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Hi,
It takes quite a bit of skill to produce what MS call a robust document.
Theoretically, if done properly, you should be able to change the page from portrait to landscape and not have the layout fall to pieces.
It is mostly misuse (or nonuse) of paragraph styles that are the gotchas.
The worst offenders at work were, ironically, the fastest typists, using the space bar as they did on the old tripewriters.
Cheers
Hello Austastar,Quote:
Originally Posted by austastar
Hmmm - I would have to respond by writing - guilty as charged. I first used manual and then progressed to electric typewriters. I touch type with all digits. The process developed heavy thumbs for spacebar use. Too heavy apparently.
I still use the backspace key to delete mistakes, where I could simply use the mouse to highlight and delete. I miss the bell and swiping the carriage return arm too.
Due to a number of large images I needed to shift between portrait and landscape frequently within the tome. This was done successfully.
Kind regards
Lionel
Hello All,
The latest is that I was to directed to add two more items into the Table of Contents. These were Abstract and the page number it is located on. Also Acknowledgements and the page number it was located on. Now these two items are located within the compulsory template for the first sections of the thesis that one must not change any elements of. It also happens to be a section that bears no resemblance in formatting to the remainder of the thesis. Anyway, when I changed the style of the Abstract and Acknowledgement to Heading 2 in the Word's style guide and I generated an updated Table of Contents (ToC) all hell broke loose.
While the newly updated ToC did include the two items an 'interesting' event occurred within the itemised List of Appendices. When I selected and Control - Left mouse clicked on any of the appendix links instead of travelling towards the end of the document - where the appendices are located - I was directed straight to the title page! There must be some hidden miscreant codes lurking within the compulsory template.
I tried reverting the Abstract and Acknowledgement headings back to a 'normal' font and then update the Toc - nope the same issue with the appendices links all landing on the title page persisted.
When I retrieved an untainted copy of the thesis and made some space between the "Contents" title and where the guts of the ToC is located I inserted two URLs in manually. I made them look exactly the same format as the rest of the ToC. When I went to the List of Appendices and clicked on some random links - they all went to the title page.
That copy of the thesis was scrapped. I retrieved another untainted version of the thesis. The only thing that maintained the integrity of the all the appendices links was to bodgey it up by inserting some space under the ToC title and typing in
Abstract ................................................i
Acknowledgements .................................iv
Computers! Just attempting to do something simple like pick-up two new items with an updated ToC opens Pandora's box! That is most of today that I will never get back again. All of the ToC looks exactly the same - until someone clicks on either of the first two items and they stay at exactly the same place on the page. I have given them the information they need find the two items anyway! It is just that now they have to make the big effort of scrolling back through the pages by hand.
Then again, I reckon I am not the only person to ever add some dodgy elements within the ToC of their thesis.
Now I just have to patiently wait until the Supervisors manage to find time to cast a final critical eye over the tome before it has its final corrections made and gets sent off for examination. Waiting ... waiting ...
Kind regards
Lionel
Your thesis is really titled " Exploring the Irrational Complexity of Microsoft Word" isn't it[bigrolf][bigrolf] When It's published I'll be reading it to try and understand some of the crazy stuff that our templates at work do.
Regards,
Tote
Hi,
I feel your frustrations.
Before computers the Mrs used to type theses as an income, but refused to move to the "instrument of the devil".
I have seen the dispair of students trying to keep formatting together with tears of blood.
It really is a ridiculous expectation to expect any one to work to proffesional publishing standards with out any formal training or support. Not even a preformatted template loaded with example text. Grrr!
Wishing you well with the final edition.
Cheers
Hello All,
After resisting the urge to run around the the paddock gesticulating wildly, whilst screaming, I crawled into bed this morning and had a decent sleep. During some later in the morning's ablutions I pondered. If all the appendices hyper-links are connecting to the title page then maybe the gremlin is in the title page?
Ablutions over, I booted up the computer. Upon investigation I noticed that the university's emblem/shield is located in the Header section. The Footer contains the university's motto. I opened the Header and copied the emblem and deleted it from the Header. The emblem was pasted into Paint and saved in JPEG format. Some space was made above the thesis title then - Insert Picture from within the device - resulted in the emblem being pasted into the title page - without opening the Header. The emblem was located in exactly the same position that the former version featured it. Ditto with the Footer. Previously, the Footer did not transgress into other locations in the document - unlike the Header. By removing all the contents of the Header and Footer on the title page I was covering my bases.
I saved the document. Then I went back into the List of Appendices. I randomly selected an appendix. I pressed the Control button on the keyboard and left-mouse clicked. After opening my eyes up again - there was the selected appendix displayed on the screen - not the title page! Eureka!
Why the hell would anyone put contents in a Header and Footer when the contents is only appropriate for use on a single page? Yes - Section Break should - I wrote should have contained it. Well Section Break did not contain it.
Where was this headache sourced from? The compulsory downloaded template from the university's Graduate Research Office! [bawl]
To further investigate this phenomenon, I went to the university library's research centre and found online copies of the university's theses since the new template came into effect back in late 2020. I found numerous examples that did not feature the university's emblem or motto on their title page. How many other poor bastards, through no fault of their own, have endured the crap I have experienced and almost given up over? One that was caused by the university itself. To break the cycle I have provided an 'error' - 'background' and 'solution' message to the Head of Research. Hopefully other poor sods do not have endure this crap. "Spit".
Oh, and yesterday's problem of not being able to add two items sourced from within the notorious template section without all hell breaking loose - the link to the Abstract, and Acknowledgements - have now also be solved by emptying out the title page's Header and Footer. Plus, the links are now live and work... spit - spit - spit.
Kind regards
Lionel
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lionelgee
Jezuz Lionel! You sound a little ****ed off with this Thesis Crap. I hope it is worth the Mental Breakdown at the end of it all. [bighmmm] :bat:
And all this **** is from a University? Ye Gods!
Hi,
Somebody needs to be spoken to. Severely!
Especially if that template was part of their core duties.
Cheers
Hello 4bee,Quote:
Originally Posted by 4bee
I am an ex-TAFE Trade Teacher. I used assess people whether they were 'Competent' or 'Not yet Competent'. Unfortunately, it is still a measuring stick that I apply to other entities I interact with. I think you can read between the lines.
Kind regards
Lionel
Hello All,
Just a quick update - I just attached and pressed 'Send' on what I hope is the final 'Tracked Changes' draft of the thesis. Finished it before midnight too - so none of it turning into a pumpkin!
Hooray! Now one last check from the Principal Supervisor. That will be one last opportunity for any corrections to be made. Then when that is ticked-off the tracked changes gets converted to a 'clean copy'. This clean copy means no tracked changes or comments are shown. Then it is off to the Office of Post Graduate Research and then onto final examination.
I just have to wait patiently for the last lot of Tracked Changes to be cleared. Teehee - me wait patiently ....
Thank you everyone for your support. It has kept me going during what have been some dark times.
Kind regards
Lionel