dougcc@csv.viccol.edu.au (Douglas Miller) (01/16/90)
In article <481@iceman.jcu.oz>, ccmlh@iceman.jcu.oz (Michael L Hope) writes: > Hi, > > I received the following letter from one of our departments and I was wondering > if someone on the net would be able to help. > > "Increasing numbers of students are now using word processors, > either on campus or in Colleges to prepare their theses. This is > commendable, both in terms of quality of presentation and of > personal economy. > > Format requirements are laid down for all levels of thesis, from > PhD to onours/raduate Diplomas and by Faculties and > Departments. It would seem logical to develop a program for word > processors that would offer these different formats as options > from which the students could select. This would be a useful aid > in the preparation of a thesis. > > I would draw attention to the fact that such a program is already > offered in American and presumably other universities. It would, > I am sure, be welcomed here both by individual students and the > Colleges." > > My first reaction was that he was talking about templates made up in each > format required. Unfortunately the person who sent us the letter is away on > leave, so I can't confirm this. Would anybody out there know of any program > that fits this description, if so could you let me know. Any information > would be greatly appreciated. I've had some experience with using LaTeX to achieve something like this. [for those unfamiliar with LaTeX: It is a document preparation that concentrates on letting the author express the *content* of their document rather than the format. The LaTeX processor is then used to automatically format the document according to a specified document style, including: o justifying paragraphs optimally to an appropriate width o choosing fonts for headings, emphasised text etc. o numbering of chapters, sections, lists, footnotes o insertion of page or section numbers for cross references o inserting appropriate vertical space between paragraphs, before and after headings and lists, and between items of a list. o inserting indentation for paragraphs and lists, including nested indentation for nested lists o dividing the document into pages; in the process footnotes, tables, figures etc. are moved from the body of the text to tops or bottoms of pages as appropriate. o inserting page numbers, headers and footers This saves work for the author, and ensures that the document is formated in a consistent style. The document is also more re-usable; it is possible to mix-n-match documents and document styles --- the two are fairly independent. LaTeX uses the TeX typesetting system for its formatting. The source for both ae available free, and implementation for a wide range of computers are available for prices ranging from nothing to cheap] Along with many other people, I've tried my hand at a thesis style. To use this style you of course start your document with \documentstyle{thesis} I also wrote a style option for Deakin University, so that a Deakin thesis would start: \documentstyle[deakin]{thesis} In your case, someone with LaTeX and TeX expertise could produce document styles and options to make possible documents that start like ... \documentstyle[jamescook]{thesis} \documentstyle[jamescook,phd]{thesis} \documentstyle[jamescook,arts,diploma]{thesis} \documentstyle[jamescook,chemistry,masters]{thesis} and so on.
news@calgary.UUCP (Network News Manager) (01/18/90)
From: sharp@cpsc.ucalgary.ca (Maurice Sharp) Path: cpsc!sharp In article <4173@csv.viccol.edu.au> dougcc@csv.viccol.edu.au (Douglas Miller) writes: >In article <481@iceman.jcu.oz>, ccmlh@iceman.jcu.oz (Michael L Hope) writes: stuff about style/formats for a thesis >> stuff about using LaTeX for the purpose I must throw in my 2 cents worth. I used to use LaTeX for things, then I discovered the joy of Word. Around this department, people use both for thesis writing. Yes LaTeX has styles for thesis, it is also horrible to use. It is like writing code in C and compiling. With LaTeX you can get the overall appearance right, but the fine points are an absolute bi*ch to get the way they should be. And if you are thinking of diagrams, dream on. You can do it, but you need a LaTeX guru/hack to get them right. In Word you have to set it up yourself. On the other hand, we have had people do it quite succesfully. Also, diagrams, tables, figures, etc. are very easy to put in. A difficulty with a 'standard' thesis format is that there is NOT one. Every institution has their own little quirks. My suggestion is find someone who has completed a thesis for the institution on a machine you want to use, using an editor you like, then find out how they did it. If you want to use Word, then hopefully the person used style sheets and glossaries. If so, you can copy them which gives you as much (if not more) power than LaTeX. Remember, LaTeX is not at all WYSIWYG. You have to 'compile' it to view what you have done. In Word, just type it (on PageView) or at worst, go into a page preview. maurice Maurice Sharp MSc. Student University of Calgary Computer Science Department 2500 University Drive N.W. sharp@ksi.cpsc.UCalgary.CA Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4 ...!alberta!calgary!sharp
hugo@griggs.dartmouth.edu (Peter Su) (01/18/90)
In article <2355@cs-spool.calgary.UUCP> sharp@ksi.cpsc.ucalgary.ca.UUCP (Maurice Sharp) writes: >With LaTeX you can get the overall appearance right, but the fine >points are an absolute bi*ch to get the way they should be. And if >you are thinking of diagrams, dream on. You can do it, but you need a >LaTeX guru/hack to get them right. > >In Word you have to set it up yourself. On the other hand, we have >had people do it quite succesfully. Also, diagrams, tables, figures, >etc. are very easy to put in. > Don't forget to tell them that in Word you have to format the bibliography yourself, keep cross references straight yourself, number sections, figures,tables, diagrmas, formulae, and chapters yourself, place figures on pages yourself and move them around if you have to add some text here or there. IF your thesis is in multiple files you have to keep those straight by yourself. This is all ignoring the fact that learning Word is almost as tough as LaTeX, and the fact that Word styles, glossaries, and mechanisms for formatting tables and equations are really not intuitive or consistent. The point is that there is more to LaTeX than just the automatic styles. It also does a lot of the needly bookeeping, does much more than Word ever dreamed of doing. I guess I must just be an elitist TeX wizard, sigh. Pete hugo@sunapee.dartmouth.edu
ken@cs.rochester.edu (Ken Yap) (01/19/90)
Until ISO or ANSI or some body sets a standard for thesis styles, and I don't expect this to be anytime soon, the best you can hope for is to influence the local bureaucrats to accept a single local style for typeset theses. And while you are at it, you can fix many infelicities with current styles. You'll have fun discovering how archaic some of these requirements originally designed for typewriters are. Some criteria are even undoable on many laser printers, like printing within 1/2" of the paper edge.
chris@mimsy.umd.edu (Chris Torek) (01/19/90)
In article <2355@cs-spool.calgary.UUCP> news@calgary.UUCP (Network News Manager) writes: >Remember, LaTeX is not at all WYSIWYG. You have to 'compile' it to >view what you have done. On a DECstation 3100, at over 3 pages per second, this tends not to be a big deal: you run your previewer in one window, edit in another.... -- In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Univ of MD Comp Sci Dept (+1 301 454 7163) Domain: chris@cs.umd.edu Path: uunet!mimsy!chris