Re: Using ConTeXt for a thesis?

["Manuel P." <ayeye.sysforge@gmail.com>]

George N. White III ha scritto:
> On Sat, Dec 19, 2009 at 9:55 AM, Manuel P. <ayeye.sysforge@gmail.com> wrote:
>   
>> Hi everyone! This is my first post here.
>>
>> I've a limited (but sufficient) experience with LaTeX (I've written several
>> work-related documents with it) and now I have to write my undergraduate
>> thesis (the deadline is mid-january 2010). I've been fairy impressed by a
>> book typesetted with ConTeXt, so I used it for some documents and liked the
>> idea and the configurability. The possibility of having a unique and
>> personalized look-and-feel for every document is very appealing to me, and I
>> have already began to assemble a style for the thesis.
>>
>> However, I've a very limited experience with it and I wonder: is ConTeXt the
>> right choice in my circumstances? Can it be used without a degree in
>> typography? I can't write half thesis and then stumble on some obscure (to
>> me) typesetting problem, things have to be smooth and I need to concentrate
>> on content (but I still find desiderable a good unique look). When I have a
>> problem I try my best to resolve it by myself, but given the limited time I
>> can't learn and investigate everything, so if I'll write my thesis in
>> ConTeXt in some (desperate) cases I'll need your help.
>>
>> What do you think?
>>     
>
> I was the first person at my institution to use a computer to "type" my thesis
> (with a daisywheel printer that was essentially a modified typewriter) in the
> days before TeX was accessible to students.
>
> When you follow an existing process you benefit from the efforts of those who
> have gone before, but when you do things in a new way you may find that your
> efforts get more rigorous scrutiny.   I have heard of cases where some of the
> institution's rules for thesis formats are not enforced "because it is
> too hard to
> do that using MS Word", but the same exceptions are not granted to TeX users.
>
> ConTeXt has been used, but different institutions have different rules
> and expectations.
> At many institutions there is already a LaTeX thesis style "ready to go", but I
> have heard of problems when these were used outside science, e.g, because
> the science people don't use footnotes the same way as for other fields.
>
> FInd out if LaTeX is used at your institution (even if you choose ConTeXt,
> the LaTeX style can serve to document fonts and other details.  Find out
> who enforces the institution's standards and discuss your plans with them --
> they may be able to help you identify particular trouble spots in advance
> so you can get more specific help/advice while there is time to change plans.
>   
I've already asked and there isn't any policy about the format. Some 
students write their thesis with LaTeX, others with openoffice, there 
isn't any style enforcement policy as far as I know.

My requirements are quite easy: something unobtrusive that enable me to 
focus on the content and obtain a nice and consistent look with a 
virtually flat leaning curve (I don't mind a bit of learning, but I 
can't spend days on that). Some pictures, some tables, mainly text. 
Footnotes, bibliography, quotes and easy personalization of footers and 
headers.

Some quick examples:
- How can I make a double-face document (right page, left page)?
- How can I separate the footer from the rest of the page with something 
like an \hairline?
- There is an equivalent for ConTeXt of LaTeX's lastpage? I want a 
footer like this: <page>/<n. of pages>
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