Re: [NTG-context] Using ConTeXt for a thesis?

George N. White III ha scritto:

On Sat, Dec 19, 2009 at 9:55 AM, Manuel P. wrote:

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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>/