1. The Graduate School Advancing to a Higher Degree The Graduate School Advancing to a Higher Degree

2. The Graduate School Advancing to a Higher Degree Thesis/Dissertation Office Mark D. Jaeger, Manager Anita Park, Specialist Room 170, Ernest C. Young Hall (765)494-2600 gradinfo@purdue.edu http://www.gradschool.purdue.edu/thesis.cfm

3. The Graduate School Advancing to a Higher Degree MS Word Thesis 2007 Template Updated version of our original MS Word 2003 template –Works best with Windows/PC –Works with Macs, but performance may be more limited Features & Reminders –More user friendly than previous version You can change “styles” If you want to change fonts/font sizes, it’s best to do this before copying & pasting text –Title page has been updated with drop-down menus MAC USERS: Delete the drop-down boxes and manually type in your information and text –Major heading pages now have built-in 2” top margins –Does not automatically correct errors –We have included additional “tips” on template pages to help you

4. The Graduate School Advancing to a Higher Degree MS Word Thesis Template Features, Cont’d. –“Mini-headers” in Table of Contents, List of Figures, etc. must be manually added if these sections have multiple pages –Important note on “cover pages” These are deliberately placed in the back This allows you to “drag and drop” them after you convert your document to PDF Use left-hand “thumbnail view” in PDF to do this You must still delete redundant pages (e.g., unnecessary cover pages) If you have a “blank page” at the end, delete this after PDF conversion to avoid “implosion”

5. The Graduate School Advancing to a Higher Degree MS Word Thesis Template Table of Contents Problems –Some candidates have reported problems while trying to update their tables of contents –These issues are sometimes Mac-related –Table of Contents is created to allow addition and deletion of information from the list. –The following procedure should help you in case you encounter any problems….

6. The Graduate School Advancing to a Higher Degree MS Word Thesis Template –Do not actually work on your Table of Contents until you finish the last page of your thesis. –If any pages before your List of Tables or Figures are included, manually delete them from the list. –For future updates, select “Update Page Numbers Only” option. Selecting a different option will bring back all the deleted headings. –If you wish to make your own Table of Contents, delete the template page and create your own The Word 2007 template allows users to make any formatting changes they desire. It shows the formatting requirements in each part of your document. Therefore to allow maximum flexibility, the template does not automatically correct or prevent formatting errors. Questions? Contact Anita, Thesis/Dissertation Specialist, at 4-2600 or gradinfo@purdue.edu gradinfo@purdue.edu

7. The Graduate School Advancing to a Higher Degree LaTeX If you have the time and wherewithal, we strongly suggest you use LaTeX –LaTeX is especially useful to ENG and SCI candidates –Some LIB candidates have also used LaTeX with good results Software system for typesetting documents. Very good for technical documents containing lots of mathematics. LaTeX is free and is available for a wide range of computers and operating systems. –LaTeX is linked on our website –Significantly reduces potential errors –Most LaTeX electronic thesis submissions are quickly accepted

8. The Graduate School Advancing to a Higher Degree LaTeX Be careful: LaTeX isn’t totally “error-proof” Keep these in mind: –Please switch your “Appendix” section so it always FOLLOWS your reference section The appendix and references sometimes get switched to the wrong locations in the current LaTeX template –Please capitalize your chapter headings This helps the document meet Purdue style guidelines –Eliminate “blank pages” whenever possible (especially after your abstract or in between individual appendices) LaTeX sometimes incorrectly treats individual appendices as chapters instead! –Watch little things like dates, degrees, names, etc. These can still be stated erroneously Make sure you know the actual title of the degree you’re receiving as well as your actual graduation date –For example, an ECE master’s candidate could be awarded a M.S., a M.S.E., or a M.S.E.C.E. depending on how he or she “came up the chain”

9. The Graduate School Advancing to a Higher Degree LaTeX Software LaTeX Contact: Mark Senn, ECN MSEE 130A 4-5450 mark@purdue.edu https://engineering.purdue.edu/%7Emark/puthesis/