BGSU LaTeX Document Class
This document is an implementation of
Bowling Green State University's Thesis and Dissertation Formating into a
LaTeX2e Class.
Navigation
Software
- MikTeX (a windows LaTeX distribution)
- TeXnicCenter
(A free windows LaTeX integrated editing environment).
- TeXShop (A free OS X LaTeX frontend / editor)
- I don't know what LaTeX distribution would be good for OS X. So I'll leave finding it up to you.
Links
About
The LaTeX2e class I've made should be able to
take care of any and all thesis and dissertation formatting needs for anyone
at BGSU (you are still responsible for formatting your bibliography and
reference styles, for mathematics the default LaTeX bibliography format
is most likely good enough). It is based on the usual latex book class
So should have many of its features, though I've had to gut a few things to
make them conform to BGSU standards.
The Basics |
Download the file BGSU.cls and place it in a directory with
your (future) dissertation.
In your preamble to your document change your documentclass to the
following:
\documentclass{BGSU}
If you are doing a masters thesis you need to pass the option thesis to the
class
\documentclass[thesis]{BGSU}
put something like the following in your preamble too
\title{Example Dissertation}
\author{Nate Iverson}
\date{February 2006}
\degree{Doctor of Philosophy}
\advisor{Corneliu Hoffman}
\gfr{Sri Kolla} % only needed if doctoral thesis
\committee{Warren McGovern\\ \\ Neal Carothers}
Then inside the document environment put the following:
\frontmatter
\maketitle
To get your title page.
An Abstract is not optional and has some requirements.. An environment is provided so after the above
\begin{abstract}
"Your abstract here"
\end{abstract}
You also probably want to thank all the people who helped you. There's a
section for this too:
\begin{acknowledegments}
"Thank people here"
\end{acknowledegments}
You have to list your table of contents.. which LaTeX can generate
automatically. If you have 3 or more figures, tables of "illustrations"
these must be included also. (You may have to do a list of illustrations
by hand if you have any). For the references to work correctly, you must TeX
the files twice.
\tableofcontents
\listoffigures
\listoftables
\mainmatter
The mainmater command starts the pagenumbering for the main section.
now you are ready to begin your main document.
|
Downloads
Below is an example template for a dissertation template.tex.
And the class BGSU.cls. It is likely BGSU.cls will change until I
get everything just right, but that should be relatively soon. If some aspect
of the formatting specified by this file is not correct or does not meet the
standards linked to above, please let me know I'll try to fix it.
example.tex Is more of a self contained example given to show more of
the things you can do with BGSU.cls.
All documents are licensed for your use under the
GPL version 2 or later.
.
Converting to pdf
There are threee different ways you can convert a latex file into
a pdf that are supported by this document class
- latex then dvips then ps2pdf
- latex then dvipdfm (sometimes called just dvipdf).
- pdflatex (used by TeXShop and TeXify to PDF)
The document class will make pdf hyperlinks for references and the
table of contents. It also makes pdf bookmarks like the graduate college wants
on your dissertation. However, the document class needs to know how you are
going to convert to pdf.
.
Converting to a pdf |
- Using latex then dvips then ps2pdf
This is currently the default option. So you do not need to send an
option to the document class
- Using latex then dvipdfm
\documentclass[dvipdfm]{BGSU]
or to pass more options use commas
\documentclass[thesis,dvipdfm]{BGSU}
- Using pdflatex
Set the option:
\documentclass[pdftex]{BGSU]
WARNING! Setting the pdftex
option will make it so that
regular typsetting to dvi with latex will fail.
NOTE: pdftex is the option needed for
TeXShop and for the TeXify To PDF option in MikTeX.
|
Common Problems
- Why are my margins messed up?
The most common reason for this is the paper size. MikTeX
(and other TeX distributions) have a4paper as the default paper size. Even
though you may specify the paper size in the LaTeX file as BGSU.cls does,
some of the utilities that convert TeX to pdf ignore your specified page
size and set it to a4. To see if this is your problem look under the document
info in adobe to see the page size, if it is not 8.5x11 inches then this is
your problem. Beware that adobe will try to fit an a4 document to letter
paper for printing, this can have some quite chaotic results on the margins.
As it is set up if you carefully follow the directions about converting to pdf.
I think the document class will actually give you the correct pagesize.
So check to see how you compiled it matches your options.
To change your default paper size in MikTeX see the following:
Setting letter paper as default in MikTeX
- How do I make my bibliography appear in the table of contents?
Update to BGSU.cls version 1.0.2. If it still doesn't work
let me know.
Disclaimer
This document is licensed under the GNU GPL.
Note: I'm not responsible for any damage
(software, hardware, emotional) this document or documentclass could cause.
Use them at your own risk! I'm also not responsible for the content of the
hyperlinks here. If you follow a link, it's your own fault not mine.
by Nate Iverson