Where does one go to find succinct descriptions of the various indices that are available within MS EOD. The textual descriptions are somewhat descriptive but not nearly enough for a newbie like me. Additionally, in many instances, there are two that are side by side in the "indices folders that are alike with the exception of the last letter. Where are descriptions describing the differences? For example there appear to be hundreds of S&P indices, is there a S&P website where I might read a brief description of each description of the inex?

This should provide you with a fair amount of info.

www.spglobal.com/

I poked around the SPGLOBAL site somewhat but wasn't able to answer my question there. I'll go at it this way: Given the below examples

.15gspconp - translates as what, and who are the constituent companies?

After answering that, how does one decipher the difference between

.15gsphct & .15gsphctc, both of which are listed as HLTH (Health?) CR (Care?)TECH(Technology?). What is the difference between ct and ctc as an example of the multitude of listings.

These were just the first ones I grabbed, I have no real interest in them other than their use as examples.

Obviously there are hundreds of these. All I saw at the SPGLOBAL site were the main indices described. As another obscuring fact are they going to be different than Reuters?

S&P is only one of many  indices that are listed, Dow Jones is another.

This hopefully will be a better alternative!

http://www.incrediblecharts.com/online_charts/incredible_offer.htm#indexes

 

S&P Indices are broken down by sector, industry, and subindustry.  You may want some of the resources on their site useful:

 

http://www2.standardandpoors.com/portal/site/sp/en/us/page.topic/indices_gics/2,3,1,7,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0.html