summary refs log tree commit diff stats
path: root/lib/packages/docutils
diff options
context:
space:
mode:
Diffstat (limited to 'lib/packages/docutils')
-rw-r--r--lib/packages/docutils/dochelpers.nim28
-rw-r--r--lib/packages/docutils/highlite.nim30
-rw-r--r--lib/packages/docutils/rst.nim697
-rw-r--r--lib/packages/docutils/rstast.nim2
-rw-r--r--lib/packages/docutils/rstgen.nim213
-rw-r--r--lib/packages/docutils/rstidx.nim141
6 files changed, 747 insertions, 364 deletions
diff --git a/lib/packages/docutils/dochelpers.nim b/lib/packages/docutils/dochelpers.nim
index c7f7f73f5..0a41d85b5 100644
--- a/lib/packages/docutils/dochelpers.nim
+++ b/lib/packages/docutils/dochelpers.nim
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 ## matches it with `generated`, produced from `PNode` by ``docgen.rst``.
 
 import rstast
+import std/strutils
 
 when defined(nimPreviewSlimSystem):
   import std/[assertions, syncio]
@@ -35,6 +36,12 @@ type
                                ## name-type seq, e.g. for proc
     outType*: string           ## result type, e.g. for proc
 
+proc `$`*(s: LangSymbol): string =  # for debug
+  ("(symkind=$1, symTypeKind=$2, name=$3, generics=$4, isGroup=$5, " &
+   "parametersProvided=$6, parameters=$7, outType=$8)") % [
+      s.symKind, s.symTypeKind , s.name, s.generics, $s.isGroup,
+      $s.parametersProvided, $s.parameters, s.outType]
+
 func nimIdentBackticksNormalize*(s: string): string =
   ## Normalizes the string `s` as a Nim identifier.
   ##
@@ -71,6 +78,12 @@ func nimIdentBackticksNormalize*(s: string): string =
     else: discard  # just omit '`' or ' '
   if j != s.len: setLen(result, j)
 
+proc langSymbolGroup*(kind: string, name: string): LangSymbol =
+  if kind notin ["proc", "func", "macro", "method", "iterator",
+                 "template", "converter"]:
+    raise newException(ValueError, "unknown symbol kind $1" % [kind])
+  result = LangSymbol(symKind: kind, name: name, isGroup: true)
+
 proc toLangSymbol*(linkText: PRstNode): LangSymbol =
   ## Parses `linkText` into a more structured form using a state machine.
   ##
@@ -82,11 +95,14 @@ proc toLangSymbol*(linkText: PRstNode): LangSymbol =
   ##
   ## This proc should be kept in sync with the `renderTypes` proc from
   ## ``compiler/typesrenderer.nim``.
-  assert linkText.kind in {rnRstRef, rnInner}
+  template fail(msg: string) =
+    raise newException(ValueError, msg)
+  if linkText.kind notin {rnRstRef, rnInner}:
+    fail("toLangSymbol: wrong input kind " & $linkText.kind)
 
   const NimDefs = ["proc", "func", "macro", "method", "iterator",
                    "template", "converter", "const", "type", "var",
-                   "enum", "object", "tuple"]
+                   "enum", "object", "tuple", "module"]
   template resolveSymKind(x: string) =
     if x in ["enum", "object", "tuple"]:
       result.symKind = "type"
@@ -109,11 +125,11 @@ proc toLangSymbol*(linkText: PRstNode): LangSymbol =
   template flushIdent() =
     if curIdent != "":
       case state
-      of inBeginning:  doAssert false, "incorrect state inBeginning"
+      of inBeginning:  fail("incorrect state inBeginning")
       of afterSymKind:  resolveSymKind curIdent
-      of beforeSymbolName:  doAssert false, "incorrect state beforeSymbolName"
+      of beforeSymbolName:  fail("incorrect state beforeSymbolName")
       of atSymbolName: result.name = curIdent.nimIdentBackticksNormalize
-      of afterSymbolName: doAssert false, "incorrect state afterSymbolName"
+      of afterSymbolName: fail("incorrect state afterSymbolName")
       of genericsPar: result.generics = curIdent
       of parameterName: result.parameters.add (curIdent, "")
       of parameterType:
@@ -273,7 +289,7 @@ proc match*(generated: LangSymbol, docLink: LangSymbol): bool =
         if g.`type` == d.name:
           onlyType = true  # only types, not names, are provided in `docLink`
       if onlyType:
-        result = g.`type` == d.name:
+        result = g.`type` == d.name
       else:
         if d.`type` != "":
           result = g.`type` == d.`type`
diff --git a/lib/packages/docutils/highlite.nim b/lib/packages/docutils/highlite.nim
index 3f65c8cc4..f8376f46c 100644
--- a/lib/packages/docutils/highlite.nim
+++ b/lib/packages/docutils/highlite.nim
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@
 ## as program output.
 
 import
-  strutils
-from algorithm import binarySearch
+  std/strutils
+from std/algorithm import binarySearch
 
 when defined(nimPreviewSlimSystem):
   import std/[assertions, syncio]
@@ -324,17 +324,18 @@ proc nimNextToken(g: var GeneralTokenizer, keywords: openArray[string] = @[]) =
       pos = nimNumber(g, pos)
     of '\'':
       inc(pos)
-      g.kind = gtCharLit
-      while true:
-        case g.buf[pos]
-        of '\0', '\r', '\n':
-          break
-        of '\'':
-          inc(pos)
-          break
-        of '\\':
-          inc(pos, 2)
-        else: inc(pos)
+      if g.kind != gtPunctuation:
+        g.kind = gtCharLit
+        while true:
+          case g.buf[pos]
+          of '\0', '\r', '\n':
+            break
+          of '\'':
+            inc(pos)
+            break
+          of '\\':
+            inc(pos, 2)
+          else: inc(pos)
     of '\"':
       inc(pos)
       if (g.buf[pos] == '\"') and (g.buf[pos + 1] == '\"'):
@@ -498,6 +499,9 @@ proc clikeNextToken(g: var GeneralTokenizer, keywords: openArray[string],
           of '\0':
             break
           else: inc(pos)
+      else:
+        g.kind = gtOperator
+        while g.buf[pos] in OpChars: inc(pos)
     of '#':
       inc(pos)
       if hasPreprocessor in flags:
diff --git a/lib/packages/docutils/rst.nim b/lib/packages/docutils/rst.nim
index f81be7a50..706c50689 100644
--- a/lib/packages/docutils/rst.nim
+++ b/lib/packages/docutils/rst.nim
@@ -21,8 +21,10 @@
 ## turned on by passing ``options:`` [RstParseOptions] to [proc rstParse].
 
 import
-  os, strutils, rstast, dochelpers, std/enumutils, algorithm, lists, sequtils,
-  std/private/miscdollars, tables, strscans
+  std/[os, strutils, enumutils, algorithm, lists, sequtils,
+  tables, strscans]
+import dochelpers, rstidx, rstast
+import std/private/miscdollars
 from highlite import SourceLanguage, getSourceLanguage
 
 when defined(nimPreviewSlimSystem):
@@ -40,7 +42,7 @@ type
     roNimFile                 ## set for Nim files where default interpreted
                               ## text role should be :nim:
     roSandboxDisabled         ## this option enables certain options
-                              ## (e.g. raw, include)
+                              ## (e.g. raw, include, importdoc)
                               ## which are disabled by default as they can
                               ## enable users to read arbitrary data and
                               ## perform XSS if the parser is used in a web
@@ -73,11 +75,17 @@ type
     mwUnsupportedLanguage = "language '$1' not supported",
     mwUnsupportedField = "field '$1' not supported",
     mwRstStyle = "RST style: $1",
+    mwUnusedImportdoc = "importdoc for '$1' is not used",
     meSandboxedDirective = "disabled directive: '$1'",
 
   MsgHandler* = proc (filename: string, line, col: int, msgKind: MsgKind,
                        arg: string) {.closure, gcsafe.} ## what to do in case of an error
   FindFileHandler* = proc (filename: string): string {.closure, gcsafe.}
+  FindRefFileHandler* =
+    proc (targetRelPath: string):
+         tuple[targetPath: string, linkRelPath: string] {.closure, gcsafe.}
+    ## returns where .html or .idx file should be found by its relative path;
+    ## `linkRelPath` is a prefix to be added before a link anchor from such file
 
 proc rstnodeToRefname*(n: PRstNode): string
 proc addNodes*(n: PRstNode): string
@@ -333,7 +341,8 @@ type
     arInternalRst,  ## For automatically generated RST anchors (from
                     ## headings, footnotes, inline internal targets):
                     ## case-insensitive, 1-space-significant (by RST spec)
-    arNim   ## For anchors generated by ``docgen.rst``: Nim-style case
+    arExternalRst,  ## For external .nim doc comments or .rst/.md
+    arNim   ## For anchors generated by ``docgen.nim``: Nim-style case
             ## sensitivity, etc. (see `proc normalizeNimName`_ for details)
     arHyperlink,  ## For links with manually set anchors in
                   ## form `text <pagename.html#anchor>`_
@@ -343,17 +352,22 @@ type
     footnoteAnchor = "footnote anchor",
     headlineAnchor = "implicitly-generated headline anchor"
   AnchorSubst = object
-    info: TLineInfo         # where the anchor was defined
+    info: TLineInfo         # the file where the anchor was defined
     priority: int
     case kind: range[arInternalRst .. arNim]
     of arInternalRst:
       anchorType: RstAnchorKind
       target: PRstNode
+    of arExternalRst:
+      anchorTypeExt: RstAnchorKind
+      refnameExt: string
     of arNim:
+      module: FileIndex     # anchor's module (generally not the same as file)
       tooltip: string       # displayed tooltip for Nim-generated anchors
       langSym: LangSymbol
       refname: string     # A reference name that will be inserted directly
                           # into HTML/Latex.
+      external: bool
   AnchorSubstTable = Table[string, seq[AnchorSubst]]
                          # use `seq` to account for duplicate anchors
   FootnoteType = enum
@@ -366,12 +380,18 @@ type
     kind: FootnoteType  # discriminator
     number: int         # valid for fnManualNumber (always) and fnAutoNumber,
                         # fnAutoNumberLabel after resolveSubs is called
-    autoNumIdx: int     # order of occurence: fnAutoNumber, fnAutoNumberLabel
-    autoSymIdx: int     # order of occurence: fnAutoSymbol
+    autoNumIdx: int     # order of occurrence: fnAutoNumber, fnAutoNumberLabel
+    autoSymIdx: int     # order of occurrence: fnAutoSymbol
     label: string       # valid for fnAutoNumberLabel
   RstFileTable* = object
     filenameToIdx*: Table[string, FileIndex]
     idxToFilename*: seq[string]
+  ImportdocInfo = object
+    used: bool             # was this import used?
+    fromInfo: TLineInfo    # place of `.. importdoc::` directive
+    idxPath: string        # full path to ``.idx`` file
+    linkRelPath: string    # prefix before target anchor
+    title: string          # document title obtained from ``.idx``
   RstSharedState = object
     options*: RstParseOptions   # parsing options
     hLevels: LevelMap           # hierarchy of heading styles
@@ -393,12 +413,17 @@ type
     footnotes: seq[FootnoteSubst] # correspondence b/w footnote label,
                                   # number, order of occurrence
     msgHandler: MsgHandler      # How to handle errors.
-    findFile: FindFileHandler   # How to find files.
+    findFile: FindFileHandler   # How to find files for include.
+    findRefFile: FindRefFileHandler
+                                # How to find files imported by importdoc.
     filenames*: RstFileTable    # map file name <-> FileIndex (for storing
                                 # file names for warnings after 1st stage)
     currFileIdx*: FileIndex     # current index in `filenames`
     tocPart*: seq[PRstNode]     # all the headings of a document
     hasToc*: bool
+    idxImports*: Table[string, ImportdocInfo]
+                                # map `importdoc`ed filename -> it's info
+    nimFileImported*: bool      # Was any ``.nim`` module `importdoc`ed ?
 
   PRstSharedState* = ref RstSharedState
   ManualAnchor = object
@@ -419,6 +444,7 @@ type
                                 ## because RST can have >1 alias per 1 anchor
 
   EParseError* = object of ValueError
+  SectionParser = proc (p: var RstParser): PRstNode {.nimcall, gcsafe.}
 
 const
   LineRstInit* = 1  ## Initial line number for standalone RST text
@@ -452,6 +478,9 @@ proc defaultFindFile*(filename: string): string =
   if fileExists(filename): result = filename
   else: result = ""
 
+proc defaultFindRefFile*(filename: string): (string, string) =
+  (filename, "")
+
 proc defaultRole(options: RstParseOptions): string =
   if roNimFile in options: "nim" else: "literal"
 
@@ -492,12 +521,19 @@ proc getFilename(filenames: RstFileTable, fid: FileIndex): string =
         $fid.int, $(filenames.len - 1)])
   result = filenames.idxToFilename[fid.int]
 
+proc getFilename(s: PRstSharedState, subst: AnchorSubst): string =
+  getFilename(s.filenames, subst.info.fileIndex)
+
+proc getModule(s: PRstSharedState, subst: AnchorSubst): string =
+  result = getFilename(s.filenames, subst.module)
+
 proc currFilename(s: PRstSharedState): string =
   getFilename(s.filenames, s.currFileIdx)
 
 proc newRstSharedState*(options: RstParseOptions,
                         filename: string,
                         findFile: FindFileHandler,
+                        findRefFile: FindRefFileHandler,
                         msgHandler: MsgHandler,
                         hasToc: bool): PRstSharedState =
   let r = defaultRole(options)
@@ -507,6 +543,9 @@ proc newRstSharedState*(options: RstParseOptions,
       options: options,
       msgHandler: if not isNil(msgHandler): msgHandler else: defaultMsgHandler,
       findFile: if not isNil(findFile): findFile else: defaultFindFile,
+      findRefFile:
+        if not isNil(findRefFile): findRefFile
+        else: defaultFindRefFile,
       hasToc: hasToc
   )
   setCurrFilename(result, filename)
@@ -525,6 +564,14 @@ proc rstMessage(p: RstParser, msgKind: MsgKind, arg: string) =
 proc rstMessage(s: PRstSharedState, msgKind: MsgKind, arg: string) =
   s.msgHandler(s.currFilename, LineRstInit, ColRstInit, msgKind, arg)
 
+proc rstMessage(s: PRstSharedState, msgKind: MsgKind, arg: string;
+                line, col: int) =
+  s.msgHandler(s.currFilename, line, col, msgKind, arg)
+
+proc rstMessage(s: PRstSharedState, filename: string, msgKind: MsgKind,
+                arg: string) =
+  s.msgHandler(filename, LineRstInit, ColRstInit, msgKind, arg)
+
 proc rstMessage*(filenames: RstFileTable, f: MsgHandler,
                  info: TLineInfo, msgKind: MsgKind, arg: string) =
   ## Print warnings using `info`, i.e. in 2nd-pass warnings for
@@ -541,6 +588,31 @@ proc rstMessage(p: RstParser, msgKind: MsgKind) =
                              p.col + currentTok(p).col, msgKind,
                              currentTok(p).symbol)
 
+# Functions `isPureRst` & `stopOrWarn` address differences between
+# Markdown and RST:
+# * Markdown always tries to continue working. If it is really impossible
+#   to parse a markup element, its proc just returns `nil` and parsing
+#   continues for it as for normal text paragraph.
+#   The downside is that real mistakes/typos are often silently ignored.
+#   The same applies to legacy `RstMarkdown` mode for nimforum.
+# * RST really signals errors. The downside is that it's more intrusive -
+#   the user must escape special syntax with \ explicitly.
+#
+# TODO: we need to apply this strategy to all markup elements eventually.
+
+func isPureRst(p: RstParser): bool = roSupportMarkdown notin p.s.options
+func isRst(p: RstParser): bool = roPreferMarkdown notin p.s.options
+func isMd(p: RstParser): bool = roPreferMarkdown in p.s.options
+func isMd(s: PRstSharedState): bool = roPreferMarkdown in s.options
+
+proc stopOrWarn(p: RstParser, errorType: MsgKind, arg: string) =
+  let realMsgKind = if isPureRst(p): errorType else: mwRstStyle
+  rstMessage(p, realMsgKind, arg)
+
+proc stopOrWarn(p: RstParser, errorType: MsgKind, arg: string, line, col: int) =
+  let realMsgKind = if isPureRst(p): errorType else: mwRstStyle
+  rstMessage(p, realMsgKind, arg, line, col)
+
 proc currInd(p: RstParser): int =
   result = p.indentStack[high(p.indentStack)]
 
@@ -756,6 +828,14 @@ proc internalRefPriority(k: RstAnchorKind): int =
   of footnoteAnchor: result = 4
   of headlineAnchor: result = 3
 
+proc `$`(subst: AnchorSubst): string =  # for debug
+  let s =
+    case subst.kind
+    of arInternalRst: "type=" & $subst.anchorType
+    of arExternalRst: "type=" & $subst.anchorTypeExt
+    of arNim: "langsym=" & $subst.langSym
+  result = "(kind=$1, priority=$2, $3)" % [$subst.kind, $subst.priority, s]
+
 proc addAnchorRst(p: var RstParser, name: string, target: PRstNode,
                   anchorType: RstAnchorKind) =
   ## Associates node `target` (which has field `anchor`) with an
@@ -771,31 +851,49 @@ proc addAnchorRst(p: var RstParser, name: string, target: PRstNode,
                     info: prevLineInfo(p), anchorType: anchorType))
   p.curAnchors.setLen 0
 
-proc addAnchorNim*(s: var PRstSharedState, refn: string, tooltip: string,
+proc addAnchorExtRst(s: var PRstSharedState, key: string, refn: string,
+                  anchorType: RstAnchorKind, info: TLineInfo) =
+  let name = key.toLowerAscii
+  let prio = internalRefPriority(anchorType)
+  s.anchors.mgetOrPut(name, newSeq[AnchorSubst]()).add(
+      AnchorSubst(kind: arExternalRst, refnameExt: refn, priority: prio,
+                  info: info,
+                  anchorTypeExt: anchorType))
+
+proc addAnchorNim*(s: var PRstSharedState, external: bool, refn: string, tooltip: string,
                    langSym: LangSymbol, priority: int,
-                   info: TLineInfo) =
+                   info: TLineInfo, module: FileIndex) =
   ## Adds an anchor `refn`, which follows
   ## the rule `arNim` (i.e. a symbol in ``*.nim`` file)
   s.anchors.mgetOrPut(langSym.name, newSeq[AnchorSubst]()).add(
-      AnchorSubst(kind: arNim, refname: refn, langSym: langSym,
+      AnchorSubst(kind: arNim, external: external, refname: refn, langSym: langSym,
                   tooltip: tooltip, priority: priority,
                   info: info))
 
 proc findMainAnchorNim(s: PRstSharedState, signature: PRstNode,
                        info: TLineInfo):
                       seq[AnchorSubst] =
-  let langSym = toLangSymbol(signature)
+  var langSym: LangSymbol
+  try:
+    langSym = toLangSymbol(signature)
+  except ValueError:  # parsing failed, not a Nim symbol
+    return
   let substitutions = s.anchors.getOrDefault(langSym.name,
                                              newSeq[AnchorSubst]())
   if substitutions.len == 0:
     return
-  # map symKind (like "proc") -> found symbols/groups:
-  var found: Table[string, seq[AnchorSubst]]
-  for s in substitutions:
-    if s.kind == arNim:
-      if match(s.langSym, langSym):
-        found.mgetOrPut(s.langSym.symKind, newSeq[AnchorSubst]()).add s
-  for symKind, sList in found:
+  # logic to select only groups instead of concrete symbols
+  # with overloads, note that the same symbol can be defined
+  # in multiple modules and `importdoc`ed:
+  type GroupKey = tuple[symKind: string, origModule: string]
+  # map (symKind, file) (like "proc", "os.nim") -> found symbols/groups:
+  var found: Table[GroupKey, seq[AnchorSubst]]
+  for subst in substitutions:
+    if subst.kind == arNim:
+      if match(subst.langSym, langSym):
+        let key: GroupKey = (subst.langSym.symKind, getModule(s, subst))
+        found.mgetOrPut(key, newSeq[AnchorSubst]()).add subst
+  for key, sList in found:
     if sList.len == 1:
       result.add sList[0]
     else:  # > 1, there are overloads, potential ambiguity in this `symKind`
@@ -812,14 +910,16 @@ proc findMainAnchorNim(s: PRstSharedState, signature: PRstNode,
             result.add s
             foundGroup = true
             break
-        doAssert foundGroup, "docgen has not generated the group"
+        doAssert(foundGroup,
+                 "docgen has not generated the group for $1 (file $2)" % [
+                 langSym.name, getModule(s, sList[0]) ])
 
 proc findMainAnchorRst(s: PRstSharedState, linkText: string, info: TLineInfo):
                       seq[AnchorSubst] =
   let name = linkText.toLowerAscii
   let substitutions = s.anchors.getOrDefault(name, newSeq[AnchorSubst]())
   for s in substitutions:
-    if s.kind == arInternalRst:
+    if s.kind in {arInternalRst, arExternalRst}:
       result.add s
 
 proc addFootnoteNumManual(p: var RstParser, num: int) =
@@ -1426,7 +1526,7 @@ proc parseMarkdownCodeblockFields(p: var RstParser): PRstNode =
     result = nil
   else:
     result = newRstNode(rnFieldList)
-  while currentTok(p).kind != tkIndent:
+  while currentTok(p).kind notin {tkIndent, tkEof}:
     if currentTok(p).kind == tkWhite:
       inc p.idx
     else:
@@ -1503,6 +1603,7 @@ proc parseMarkdownCodeblock(p: var RstParser): PRstNode =
   else:
     args = nil
   var n = newLeaf("")
+  var isFirstLine = true
   while true:
     if currentTok(p).kind == tkEof:
       rstMessage(p, meMissingClosing,
@@ -1514,7 +1615,8 @@ proc parseMarkdownCodeblock(p: var RstParser): PRstNode =
       inc p.idx, 2
       break
     elif currentTok(p).kind == tkIndent:
-      n.text.add "\n"
+      if not isFirstLine:
+        n.text.add "\n"
       if currentTok(p).ival > baseCol:
         n.text.add " ".repeat(currentTok(p).ival - baseCol)
       elif currentTok(p).ival < baseCol:
@@ -1524,6 +1626,7 @@ proc parseMarkdownCodeblock(p: var RstParser): PRstNode =
     else:
       n.text.add(currentTok(p).symbol)
       inc p.idx
+    isFirstLine = false
   result.sons[0] = args
   if result.sons[2] == nil:
     var lb = newRstNode(rnLiteralBlock)
@@ -1597,7 +1700,7 @@ proc parseMarkdownLink(p: var RstParser; father: PRstNode): bool =
   else:
     result = false
 
-proc getFootnoteType(label: PRstNode): (FootnoteType, int) =
+proc getRstFootnoteType(label: PRstNode): (FootnoteType, int) =
   if label.sons.len >= 1 and label.sons[0].kind == rnLeaf and
       label.sons[0].text == "#":
     if label.sons.len == 1:
@@ -1610,12 +1713,23 @@ proc getFootnoteType(label: PRstNode): (FootnoteType, int) =
   elif label.len == 1 and label.sons[0].kind == rnLeaf:
     try:
       result = (fnManualNumber, parseInt(label.sons[0].text))
-    except:
+    except ValueError:
       result = (fnCitation, -1)
   else:
     result = (fnCitation, -1)
 
-proc parseFootnoteName(p: var RstParser, reference: bool): PRstNode =
+proc getMdFootnoteType(label: PRstNode): (FootnoteType, int) =
+  try:
+    result = (fnManualNumber, parseInt(label.sons[0].text))
+  except ValueError:
+    result = (fnAutoNumberLabel, -1)
+
+proc getFootnoteType(s: PRstSharedState, label: PRstNode): (FootnoteType, int) =
+  ## Returns footnote/citation type and manual number (if present).
+  if isMd(s): getMdFootnoteType(label)
+  else: getRstFootnoteType(label)
+
+proc parseRstFootnoteName(p: var RstParser, reference: bool): PRstNode =
   ## parse footnote/citation label. Precondition: start at `[`.
   ## Label text should be valid ref. name symbol, otherwise nil is returned.
   var i = p.idx + 1
@@ -1645,6 +1759,41 @@ proc parseFootnoteName(p: var RstParser, reference: bool): PRstNode =
     inc i
   p.idx = i
 
+proc isMdFootnoteName(p: RstParser, reference: bool): bool =
+  ## Pandoc Markdown footnote extension.
+  let j = p.idx
+  result = p.tok[j].symbol == "[" and p.tok[j+1].symbol == "^" and
+           p.tok[j+2].kind == tkWord
+
+proc parseMdFootnoteName(p: var RstParser, reference: bool): PRstNode =
+  if isMdFootnoteName(p, reference):
+    result = newRstNode(rnInner)
+    var j = p.idx + 2
+    while p.tok[j].kind in {tkWord, tkOther} or
+        validRefnamePunct(p.tok[j].symbol):
+      result.add newLeaf(p.tok[j].symbol)
+      inc j
+    if j == p.idx + 2:
+      return nil
+    if p.tok[j].symbol == "]":
+      if reference:
+        p.idx = j + 1  # skip ]
+      else:
+        if p.tok[j+1].symbol == ":":
+          p.idx = j + 2  # skip ]:
+        else:
+          result = nil
+    else:
+      result = nil
+  else:
+    result = nil
+
+proc parseFootnoteName(p: var RstParser, reference: bool): PRstNode =
+  if isMd(p): parseMdFootnoteName(p, reference)
+  else:
+    if isInlineMarkupStart(p, "["): parseRstFootnoteName(p, reference)
+    else: nil
+
 proc isMarkdownCodeBlock(p: RstParser, idx: int): bool =
   let tok = p.tok[idx]
   template allowedSymbol: bool =
@@ -1711,16 +1860,12 @@ proc parseInline(p: var RstParser, father: PRstNode) =
       var n = newRstNode(rnSubstitutionReferences, info=lineInfo(p, p.idx+1))
       parseUntil(p, n, "|", false)
       father.add(n)
-    elif roSupportMarkdown in p.s.options and
-        currentTok(p).symbol == "[" and nextTok(p).symbol != "[" and
-        parseMarkdownLink(p, father):
-      discard "parseMarkdownLink already processed it"
-    elif isInlineMarkupStart(p, "[") and nextTok(p).symbol != "[" and
+    elif currentTok(p).symbol == "[" and nextTok(p).symbol != "[" and
          (n = parseFootnoteName(p, reference=true); n != nil):
       var nn = newRstNode(rnFootnoteRef)
       nn.info = lineInfo(p, saveIdx+1)
       nn.add n
-      let (fnType, _) = getFootnoteType(n)
+      let (fnType, _) = getFootnoteType(p.s, n)
       case fnType
       of fnAutoSymbol:
         p.s.lineFootnoteSymRef.add lineInfo(p)
@@ -1728,6 +1873,10 @@ proc parseInline(p: var RstParser, father: PRstNode) =
         p.s.lineFootnoteNumRef.add lineInfo(p)
       else: discard
       father.add(nn)
+    elif roSupportMarkdown in p.s.options and
+        currentTok(p).symbol == "[" and nextTok(p).symbol != "[" and
+        parseMarkdownLink(p, father):
+      discard "parseMarkdownLink already processed it"
     else:
       if roSupportSmilies in p.s.options:
         let n = parseSmiley(p)
@@ -1865,8 +2014,26 @@ proc getMdBlockIndent(p: RstParser): int =
     else:
       result = nextIndent                 # allow parsing next lines [case.3]
 
-template isRst(p: RstParser): bool = roPreferMarkdown notin p.s.options
-template isMd(p: RstParser): bool = roPreferMarkdown in p.s.options
+proc indFollows(p: RstParser): bool =
+  result = currentTok(p).kind == tkIndent and currentTok(p).ival > currInd(p)
+
+proc parseBlockContent(p: var RstParser, father: var PRstNode,
+                       contentParser: SectionParser): bool {.gcsafe.} =
+  ## parse the final content part of explicit markup blocks (directives,
+  ## footnotes, etc). Returns true if succeeded.
+  if currentTok(p).kind != tkIndent or indFollows(p):
+    let blockIndent = getWrappableIndent(p)
+    pushInd(p, blockIndent)
+    let content = contentParser(p)
+    popInd(p)
+    father.add content
+    result = true
+
+proc parseSectionWrapper(p: var RstParser): PRstNode =
+  result = newRstNode(rnInner)
+  parseSection(p, result)
+  while result.kind == rnInner and result.len == 1:
+    result = result.sons[0]
 
 proc parseField(p: var RstParser): PRstNode =
   ## Returns a parsed rnField node.
@@ -2052,17 +2219,20 @@ proc isAdornmentHeadline(p: RstParser, adornmentIdx: int): bool =
     while p.tok[i].kind notin {tkEof, tkIndent}:
       headlineLen += p.tok[i].symbol.len
       inc i
-    result = p.tok[adornmentIdx].symbol.len >= headlineLen and
-         headlineLen != 0
-    if result:
-      result = result and p.tok[i].kind == tkIndent and
-         p.tok[i+1].kind == tkAdornment and
-         p.tok[i+1].symbol == p.tok[adornmentIdx].symbol
-      if not result:
-        failure = "(underline '" & p.tok[i+1].symbol & "' does not match " &
-            "overline '" & p.tok[adornmentIdx].symbol & "')"
-    else:
-      failure = "(overline '" & p.tok[adornmentIdx].symbol & "' is too short)"
+    if p.tok[i].kind == tkIndent and
+       p.tok[i+1].kind == tkAdornment and
+       p.tok[i+1].symbol[0] == p.tok[adornmentIdx].symbol[0]:
+      result = p.tok[adornmentIdx].symbol.len >= headlineLen and
+           headlineLen != 0
+      if result:
+        result = p.tok[i+1].symbol == p.tok[adornmentIdx].symbol
+        if not result:
+          failure = "(underline '" & p.tok[i+1].symbol & "' does not match " &
+              "overline '" & p.tok[adornmentIdx].symbol & "')"
+      else:
+        failure = "(overline '" & p.tok[adornmentIdx].symbol & "' is too short)"
+    else:  # it's not overline/underline section, not reporting error
+      return false
   if not result:
     rstMessage(p, meNewSectionExpected, failure)
 
@@ -2189,16 +2359,19 @@ proc whichSection(p: RstParser): RstNodeKind =
       result = rnLineBlock
     elif roSupportMarkdown in p.s.options and isMarkdownBlockQuote(p):
       result = rnMarkdownBlockQuote
-    elif match(p, p.idx + 1, "i") and isAdornmentHeadline(p, p.idx):
+    elif (match(p, p.idx + 1, "i") and not match(p, p.idx + 2, "I")) and
+         isAdornmentHeadline(p, p.idx):
       result = rnOverline
     else:
-      result = rnLeaf
+      result = rnParagraph
   of tkPunct:
     if isMarkdownHeadline(p):
       result = rnMarkdownHeadline
     elif roSupportMarkdown in p.s.options and predNL(p) and
         match(p, p.idx, "| w") and findPipe(p, p.idx+3):
       result = rnMarkdownTable
+    elif isMd(p) and isMdFootnoteName(p, reference=false):
+      result = rnFootnote
     elif currentTok(p).symbol == "|" and isLineBlock(p):
       result = rnLineBlock
     elif roSupportMarkdown in p.s.options and isMarkdownBlockQuote(p):
@@ -2375,7 +2548,9 @@ proc parseParagraph(p: var RstParser, result: PRstNode) =
           result.addIfNotNil(parseLineBlock(p))
         of rnMarkdownBlockQuote:
           result.addIfNotNil(parseMarkdownBlockQuote(p))
-        else: break
+        else:
+          dec p.idx  # allow subsequent block to be parsed as another section
+          break
       else:
         break
     of tkPunct:
@@ -2518,11 +2693,11 @@ proc getColumns(p: RstParser, cols: var RstCols, startIdx: int): int =
 proc checkColumns(p: RstParser, cols: RstCols) =
   var i = p.idx
   if p.tok[i].symbol[0] != '=':
-    rstMessage(p, mwRstStyle,
+    stopOrWarn(p, meIllformedTable,
                "only tables with `=` columns specification are allowed")
   for col in 0 ..< cols.len:
     if tokEnd(p, i) != cols[col].stop:
-      rstMessage(p, meIllformedTable,
+      stopOrWarn(p, meIllformedTable,
                  "end of table column #$1 should end at position $2" % [
                    $(col+1), $(cols[col].stop+ColRstOffset)],
                  p.tok[i].line, tokEnd(p, i))
@@ -2531,12 +2706,12 @@ proc checkColumns(p: RstParser, cols: RstCols) =
       if p.tok[i].kind == tkWhite:
         inc i
       if p.tok[i].kind notin {tkIndent, tkEof}:
-        rstMessage(p, meIllformedTable, "extraneous column specification")
+        stopOrWarn(p, meIllformedTable, "extraneous column specification")
     elif p.tok[i].kind == tkWhite:
       inc i
     else:
-      rstMessage(p, meIllformedTable, "no enough table columns",
-                 p.tok[i].line, p.tok[i].col)
+      stopOrWarn(p, meIllformedTable,
+                 "no enough table columns", p.tok[i].line, p.tok[i].col)
 
 proc getSpans(p: RstParser, nextLine: int,
               cols: RstCols, unitedCols: RstCols): seq[int] =
@@ -2591,17 +2766,18 @@ proc parseSimpleTableRow(p: var RstParser, cols: RstCols, colChar: char): PRstNo
       if tokEnd(p) <= colEnd(nCell):
         if tokStart(p) < colStart(nCell):
           if currentTok(p).kind != tkWhite:
-            rstMessage(p, meIllformedTable,
+            stopOrWarn(p, meIllformedTable,
                        "this word crosses table column from the left")
-          else:
-            inc p.idx
+            row[nCell].add(currentTok(p).symbol)
         else:
           row[nCell].add(currentTok(p).symbol)
-          inc p.idx
+        inc p.idx
       else:
         if tokStart(p) < colEnd(nCell) and currentTok(p).kind != tkWhite:
-          rstMessage(p, meIllformedTable,
+          stopOrWarn(p, meIllformedTable,
                      "this word crosses table column from the right")
+          row[nCell].add(currentTok(p).symbol)
+          inc p.idx
         inc nCell
     if currentTok(p).kind == tkIndent: inc p.idx
     if tokEnd(p) <= colEnd(0): break
@@ -2764,7 +2940,7 @@ proc parseOptionList(p: var RstParser): PRstNode =
       break
 
 proc parseMdDefinitionList(p: var RstParser): PRstNode =
-  ## Parses (Pandoc/kramdown/PHPextra) Mardkown definition lists.
+  ## Parses (Pandoc/kramdown/PHPextra) Markdown definition lists.
   result = newRstNodeA(p, rnMdDefList)
   let termCol = currentTok(p).col
   while true:
@@ -2899,13 +3075,13 @@ proc parseEnumList(p: var RstParser): PRstNode =
       let enumerator = p.tok[p.idx + 1 + wildIndex[w]].symbol
       # check that it's in sequence: enumerator == next(prevEnum)
       if "n" in wildcards[w]:  # arabic numeral
-        let prevEnumI = try: parseInt(prevEnum) except: 1
+        let prevEnumI = try: parseInt(prevEnum) except ValueError: 1
         if enumerator in autoEnums:
           if prevAE != "" and enumerator != prevAE:
             break
           prevAE = enumerator
           curEnum = prevEnumI + 1
-        else: curEnum = (try: parseInt(enumerator) except: 1)
+        else: curEnum = (try: parseInt(enumerator) except ValueError: 1)
         if curEnum - prevEnumI != 1:
           break
         prevEnum = enumerator
@@ -2920,6 +3096,57 @@ proc parseEnumList(p: var RstParser): PRstNode =
     else:
       break
 
+proc prefix(ftnType: FootnoteType): string =
+  case ftnType
+  of fnManualNumber: result = "footnote-"
+  of fnAutoNumber: result = "footnoteauto-"
+  of fnAutoNumberLabel: result = "footnote-"
+  of fnAutoSymbol: result = "footnotesym-"
+  of fnCitation: result = "citation-"
+
+proc parseFootnote(p: var RstParser): PRstNode {.gcsafe.} =
+  ## Parses footnotes and citations, always returns 2 sons:
+  ##
+  ## 1) footnote label, always containing rnInner with 1 or more sons
+  ## 2) footnote body, which may be nil
+  var label: PRstNode
+  if isRst(p):
+    inc p.idx  # skip space after `..`
+  label = parseFootnoteName(p, reference=false)
+  if label == nil:
+    if isRst(p):
+      dec p.idx
+    return nil
+  result = newRstNode(rnFootnote)
+  result.add label
+  let (fnType, i) = getFootnoteType(p.s, label)
+  var name = ""
+  var anchor = fnType.prefix
+  case fnType
+  of fnManualNumber:
+    addFootnoteNumManual(p, i)
+    anchor.add $i
+  of fnAutoNumber, fnAutoNumberLabel:
+    name = rstnodeToRefname(label)
+    addFootnoteNumAuto(p, name)
+    if fnType == fnAutoNumberLabel:
+      anchor.add name
+    else:  # fnAutoNumber
+      result.order = p.s.lineFootnoteNum.len
+      anchor.add $result.order
+  of fnAutoSymbol:
+    addFootnoteSymAuto(p)
+    result.order = p.s.lineFootnoteSym.len
+    anchor.add $p.s.lineFootnoteSym.len
+  of fnCitation:
+    anchor.add rstnodeToRefname(label)
+  addAnchorRst(p, anchor, target = result, anchorType = footnoteAnchor)
+  result.anchor = anchor
+  if currentTok(p).kind == tkWhite: inc p.idx
+  discard parseBlockContent(p, result, parseSectionWrapper)
+  if result.len < 2:
+    result.add nil
+
 proc sonKind(father: PRstNode, i: int): RstNodeKind =
   result = rnLeaf
   if i < father.len: result = father.sons[i].kind
@@ -2962,6 +3189,7 @@ proc parseSection(p: var RstParser, result: PRstNode) =
     of rnLineBlock: a = parseLineBlock(p)
     of rnMarkdownBlockQuote: a = parseMarkdownBlockQuote(p)
     of rnDirective: a = parseDotDot(p)
+    of rnFootnote: a = parseFootnote(p)
     of rnEnumList: a = parseEnumList(p)
     of rnLeaf: rstMessage(p, meNewSectionExpected, "(syntax error)")
     of rnParagraph: discard
@@ -2987,12 +3215,6 @@ proc parseSection(p: var RstParser, result: PRstNode) =
     result.sons[0] = newRstNode(rnInner, result.sons[0].sons,
                                 anchor=result.sons[0].anchor)
 
-proc parseSectionWrapper(p: var RstParser): PRstNode =
-  result = newRstNode(rnInner)
-  parseSection(p, result)
-  while result.kind == rnInner and result.len == 1:
-    result = result.sons[0]
-
 proc parseDoc(p: var RstParser): PRstNode =
   result = parseSectionWrapper(p)
   if currentTok(p).kind != tkEof:
@@ -3002,7 +3224,6 @@ type
   DirFlag = enum
     hasArg, hasOptions, argIsFile, argIsWord
   DirFlags = set[DirFlag]
-  SectionParser = proc (p: var RstParser): PRstNode {.nimcall, gcsafe.}
 
 proc parseDirective(p: var RstParser, k: RstNodeKind, flags: DirFlags): PRstNode =
   ## Parses arguments and options for a directive block.
@@ -3045,21 +3266,6 @@ proc parseDirective(p: var RstParser, k: RstNodeKind, flags: DirFlags): PRstNode
       popInd(p)
   result.add(options)
 
-proc indFollows(p: RstParser): bool =
-  result = currentTok(p).kind == tkIndent and currentTok(p).ival > currInd(p)
-
-proc parseBlockContent(p: var RstParser, father: var PRstNode,
-                       contentParser: SectionParser): bool {.gcsafe.} =
-  ## parse the final content part of explicit markup blocks (directives,
-  ## footnotes, etc). Returns true if succeeded.
-  if currentTok(p).kind != tkIndent or indFollows(p):
-    let blockIndent = getWrappableIndent(p)
-    pushInd(p, blockIndent)
-    let content = contentParser(p)
-    popInd(p)
-    father.add content
-    result = true
-
 proc parseDirective(p: var RstParser, k: RstNodeKind, flags: DirFlags,
                     contentParser: SectionParser): PRstNode =
   ## A helper proc that does main work for specific directive procs.
@@ -3251,6 +3457,15 @@ proc dirRaw(p: var RstParser): PRstNode =
   else:
     dirRawAux(p, result, rnRaw, parseSectionWrapper)
 
+proc dirImportdoc(p: var RstParser): PRstNode =
+  result = parseDirective(p, rnDirective, {}, parseLiteralBlock)
+  assert result.sons[2].kind == rnLiteralBlock
+  assert result.sons[2].sons[0].kind == rnLeaf
+  let filenames: seq[string] = split(result.sons[2].sons[0].text, seps = {','})
+  proc rmSpaces(s: string): string = s.split.join("")
+  for origFilename in filenames:
+    p.s.idxImports[origFilename.rmSpaces] = ImportdocInfo(fromInfo: lineInfo(p))
+
 proc selectDir(p: var RstParser, d: string): PRstNode =
   result = nil
   let tok = p.tok[p.idx-2] # report on directive in ".. directive::"
@@ -3271,6 +3486,7 @@ proc selectDir(p: var RstParser, d: string): PRstNode =
   of "hint": result = dirAdmonition(p, d)
   of "image": result = dirImage(p)
   of "important": result = dirAdmonition(p, d)
+  of "importdoc": result = dirImportdoc(p)
   of "include": result = dirInclude(p)
   of "index": result = dirIndex(p)
   of "note": result = dirAdmonition(p, d)
@@ -3286,54 +3502,6 @@ proc selectDir(p: var RstParser, d: string): PRstNode =
   else:
     rstMessage(p, meInvalidDirective, d, tok.line, tok.col)
 
-proc prefix(ftnType: FootnoteType): string =
-  case ftnType
-  of fnManualNumber: result = "footnote-"
-  of fnAutoNumber: result = "footnoteauto-"
-  of fnAutoNumberLabel: result = "footnote-"
-  of fnAutoSymbol: result = "footnotesym-"
-  of fnCitation: result = "citation-"
-
-proc parseFootnote(p: var RstParser): PRstNode {.gcsafe.} =
-  ## Parses footnotes and citations, always returns 2 sons:
-  ##
-  ## 1) footnote label, always containing rnInner with 1 or more sons
-  ## 2) footnote body, which may be nil
-  inc p.idx
-  let label = parseFootnoteName(p, reference=false)
-  if label == nil:
-    dec p.idx
-    return nil
-  result = newRstNode(rnFootnote)
-  result.add label
-  let (fnType, i) = getFootnoteType(label)
-  var name = ""
-  var anchor = fnType.prefix
-  case fnType
-  of fnManualNumber:
-    addFootnoteNumManual(p, i)
-    anchor.add $i
-  of fnAutoNumber, fnAutoNumberLabel:
-    name = rstnodeToRefname(label)
-    addFootnoteNumAuto(p, name)
-    if fnType == fnAutoNumberLabel:
-      anchor.add name
-    else:  # fnAutoNumber
-      result.order = p.s.lineFootnoteNum.len
-      anchor.add $result.order
-  of fnAutoSymbol:
-    addFootnoteSymAuto(p)
-    result.order = p.s.lineFootnoteSym.len
-    anchor.add $p.s.lineFootnoteSym.len
-  of fnCitation:
-    anchor.add rstnodeToRefname(label)
-  addAnchorRst(p, anchor, target = result, anchorType = footnoteAnchor)
-  result.anchor = anchor
-  if currentTok(p).kind == tkWhite: inc p.idx
-  discard parseBlockContent(p, result, parseSectionWrapper)
-  if result.len < 2:
-    result.add nil
-
 proc parseDotDot(p: var RstParser): PRstNode =
   # parse "explicit markup blocks"
   result = nil
@@ -3401,77 +3569,200 @@ proc rstParsePass1*(fragment: string,
   getTokens(fragment, p.tok)
   result = parseDoc(p)
 
-proc preparePass2*(s: PRstSharedState, mainNode: PRstNode) =
+proc extractLinkEnd(x: string): string =
+  ## From links like `path/to/file.html#/%` extract `file.html#/%`.
+  let i = find(x, '#')
+  let last =
+    if i >= 0: i
+    else: x.len - 1
+  let j = rfind(x, '/', start=0, last=last)
+  if j >= 0:
+    result = x[j+1 .. ^1]
+  else:
+    result = x
+
+proc loadIdxFile(s: var PRstSharedState, origFilename: string) =
+  doAssert roSandboxDisabled in s.options
+  var info: TLineInfo
+  info.fileIndex = addFilename(s, origFilename)
+  var (dir, basename, ext) = origFilename.splitFile
+  if ext notin [".md", ".rst", ".nim", ""]:
+    rstMessage(s.filenames, s.msgHandler, s.idxImports[origFilename].fromInfo,
+               meCannotOpenFile, origFilename & ": unknown extension")
+  let idxFilename = dir / basename & ".idx"
+  let (idxPath, linkRelPath) = s.findRefFile(idxFilename)
+  s.idxImports[origFilename].linkRelPath = linkRelPath
+  var
+    fileEntries: seq[IndexEntry]
+    title: IndexEntry
+  try:
+    (fileEntries, title) = parseIdxFile(idxPath)
+  except IOError:
+    rstMessage(s.filenames, s.msgHandler, s.idxImports[origFilename].fromInfo,
+               meCannotOpenFile, idxPath)
+  except ValueError as e:
+    s.msgHandler(idxPath, LineRstInit, ColRstInit, meInvalidField, e.msg)
+
+  var isMarkup = false  # for sanity check to avoid mixing .md <-> .nim
+  for entry in fileEntries:
+    # Though target .idx already has inside it the path to HTML relative
+    # project's root, we won't rely on it and use `linkRelPath` instead.
+    let refn = extractLinkEnd(entry.link)
+    # select either markup (rst/md) or Nim cases:
+    if entry.kind in {ieMarkupTitle, ieNimTitle}:
+      s.idxImports[origFilename].title = entry.keyword
+    case entry.kind
+    of ieIdxRole, ieHeading, ieMarkupTitle:
+      if ext == ".nim" and entry.kind == ieMarkupTitle:
+        rstMessage(s, idxPath, meInvalidField,
+                   $ieMarkupTitle & " in supposedly .nim-derived file")
+      if entry.kind == ieMarkupTitle:
+        isMarkup = true
+      info.line = entry.line.uint16
+      addAnchorExtRst(s, key = entry.keyword, refn = refn,
+                      anchorType = headlineAnchor, info=info)
+    of ieNim, ieNimGroup, ieNimTitle:
+      if ext in [".md", ".rst"] or isMarkup:
+        rstMessage(s, idxPath, meInvalidField,
+                   $entry.kind & " in supposedly markup-derived file")
+      s.nimFileImported = true
+      var langSym: LangSymbol
+      if entry.kind in {ieNim, ieNimTitle}:
+        var q: RstParser
+        initParser(q, s)
+        info.line = entry.line.uint16
+        setLen(q.tok, 0)
+        q.idx = 0
+        getTokens(entry.linkTitle, q.tok)
+        var sons = newSeq[PRstNode](q.tok.len)
+        for i in 0 ..< q.tok.len: sons[i] = newLeaf(q.tok[i].symbol)
+        let linkTitle = newRstNode(rnInner, sons)
+        langSym = linkTitle.toLangSymbol
+      else:  # entry.kind == ieNimGroup
+        langSym = langSymbolGroup(kind=entry.linkTitle, name=entry.keyword)
+      addAnchorNim(s, external = true, refn = refn, tooltip = entry.linkDesc,
+                   langSym = langSym, priority = -4, # lowest
+                   info = info, module = info.fileIndex)
+  doAssert s.idxImports[origFilename].title != ""
+
+proc preparePass2*(s: var PRstSharedState, mainNode: PRstNode, importdoc = true) =
   ## Records titles in node `mainNode` and orders footnotes.
   countTitles(s, mainNode)
   fixHeadlines(s)
   orderFootnotes(s)
+  if importdoc:
+    for origFilename in s.idxImports.keys:
+      loadIdxFile(s, origFilename)
 
 proc resolveLink(s: PRstSharedState, n: PRstNode) : PRstNode =
-    # Associate this link alias with its target and change node kind to
-    # rnHyperlink or rnInternalRef appropriately.
-    var desc, alias: PRstNode
-    if n.kind == rnPandocRef:  # link like [desc][alias]
-      desc = n.sons[0]
-      alias = n.sons[1]
-    else:  # n.kind == rnRstRef, link like `desc=alias`_
-      desc = n
-      alias = n
-    type LinkDef = object
-      ar: AnchorRule
-      priority: int
-      tooltip: string
-      target: PRstNode
-      info: TLineInfo
-    proc cmp(x, y: LinkDef): int =
-      result = cmp(x.priority, y.priority)
-      if result == 0:
-        result = cmp(x.target, y.target)
-    var foundLinks: seq[LinkDef]
-    let refn = rstnodeToRefname(alias)
-    var hyperlinks = findRef(s, refn)
-    for y in hyperlinks:
-      foundLinks.add LinkDef(ar: arHyperlink, priority: refPriority(y.kind),
-                             target: y.value, info: y.info,
-                             tooltip: "(" & $y.kind & ")")
-    let substRst = findMainAnchorRst(s, alias.addNodes, n.info)
-    for subst in substRst:
-      foundLinks.add LinkDef(ar: arInternalRst, priority: subst.priority,
-                             target: newLeaf(subst.target.anchor),
-                             info: subst.info,
-                             tooltip: "(" & $subst.anchorType & ")")
-    # find anchors automatically generated from Nim symbols
-    if roNimFile in s.options:
-      let substNim = findMainAnchorNim(s, signature=alias, n.info)
-      for subst in substNim:
-        foundLinks.add LinkDef(ar: arNim, priority: subst.priority,
-                               target: newLeaf(subst.refname),
-                               info: subst.info, tooltip: subst.tooltip)
-    foundLinks.sort(cmp = cmp, order = Descending)
-    let aliasStr = addNodes(alias)
-    if foundLinks.len >= 1:
-      let kind = if foundLinks[0].ar == arHyperlink: rnHyperlink
-                 elif foundLinks[0].ar == arNim: rnNimdocRef
-                 else: rnInternalRef
-      result = newRstNode(kind)
-      result.sons = @[newRstNode(rnInner, desc.sons), foundLinks[0].target]
-      if kind == rnNimdocRef: result.tooltip = foundLinks[0].tooltip
-      if foundLinks.len > 1:  # report ambiguous link
-        var targets = newSeq[string]()
-        for l in foundLinks:
-          var t = "    "
-          if s.filenames.len > 1:
-            t.add getFilename(s.filenames, l.info.fileIndex)
-          let n = l.info.line
-          let c = l.info.col + ColRstOffset
-          t.add "($1, $2): $3" % [$n, $c, l.tooltip]
-          targets.add t
-        rstMessage(s.filenames, s.msgHandler, n.info, mwAmbiguousLink,
-                   "`$1`\n  clash:\n$2" % [
-                     aliasStr, targets.join("\n")])
-    else:  # nothing found
-      result = n
-      rstMessage(s.filenames, s.msgHandler, n.info, mwBrokenLink, aliasStr)
+  # Associate this link alias with its target and change node kind to
+  # rnHyperlink or rnInternalRef appropriately.
+  var desc, alias: PRstNode
+  if n.kind == rnPandocRef:  # link like [desc][alias]
+    desc = n.sons[0]
+    alias = n.sons[1]
+  else:  # n.kind == rnRstRef, link like `desc=alias`_
+    desc = n
+    alias = n
+  type LinkDef = object
+    ar: AnchorRule
+    priority: int
+    tooltip: string
+    target: PRstNode
+    info: TLineInfo
+    externFilename: string
+      # when external anchor: origin filename where anchor was defined
+    isTitle: bool
+  proc cmp(x, y: LinkDef): int =
+    result = cmp(x.priority, y.priority)
+    if result == 0:
+      result = cmp(x.target, y.target)
+  var foundLinks: seq[LinkDef]
+  let refn = rstnodeToRefname(alias)
+  var hyperlinks = findRef(s, refn)
+  for y in hyperlinks:
+    foundLinks.add LinkDef(ar: arHyperlink, priority: refPriority(y.kind),
+                           target: y.value, info: y.info,
+                           tooltip: "(" & $y.kind & ")")
+  let substRst = findMainAnchorRst(s, alias.addNodes, n.info)
+  template getExternFilename(subst: AnchorSubst): string =
+    if subst.kind == arExternalRst or
+        (subst.kind == arNim and subst.external):
+      getFilename(s, subst)
+    else: ""
+  for subst in substRst:
+    var refname, fullRefname: string
+    if subst.kind == arInternalRst:
+      refname = subst.target.anchor
+      fullRefname = refname
+    else:  # arExternalRst
+      refname = subst.refnameExt
+      fullRefname = s.idxImports[getFilename(s, subst)].linkRelPath &
+                      "/" & refname
+    let anchorType =
+      if subst.kind == arInternalRst: subst.anchorType
+      else: subst.anchorTypeExt  # arExternalRst
+    foundLinks.add LinkDef(ar: subst.kind, priority: subst.priority,
+                           target: newLeaf(fullRefname),
+                           info: subst.info,
+                           externFilename: getExternFilename(subst),
+                           isTitle: isDocumentationTitle(refname),
+                           tooltip: "(" & $anchorType & ")")
+  # find anchors automatically generated from Nim symbols
+  if roNimFile in s.options or s.nimFileImported:
+    let substNim = findMainAnchorNim(s, signature=alias, n.info)
+    for subst in substNim:
+      let fullRefname =
+        if subst.external:
+          s.idxImports[getFilename(s, subst)].linkRelPath &
+              "/" & subst.refname
+        else: subst.refname
+      foundLinks.add LinkDef(ar: subst.kind, priority: subst.priority,
+                             target: newLeaf(fullRefname),
+                             externFilename: getExternFilename(subst),
+                             isTitle: isDocumentationTitle(subst.refname),
+                             info: subst.info, tooltip: subst.tooltip)
+  foundLinks.sort(cmp = cmp, order = Descending)
+  let aliasStr = addNodes(alias)
+  if foundLinks.len >= 1:
+    if foundLinks[0].externFilename != "":
+      s.idxImports[foundLinks[0].externFilename].used = true
+    let kind = if foundLinks[0].ar in {arHyperlink, arExternalRst}: rnHyperlink
+               elif foundLinks[0].ar == arNim:
+                 if foundLinks[0].externFilename == "": rnNimdocRef
+                 else: rnHyperlink
+               else: rnInternalRef
+    result = newRstNode(kind)
+    let documentName =  # filename without ext for `.nim`, title for `.md`
+      if foundLinks[0].ar == arNim:
+        changeFileExt(foundLinks[0].externFilename.extractFilename, "")
+      elif foundLinks[0].externFilename != "":
+        s.idxImports[foundLinks[0].externFilename].title
+      else: foundLinks[0].externFilename.extractFilename
+    let linkText =
+      if foundLinks[0].externFilename != "":
+        if foundLinks[0].isTitle: newLeaf(addNodes(desc))
+        else: newLeaf(documentName & ": " & addNodes(desc))
+      else:
+        newRstNode(rnInner, desc.sons)
+    result.sons = @[linkText, foundLinks[0].target]
+    if kind == rnNimdocRef: result.tooltip = foundLinks[0].tooltip
+    if foundLinks.len > 1:  # report ambiguous link
+      var targets = newSeq[string]()
+      for l in foundLinks:
+        var t = "    "
+        if s.filenames.len > 1:
+          t.add getFilename(s.filenames, l.info.fileIndex)
+        let n = l.info.line
+        let c = l.info.col + ColRstOffset
+        t.add "($1, $2): $3" % [$n, $c, l.tooltip]
+        targets.add t
+      rstMessage(s.filenames, s.msgHandler, n.info, mwAmbiguousLink,
+                 "`$1`\n  clash:\n$2" % [
+                   aliasStr, targets.join("\n")])
+  else:  # nothing found
+    result = n
+    rstMessage(s.filenames, s.msgHandler, n.info, mwBrokenLink, aliasStr)
 
 proc resolveSubs*(s: PRstSharedState, n: PRstNode): PRstNode =
   ## Makes pass 2 of RST parsing.
@@ -3494,7 +3785,7 @@ proc resolveSubs*(s: PRstSharedState, n: PRstNode): PRstNode =
   of rnRstRef, rnPandocRef:
     result = resolveLink(s, n)
   of rnFootnote:
-    var (fnType, num) = getFootnoteType(n.sons[0])
+    var (fnType, num) = getFootnoteType(s, n.sons[0])
     case fnType
     of fnManualNumber, fnCitation:
       discard "no need to alter fixed text"
@@ -3512,7 +3803,7 @@ proc resolveSubs*(s: PRstSharedState, n: PRstNode): PRstNode =
       n.sons[0].sons[0].text = sym
     n.sons[1] = resolveSubs(s, n.sons[1])
   of rnFootnoteRef:
-    var (fnType, num) = getFootnoteType(n.sons[0])
+    var (fnType, num) = getFootnoteType(s, n.sons[0])
     template addLabel(number: int | string) =
       var nn = newRstNode(rnInner)
       nn.add newLeaf($number)
@@ -3568,20 +3859,28 @@ proc resolveSubs*(s: PRstSharedState, n: PRstNode): PRstNode =
           inc i
       result.sons = newSons
 
+proc completePass2*(s: PRstSharedState) =
+  for (filename, importdocInfo) in s.idxImports.pairs:
+    if not importdocInfo.used:
+      rstMessage(s.filenames, s.msgHandler, importdocInfo.fromInfo,
+                 mwUnusedImportdoc, filename)
+
 proc rstParse*(text, filename: string,
                line, column: int,
                options: RstParseOptions,
                findFile: FindFileHandler = nil,
+               findRefFile: FindRefFileHandler = nil,
                msgHandler: MsgHandler = nil):
               tuple[node: PRstNode, filenames: RstFileTable, hasToc: bool] =
   ## Parses the whole `text`. The result is ready for `rstgen.renderRstToOut`,
   ## note that 2nd tuple element should be fed to `initRstGenerator`
   ## argument `filenames` (it is being filled here at least with `filename`
   ## and possibly with other files from RST ``.. include::`` statement).
-  var sharedState = newRstSharedState(options, filename, findFile,
+  var sharedState = newRstSharedState(options, filename, findFile, findRefFile,
                                       msgHandler, hasToc=false)
   let unresolved = rstParsePass1(text, line, column, sharedState)
   preparePass2(sharedState, unresolved)
   result.node = resolveSubs(sharedState, unresolved)
+  completePass2(sharedState)
   result.filenames = sharedState.filenames
   result.hasToc = sharedState.hasToc
diff --git a/lib/packages/docutils/rstast.nim b/lib/packages/docutils/rstast.nim
index c808318b5..2bbb0d0b8 100644
--- a/lib/packages/docutils/rstast.nim
+++ b/lib/packages/docutils/rstast.nim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 ## This module implements an AST for the `reStructuredText`:idx: parser.
 
-import strutils, json
+import std/[strutils, json]
 
 when defined(nimPreviewSlimSystem):
   import std/assertions
diff --git a/lib/packages/docutils/rstgen.nim b/lib/packages/docutils/rstgen.nim
index 597ee1553..7fc0ac03a 100644
--- a/lib/packages/docutils/rstgen.nim
+++ b/lib/packages/docutils/rstgen.nim
@@ -39,9 +39,10 @@
 ##   No backreferences are generated since finding all references of a footnote
 ##   can be done by simply searching for ``[footnoteName]``.
 
-import strutils, os, hashes, strtabs, rstast, rst, highlite, tables, sequtils,
-  algorithm, parseutils, std/strbasics
+import std/[strutils, os, hashes, strtabs, tables, sequtils,
+  algorithm, parseutils, strbasics]
 
+import rstast, rst, rstidx, highlite
 
 when defined(nimPreviewSlimSystem):
   import std/[assertions, syncio, formatfloat]
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ type
     outLatex            # output is Latex
 
   MetaEnum* = enum
-    metaNone, metaTitle, metaSubtitle, metaAuthor, metaVersion
+    metaNone, metaTitleRaw, metaTitle, metaSubtitle, metaAuthor, metaVersion
 
   EscapeMode* = enum  # in Latex text inside options [] and URLs is
                       # escaped slightly differently than in normal text
@@ -321,31 +322,8 @@ proc renderAux(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, html, tex: string, result: var string) =
 
 # ---------------- index handling --------------------------------------------
 
-proc quoteIndexColumn(text: string): string =
-  ## Returns a safe version of `text` for serialization to the ``.idx`` file.
-  ##
-  ## The returned version can be put without worries in a line based tab
-  ## separated column text file. The following character sequence replacements
-  ## will be performed for that goal:
-  ##
-  ## * ``"\\"`` => ``"\\\\"``
-  ## * ``"\n"`` => ``"\\n"``
-  ## * ``"\t"`` => ``"\\t"``
-  result = newStringOfCap(text.len + 3)
-  for c in text:
-    case c
-    of '\\': result.add "\\"
-    of '\L': result.add "\\n"
-    of '\C': discard
-    of '\t': result.add "\\t"
-    else: result.add c
-
-proc unquoteIndexColumn(text: string): string =
-  ## Returns the unquoted version generated by ``quoteIndexColumn``.
-  result = text.multiReplace(("\\t", "\t"), ("\\n", "\n"), ("\\\\", "\\"))
-
-proc setIndexTerm*(d: var RstGenerator, htmlFile, id, term: string,
-                   linkTitle, linkDesc = "") =
+proc setIndexTerm*(d: var RstGenerator; k: IndexEntryKind, htmlFile, id, term: string,
+                   linkTitle, linkDesc = "", line = 0) =
   ## Adds a `term` to the index using the specified hyperlink identifier.
   ##
   ## A new entry will be added to the index using the format
@@ -368,21 +346,8 @@ proc setIndexTerm*(d: var RstGenerator, htmlFile, id, term: string,
   ## <#writeIndexFile,RstGenerator,string>`_. The purpose of the index is
   ## documented in the `docgen tools guide
   ## <docgen.html#related-options-index-switch>`_.
-  var
-    entry = term
-    isTitle = false
-  entry.add('\t')
-  entry.add(htmlFile)
-  if id.len > 0:
-    entry.add('#')
-    entry.add(id)
-  else:
-    isTitle = true
-  if linkTitle.len > 0 or linkDesc.len > 0:
-    entry.add('\t' & linkTitle.quoteIndexColumn)
-    entry.add('\t' & linkDesc.quoteIndexColumn)
-  entry.add("\n")
-
+  let (entry, isTitle) = formatIndexEntry(k, htmlFile, id, term,
+                                          linkTitle, linkDesc, line)
   if isTitle: d.theIndex.insert(entry)
   else: d.theIndex.add(entry)
 
@@ -395,6 +360,15 @@ proc hash(n: PRstNode): int =
       result = result !& hash(n.sons[i])
     result = !$result
 
+proc htmlFileRelPath(d: PDoc): string =
+  if d.outDir.len == 0:
+    # /foo/bar/zoo.nim -> zoo.html
+    changeFileExt(extractFilename(d.filename), HtmlExt)
+  else: # d is initialized in docgen.nim
+    # outDir   = /foo              -\
+    # destFile = /foo/bar/zoo.html -|-> bar/zoo.html
+    d.destFile.relativePath(d.outDir, '/')
+
 proc renderIndexTerm*(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   ## Renders the string decorated within \`foobar\`\:idx\: markers.
   ##
@@ -411,17 +385,12 @@ proc renderIndexTerm*(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
 
   var term = ""
   renderAux(d, n, term)
-  setIndexTerm(d, changeFileExt(extractFilename(d.filename), HtmlExt), id, term, d.currentSection)
+  setIndexTerm(d, ieIdxRole,
+  htmlFileRelPath(d), id, term, d.currentSection)
   dispA(d.target, result, "<span id=\"$1\">$2</span>", "\\nimindexterm{$1}{$2}",
         [id, term])
 
 type
-  IndexEntry* = object
-    keyword*: string
-    link*: string
-    linkTitle*: string ## contains a prettier text for the href
-    linkDesc*: string ## the title attribute of the final href
-
   IndexedDocs* = Table[IndexEntry, seq[IndexEntry]] ## \
     ## Contains the index sequences for doc types.
     ##
@@ -432,21 +401,6 @@ type
     ## The value indexed by this IndexEntry is a sequence with the real index
     ## entries found in the ``.idx`` file.
 
-proc cmp(a, b: IndexEntry): int =
-  ## Sorts two ``IndexEntry`` first by `keyword` field, then by `link`.
-  result = cmpIgnoreStyle(a.keyword, b.keyword)
-  if result == 0:
-    result = cmpIgnoreStyle(a.link, b.link)
-
-proc hash(x: IndexEntry): Hash =
-  ## Returns the hash for the combined fields of the type.
-  ##
-  ## The hash is computed as the chained hash of the individual string hashes.
-  result = x.keyword.hash !& x.link.hash
-  result = result !& x.linkTitle.hash
-  result = result !& x.linkDesc.hash
-  result = !$result
-
 when defined(gcDestructors):
   template `<-`(a, b: var IndexEntry) = a = move(b)
 else:
@@ -455,6 +409,7 @@ else:
     shallowCopy a.link, b.link
     shallowCopy a.linkTitle, b.linkTitle
     shallowCopy a.linkDesc, b.linkDesc
+    shallowCopy a.module, b.module
 
 proc sortIndex(a: var openArray[IndexEntry]) =
   # we use shellsort here; fast and simple
@@ -494,16 +449,20 @@ proc generateSymbolIndex(symbols: seq[IndexEntry]): string =
   result = "<dl>"
   var i = 0
   while i < symbols.len:
-    let keyword = symbols[i].keyword
+    let keyword = esc(outHtml, symbols[i].keyword)
     let cleanedKeyword = keyword.escapeLink
     result.addf("<dt><a name=\"$2\" href=\"#$2\"><span>$1:</span></a></dt><dd><ul class=\"simple\">\n",
                 [keyword, cleanedKeyword])
     var j = i
-    while j < symbols.len and keyword == symbols[j].keyword:
+    while j < symbols.len and symbols[i].keyword == symbols[j].keyword:
       let
         url = symbols[j].link.escapeLink
-        text = if symbols[j].linkTitle.len > 0: symbols[j].linkTitle else: url
-        desc = if symbols[j].linkDesc.len > 0: symbols[j].linkDesc else: ""
+        module = symbols[j].module
+        text =
+          if symbols[j].linkTitle.len > 0:
+            esc(outHtml, module & ": " & symbols[j].linkTitle)
+          else: url
+        desc = symbols[j].linkDesc
       if desc.len > 0:
         result.addf("""<li><a class="reference external"
           title="$3" data-doc-search-tag="$2" href="$1">$2</a></li>
@@ -517,13 +476,6 @@ proc generateSymbolIndex(symbols: seq[IndexEntry]): string =
     i = j
   result.add("</dl>")
 
-proc isDocumentationTitle(hyperlink: string): bool =
-  ## Returns true if the hyperlink is actually a documentation title.
-  ##
-  ## Documentation titles lack the hash. See `mergeIndexes()
-  ## <#mergeIndexes,string>`_ for a more detailed explanation.
-  result = hyperlink.find('#') < 0
-
 proc stripTocLevel(s: string): tuple[level: int, text: string] =
   ## Returns the *level* of the toc along with the text without it.
   for c in 0 ..< s.len:
@@ -557,17 +509,15 @@ proc generateDocumentationToc(entries: seq[IndexEntry]): string =
     level = 1
   levels.newSeq(entries.len)
   for entry in entries:
-    let (rawLevel, rawText) = stripTocLevel(entry.linkTitle or entry.keyword)
+    let (rawLevel, rawText) = stripTocLevel(entry.linkTitle)
     if rawLevel < 1:
       # This is a normal symbol, push it *inside* one level from the last one.
       levels[L].level = level + 1
-      # Also, ignore the linkTitle and use directly the keyword.
-      levels[L].text = entry.keyword
     else:
       # The level did change, update the level indicator.
       level = rawLevel
       levels[L].level = rawLevel
-      levels[L].text = rawText
+    levels[L].text = rawText
     inc L
 
   # Now generate hierarchical lists based on the precalculated levels.
@@ -598,7 +548,7 @@ proc generateDocumentationIndex(docs: IndexedDocs): string =
   for title in titles:
     let tocList = generateDocumentationToc(docs.getOrDefault(title))
     result.add("<ul><li><a href=\"" &
-      title.link & "\">" & title.keyword & "</a>\n" & tocList & "</li></ul>\n")
+      title.link & "\">" & title.linkTitle & "</a>\n" & tocList & "</li></ul>\n")
 
 proc generateDocumentationJumps(docs: IndexedDocs): string =
   ## Returns a plain list of hyperlinks to documentation TOCs in HTML.
@@ -610,7 +560,7 @@ proc generateDocumentationJumps(docs: IndexedDocs): string =
 
   var chunks: seq[string] = @[]
   for title in titles:
-    chunks.add("<a href=\"" & title.link & "\">" & title.keyword & "</a>")
+    chunks.add("<a href=\"" & title.link & "\">" & title.linkTitle & "</a>")
 
   result.add(chunks.join(", ") & ".<br/>")
 
@@ -639,39 +589,12 @@ proc readIndexDir*(dir: string):
   # Scan index files and build the list of symbols.
   for path in walkDirRec(dir):
     if path.endsWith(IndexExt):
-      var
-        fileEntries: seq[IndexEntry]
-        title: IndexEntry
-        f = 0
-      newSeq(fileEntries, 500)
-      setLen(fileEntries, 0)
-      for line in lines(path):
-        let s = line.find('\t')
-        if s < 0: continue
-        setLen(fileEntries, f+1)
-        fileEntries[f].keyword = line.substr(0, s-1)
-        fileEntries[f].link = line.substr(s+1)
-        # See if we detect a title, a link without a `#foobar` trailing part.
-        if title.keyword.len == 0 and fileEntries[f].link.isDocumentationTitle:
-          title.keyword = fileEntries[f].keyword
-          title.link = fileEntries[f].link
-
-        if fileEntries[f].link.find('\t') > 0:
-          let extraCols = fileEntries[f].link.split('\t')
-          fileEntries[f].link = extraCols[0]
-          assert extraCols.len == 3
-          fileEntries[f].linkTitle = extraCols[1].unquoteIndexColumn
-          fileEntries[f].linkDesc = extraCols[2].unquoteIndexColumn
-        else:
-          fileEntries[f].linkTitle = ""
-          fileEntries[f].linkDesc = ""
-        inc f
+      var (fileEntries, title) = parseIdxFile(path)
       # Depending on type add this to the list of symbols or table of APIs.
-      if title.keyword.len == 0:
-        for i in 0 ..< f:
-          # Don't add to symbols TOC entries (they start with a whitespace).
-          let toc = fileEntries[i].linkTitle
-          if toc.len > 0 and toc[0] == ' ':
+
+      if title.kind == ieNimTitle:
+        for i in 0 ..< fileEntries.len:
+          if fileEntries[i].kind != ieNim:
             continue
           # Ok, non TOC entry, add it.
           setLen(result.symbols, L + 1)
@@ -687,9 +610,17 @@ proc readIndexDir*(dir: string):
             result.modules.add(x.changeFileExt(""))
       else:
         # Generate the symbolic anchor for index quickjumps.
-        title.linkTitle = "doc_toc_" & $result.docs.len
+        title.aux = "doc_toc_" & $result.docs.len
         result.docs[title] = fileEntries
 
+      for i in 0 ..< fileEntries.len:
+        if fileEntries[i].kind != ieIdxRole:
+          continue
+
+        setLen(result.symbols, L + 1)
+        result.symbols[L] = fileEntries[i]
+        inc L
+
 proc mergeIndexes*(dir: string): string =
   ## Merges all index files in `dir` and returns the generated index as HTML.
   ##
@@ -747,24 +678,6 @@ proc mergeIndexes*(dir: string): string =
 
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-proc stripTocHtml(s: string): string =
-  ## Ugly quick hack to remove HTML tags from TOC titles.
-  ##
-  ## A TocEntry.header field already contains rendered HTML tags. Instead of
-  ## implementing a proper version of renderRstToOut() which recursively
-  ## renders an rst tree to plain text, we simply remove text found between
-  ## angled brackets. Given the limited possibilities of rst inside TOC titles
-  ## this should be enough.
-  result = s
-  var first = result.find('<')
-  while first >= 0:
-    let last = result.find('>', first)
-    if last < 0:
-      # Abort, since we didn't found a closing angled bracket.
-      return
-    result.delete(first..last)
-    first = result.find('<', first)
-
 proc renderHeadline(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   var tmp = ""
   for i in countup(0, len(n) - 1): renderRstToOut(d, n.sons[i], tmp)
@@ -785,19 +698,12 @@ proc renderHeadline(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
 
   # Generate index entry using spaces to indicate TOC level for the output HTML.
   assert n.level >= 0
-  let
-    htmlFileRelPath = if d.outDir.len == 0:
-                        # /foo/bar/zoo.nim -> zoo.html
-                        changeFileExt(extractFilename(d.filename), HtmlExt)
-                      else: # d is initialized in docgen.nim
-                        # outDir   = /foo              -\
-                        # destFile = /foo/bar/zoo.html -|-> bar/zoo.html
-                        d.destFile.relativePath(d.outDir, '/')
-  setIndexTerm(d, htmlFileRelPath, n.anchor, tmp.stripTocHtml,
-    spaces(max(0, n.level)) & tmp)
+  setIndexTerm(d, ieHeading, htmlFile = d.htmlFileRelPath, id = n.anchor,
+               term = n.addNodes, linkTitle = spaces(max(0, n.level)) & tmp)
 
 proc renderOverline(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   if n.level == 0 and d.meta[metaTitle].len == 0:
+    d.meta[metaTitleRaw] = n.addNodes
     for i in countup(0, len(n)-1):
       renderRstToOut(d, n.sons[i], d.meta[metaTitle])
     d.currentSection = d.meta[metaTitle]
@@ -813,6 +719,8 @@ proc renderOverline(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
     dispA(d.target, result, "<h$1$2><center>$3</center></h$1>",
                    "\\rstov$4[$5]{$3}$2\n", [$n.level,
                    n.anchor.idS, tmp, $chr(n.level - 1 + ord('A')), tocName])
+    setIndexTerm(d, ieHeading, htmlFile = d.htmlFileRelPath, id = n.anchor,
+                 term = n.addNodes, linkTitle = spaces(max(0, n.level)) & tmp)
 
 proc renderTocEntry(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   var header = ""
@@ -1197,6 +1105,18 @@ proc renderHyperlink(d: PDoc, text, link: PRstNode, result: var string,
       "\\hyperlink{$2}{$1} (p.~\\pageref{$2})",
       [textStr, linkStr, nimDocStr, tooltipStr])
 
+proc traverseForIndex*(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode) =
+  ## A version of [renderRstToOut] that only fills entries for ``.idx`` files.
+  var discarded: string
+  if n == nil: return
+  case n.kind
+  of rnIdx: renderIndexTerm(d, n, discarded)
+  of rnHeadline, rnMarkdownHeadline: renderHeadline(d, n, discarded)
+  of rnOverline: renderOverline(d, n, discarded)
+  else:
+    for i in 0 ..< len(n):
+      traverseForIndex(d, n.sons[i])
+
 proc renderRstToOut(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   if n == nil: return
   case n.kind
@@ -1255,7 +1175,7 @@ proc renderRstToOut(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
     renderAux(d, n, "<div class=\"option-list-description\">$1</div>",
         " $1\n", result)
   of rnOption, rnOptionString, rnOptionArgument:
-    doAssert false, "renderRstToOut"
+    raiseAssert "renderRstToOut"
   of rnLiteralBlock:
     renderAux(d, n, "<pre$2>$1</pre>\n",
                     "\n\n$2\\begin{rstpre}\n$1\n\\end{rstpre}\n\n", result)
@@ -1451,6 +1371,7 @@ proc renderRstToOut(d: PDoc, n: PRstNode, result: var string) =
   of rnTitle:
     d.meta[metaTitle] = ""
     renderRstToOut(d, n.sons[0], d.meta[metaTitle])
+    d.meta[metaTitleRaw] = n.sons[0].addNodes
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -1616,11 +1537,13 @@ proc rstToHtml*(s: string, options: RstParseOptions,
   proc myFindFile(filename: string): string =
     # we don't find any files in online mode:
     result = ""
+  proc myFindRefFile(filename: string): (string, string) =
+    result = ("", "")
 
   const filen = "input"
   let (rst, filenames, t) = rstParse(s, filen,
                                      line=LineRstInit, column=ColRstInit,
-                                     options, myFindFile, msgHandler)
+                                     options, myFindFile, myFindRefFile, msgHandler)
   var d: RstGenerator
   initRstGenerator(d, outHtml, config, filen, myFindFile, msgHandler,
                    filenames, hasToc = t)
diff --git a/lib/packages/docutils/rstidx.nim b/lib/packages/docutils/rstidx.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1472d28fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/packages/docutils/rstidx.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+#
+#            Nim's Runtime Library
+#        (c) Copyright 2022 Andreas Rumpf
+#
+#    See the file "copying.txt", included in this
+#    distribution, for details about the copyright.
+
+## Nim `idx`:idx: file format related definitions.
+
+import std/[strutils, syncio, hashes]
+from std/os import splitFile
+
+type
+  IndexEntryKind* = enum ## discriminator tag
+    ieMarkupTitle = "markupTitle"
+                           ## RST/Markdown title, text in `keyword` +
+                           ## HTML text in `linkTitle`
+    ieNimTitle = "nimTitle"
+                           ## Nim title
+    ieHeading = "heading"  ## RST/Markdown markup heading, escaped
+    ieIdxRole = "idx"      ## RST :idx: definition, escaped
+    ieNim = "nim"          ## Nim symbol, unescaped
+    ieNimGroup = "nimgrp"  ## Nim overload group, unescaped
+  IndexEntry* = object
+    kind*: IndexEntryKind  ## 0.
+    keyword*: string       ## 1.
+    link*: string          ## 2.
+    linkTitle*: string     ## 3. contains a prettier text for the href
+    linkDesc*: string      ## 4. the title attribute of the final href
+    line*: int             ## 5.
+    module*: string        ## origin file, NOT a field in ``.idx`` file
+    aux*: string           ## auxuliary field, NOT a field in ``.idx`` file
+
+proc isDocumentationTitle*(hyperlink: string): bool =
+  ## Returns true if the hyperlink is actually a documentation title.
+  ##
+  ## Documentation titles lack the hash. See `mergeIndexes()
+  ## <#mergeIndexes,string>`_ for a more detailed explanation.
+  result = hyperlink.find('#') < 0
+
+proc `$`*(e: IndexEntry): string =
+  """("$1", "$2", "$3", "$4", $5)""" % [
+      e.keyword, e.link, e.linkTitle, e.linkDesc, $e.line]
+
+proc quoteIndexColumn(text: string): string =
+  ## Returns a safe version of `text` for serialization to the ``.idx`` file.
+  ##
+  ## The returned version can be put without worries in a line based tab
+  ## separated column text file. The following character sequence replacements
+  ## will be performed for that goal:
+  ##
+  ## * ``"\\"`` => ``"\\\\"``
+  ## * ``"\n"`` => ``"\\n"``
+  ## * ``"\t"`` => ``"\\t"``
+  result = newStringOfCap(text.len + 3)
+  for c in text:
+    case c
+    of '\\': result.add "\\"
+    of '\L': result.add "\\n"
+    of '\C': discard
+    of '\t': result.add "\\t"
+    else: result.add c
+
+proc unquoteIndexColumn*(text: string): string =
+  ## Returns the unquoted version generated by ``quoteIndexColumn``.
+  result = text.multiReplace(("\\t", "\t"), ("\\n", "\n"), ("\\\\", "\\"))
+
+proc formatIndexEntry*(kind: IndexEntryKind; htmlFile, id, term, linkTitle,
+                       linkDesc: string, line: int):
+                      tuple[entry: string, isTitle: bool] =
+  result.entry = $kind
+  result.entry.add('\t')
+  result.entry.add term
+  result.entry.add('\t')
+  result.entry.add(htmlFile)
+  if id.len > 0:
+    result.entry.add('#')
+    result.entry.add(id)
+    result.isTitle = false
+  else:
+    result.isTitle = true
+  result.entry.add('\t' & linkTitle.quoteIndexColumn)
+  result.entry.add('\t' & linkDesc.quoteIndexColumn)
+  result.entry.add('\t' & $line)
+  result.entry.add("\n")
+
+proc parseIndexEntryKind(s: string): IndexEntryKind =
+  result = case s:
+    of "nim": ieNim
+    of "nimgrp": ieNimGroup
+    of "heading": ieHeading
+    of "idx": ieIdxRole
+    of "nimTitle": ieNimTitle
+    of "markupTitle": ieMarkupTitle
+    else: raise newException(ValueError, "unknown index entry value $1" % [s])
+
+proc parseIdxFile*(path: string):
+    tuple[fileEntries: seq[IndexEntry], title: IndexEntry] =
+  var
+    f = 0
+  newSeq(result.fileEntries, 500)
+  setLen(result.fileEntries, 0)
+  let (_, base, _) = path.splitFile
+  for line in lines(path):
+    let s = line.find('\t')
+    if s < 0: continue
+    setLen(result.fileEntries, f+1)
+    let cols = line.split('\t')
+    result.fileEntries[f].kind = parseIndexEntryKind(cols[0])
+    result.fileEntries[f].keyword = cols[1]
+    result.fileEntries[f].link = cols[2]
+    if result.fileEntries[f].kind == ieIdxRole:
+      result.fileEntries[f].module = base
+    else:
+      if result.title.keyword.len == 0:
+        result.fileEntries[f].module = base
+      else:
+        result.fileEntries[f].module = result.title.keyword
+
+    result.fileEntries[f].linkTitle = cols[3].unquoteIndexColumn
+    result.fileEntries[f].linkDesc = cols[4].unquoteIndexColumn
+    result.fileEntries[f].line = parseInt(cols[5])
+
+    if result.fileEntries[f].kind in {ieNimTitle, ieMarkupTitle}:
+      result.title = result.fileEntries[f]
+    inc f
+
+proc cmp*(a, b: IndexEntry): int =
+  ## Sorts two ``IndexEntry`` first by `keyword` field, then by `link`.
+  result = cmpIgnoreStyle(a.keyword, b.keyword)
+  if result == 0:
+    result = cmpIgnoreStyle(a.link, b.link)
+
+proc hash*(x: IndexEntry): Hash =
+  ## Returns the hash for the combined fields of the type.
+  ##
+  ## The hash is computed as the chained hash of the individual string hashes.
+  result = x.keyword.hash !& x.link.hash
+  result = result !& x.linkTitle.hash
+  result = result !& x.linkDesc.hash
+  result = !$result