Difference between revisions of "Thesis Formatting for MES"

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The following pages have been compiled as technical resources that might be helpful for MES students in building and formatting their thesis. This assumes Microsoft Word 2003 is being used, other versions may vary. For those who wish to compose alternative solutions or solutions using different editors (such as open office), please feel free to contribute!
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<div class="intro">[[File:Wordlogo.gif‎ |left|50px]] These tips are based on the [http://www.evergreen.edu/mes/docs/thesishandbook.pdf MES Thesis Handbook] and former students's suggestions to help MES students build and format their thesis. These use Microsoft Word 2007, other versions may vary. Feel free to contribute others (even using different editors such as open office)!</div>
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====Preformat your document before you start====
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Format a blank document with all the required formatting to save much time in the end.  Also, the format>tab feature can set appropriate, consistent tab stops. Do this for each section before adding content to save time.
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====Don't copy and paste from another Word Document====
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This can transfer clashing formatting and mess up your document.  It's hard to fix, so prevent it:  copy text into a text editor (notepad, etc.) to strip out the formatting.  Copy it again there, and paste it into your current document.
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====Excel data====
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Pasting from excel to word creates a word table without Excel style.  For Excel style, go to Insert>Table>Excel Spreadsheet, and paste data into the spreadsheet that pops up.
  
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====Use Reveal Formatting====
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Things go wrong? Format>reveal formatting shows where you are and the formatting of the current page.  Also, view>thumbnails shows where you are in the document.
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==Additional Help==
 
*[[Page_numbering_with_a_preface_numbered_seperately_-_Word | Page numbering for Different Sections]]
 
*[[Page_numbering_with_a_preface_numbered_seperately_-_Word | Page numbering for Different Sections]]
 
*[[Footnotes_and_Endnotes_-_Word | Footnotes and Endnotes]]
 
*[[Footnotes_and_Endnotes_-_Word | Footnotes and Endnotes]]
 
*[[Table_of_Contents_-_Word | Table of Contents]]
 
*[[Table_of_Contents_-_Word | Table of Contents]]
 
*[[Odd_and_Even_Footers_-_Word | Odd and Even Footers]]
 
*[[Odd_and_Even_Footers_-_Word | Odd and Even Footers]]
 
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*[http://www.ehow.com/how_2124997_insert-excel-data-word-2007.html word to excel]]
 
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'''Some other helpful things to keep in mind;'''
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====Preformat your document before you start====
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The guidelines for formatting  your document are laid out. Take the time before you begin assembling your thesis to format a blank document with all the necessary components, sections, pagination, etc.. Life will be easier if you set it up right ahead of time.
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====Don't copy and paste from word====
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Word is famous for transferring formatting from one document to another.  If you copy from a document that has preformatted components (margins, spacing, fonts, etc..) this will then crash into the formatting of your current doc creating a mess of formatting junk which can often be extremely hard to recover.  Best rule of thumb; Copy text into a text editor (notepad, textmate, etc..) that will strip out the formatting and then paste this straight text into your document.
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====Excel chart gotchas====
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Excel and Word play nicely together but beware when pasting excel spreadsheets and graphs into Word that you do it right.
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====Do tabs right====
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  [[category:Word]]
 
  [[category:Word]]

Latest revision as of 23:19, 25 April 2011

Wordlogo.gif
These tips are based on the MES Thesis Handbook and former students's suggestions to help MES students build and format their thesis. These use Microsoft Word 2007, other versions may vary. Feel free to contribute others (even using different editors such as open office)!

Preformat your document before you start

Format a blank document with all the required formatting to save much time in the end. Also, the format>tab feature can set appropriate, consistent tab stops. Do this for each section before adding content to save time.

Don't copy and paste from another Word Document

This can transfer clashing formatting and mess up your document. It's hard to fix, so prevent it: copy text into a text editor (notepad, etc.) to strip out the formatting. Copy it again there, and paste it into your current document.

Excel data

Pasting from excel to word creates a word table without Excel style. For Excel style, go to Insert>Table>Excel Spreadsheet, and paste data into the spreadsheet that pops up.

Use Reveal Formatting

Things go wrong? Format>reveal formatting shows where you are and the formatting of the current page. Also, view>thumbnails shows where you are in the document.

Additional Help