Sat, Feb 11, 2012
Welcome
Tips for MA Theses
- Use the amsmath equation and align environments. These are more flexible
then the old display environments using \[ and \]. Do not mix the
old environments with the amsmath, as you may create problems with spacing and numbering.
- Update your Miktex before getting too deep into your thesis. As of May, 2008,
you should be using Miktex 2.7. Be sure to choose letter paper size, not A4
If you are using TecnicCenter, you will have to update the build profiles
to be sure you are using the new version. Very old Miktex (2.4) will no longer
install new packages easily.
Several weeks before printing your first graduate school draft:
- Decide on either postscript or pdf output. The major deciding
point is the format of the graphics you use. Postscript accepts only postscript
graphics, while pdf accepts pdf, jpg, and png graphics but not postscript.
Maple produces postscript, most other programs produce one of the other formats.
- Compile letter_test_page.tex into whichever
output format (postscript or pdf) you have chosen, and print to check margins.
- If the margins are far off, you may be set up for A4 paper rather than Letter paper.
Ghostview (for postscript) should have the paper type displayed on the top bar.
For Acrobat Reader, check "file/document properties". Page size should be
8.5 by 11 inches.
- For printing with Acrobat, be sure to choose "page scaling" as "none"
in the print dialog.
- Print a representative page from your thesis and ask Dr. Chavez to check it.