
>
> \setupregister[index][n=1,method={zc,pc,zm,pm,uc},style=WORD]
>
> \defineprocessor[special][style=italic]
>
> In the periti case it is the \it command that clearly interferes with
> correct alphabetic positioning in the sub entry list. Placing +periti in
> the key does not overcome that problem.
>
> In the ‘special kinds’ case it is the initial single quote mark (‘) that
> causes the problem. The item comes last in the sub entry list. And if i
> include a key [special], then it comes first in the sub entry list. Either
> way, it is out of the desired sorting order.
>
> I believe I have followed the helpful suggestions of various ones, but it
> is always possible that I have not fully understood those suggestions. The
> reality is that at the moment the issue remains unresolved for me. Any
> further wisdom out there to offer me?
>
> Julian
>
>
> ___________________________________________________________________________________
> If your question is of interest to others as well, please add an entry to
> the Wiki!
>
> maillist : ntg-context@ntg.nl /
> http://www.ntg.nl/mailman/listinfo/ntg-context
> webpage  : http://www.pragma-ade.nl / http://context.aanhet.net
> archive  : https://bitbucket.org/phg/context-mirror/commits/
> wiki     : http://contextgarden.net
>
> ___________________________________________________________________________________
>