> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://documentation.connexica.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://documentation.connexica.com/data-and-indexes/manual-index-creation.md).

# 01. Manual Index Creation

To manually create indexes without using one of the \[Wizards]\(doc:Technical Documentation.CXAIR.Administration Guide.Wizards.WebHome), the Data Source, Data Source Group and resulting Index can all be created separately.

This is especially useful if a custom configuration is required, allowing multiple separate Data Sources to be contained within a single Data Source Group before being added to an Index, for example.

The following chapters detail the manual creation of Index components:

## Creating a Data Source

In the \[Data Sources screen]\(doc:.a. Creating a Data Source.WebHome), the source data type is established and the configuration options are set accordingly.

## Creating a Data Source Group

The \[Data Source Groups screen]\(doc:.b. Creating a Data Source Group.WebHome) contains a number of options to further configure and analyse grouped Data Sources with additional field options.

## Creating an Index

Add configured Data Source Groups to an \[Index]\(doc:.c. Creating an Index.WebHome) to configure a number of options including Filter Values and Display Field Layouts.

## Creating a Search Engine

\[Search Engines]\(doc:.4d. Creating a Search Engine.WebHome) group Indexes together to create a logical collection of searchable data. Search Engines are the easiest way of partitioning up data from a security perspective, as administrators can restrict which Search Engines a user, or group of users, have access to.