From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Msuck: nntp://news.gmane.io/gmane.comp.tex.context/55258 Path: news.gmane.org!not-for-mail From: "Manuel P." Newsgroups: gmane.comp.tex.context Subject: Re: Using ConTeXt for a thesis? 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(host177-88-dynamic.104-80-r.retail.telecomitalia.it [80.104.88.177]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id j6sm6293091mue.37.2009.12.19.13.10.02 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=RC4-MD5); Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:10:05 -0800 (PST) User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.23 (Windows/20090812) In-Reply-To: <22af238a0912190721k6791fff7v86e8a912477a5dc4@mail.gmail.com> X-BeenThere: ntg-context@ntg.nl X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.12 Precedence: list List-Id: mailing list for ConTeXt users List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Original-Sender: ntg-context-bounces@ntg.nl Errors-To: ntg-context-bounces@ntg.nl Xref: news.gmane.org gmane.comp.tex.context:55258 Archived-At: George N. White III ha scritto: > On Sat, Dec 19, 2009 at 9:55 AM, Manuel P. 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: / ___________________________________________________________________________________ If your question is of interest to others as well, please add an entry to the Wiki! maillist : ntg-context@ntg.nl / http://www.ntg.nl/mailman/listinfo/ntg-context webpage : http://www.pragma-ade.nl / http://tex.aanhet.net archive : http://foundry.supelec.fr/projects/contextrev/ wiki : http://contextgarden.net ___________________________________________________________________________________