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Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!uhccux!munnari.oz.au!murtoa.cs.mu.oz.au!viccol!dougcc
From: dougcc@csv.viccol.edu.au (Douglas Miller)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac,aus.mac,aus.computers.ibm-pc,comp.text
Subject: Re: Thesis formatting program for word processors??
Message-ID: <4173@csv.viccol.edu.au>
Date: 16 Jan 90 01:05:48 GMT
References: <481@iceman.jcu.oz>
Followup-To: comp.text
Organization: Computer Services, Victoria College, Melbourne
Lines: 76

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.