Master Thesis LaTeX Template

The main document is 'masterarbeit.tex', it contains the document preamble with all the included (and uncommented) packages you might need useful and the overall document structure. All chapters are 'include'ed into this main document, so SCM's like SVN, GIT, HG can handle them better.

Quickstart:

To get started:

• install all the needed packages used in 'masterarbeit.tex'
• test-compile 'masterarbeit.tex' and tune the used packages
• edit 'titlesetup.tex' and 'pdfsetup.tex' to your needs

"WARNING": You need a fairly recent version of the TikZ package in order to successfully compile the template.

Acronyms:

This Template comes with a database of acronyms, called 'acrodb.tex'. During drafting and editing, use this database with all the acronyms. For the final production of the document use 'acrobib.py' to compile a file containing only the used acronyms, called 'acronyms.tex' and modify the 'input{}' statements at the end of 'masterarbeit.tex'.

Images & TikZ

• All images should reside in the 'img' subdirectory.
• The file 'macros.tex' provides to commands to quickly set figures
  • One for normal figures and one for sidewaysfigures
  • Both macros prefix all labels of figures with 'fig:'
• If you use TikZ you can put global styles in the file 'img/tikzsetup.tex'
• Configuration of use TikZ libraries is also done in 'img/tikzsetup.tex'
• You should input{} your TikZ images. I recommend the following workcycle:
  • develop your image in a separate file using 'a5paper' in 'landscape' mode
  • move reusable styles from the image to 'tikzsetup.tex'
  • input{} your image in your text.

Fonts

I have switched the used fonts from Knuths defaults (Computer Modern) to 'Times' (not Time New Roman), 'Helvetica' and 'ASCII'. You can find the setttings in 'masterarbeit.tex'.

Macros

One particular strength of LaTeX is the fact, that you can define your own macro commands which can make writing your thesis more painless. Put all your macros in 'macros.tex'. You might want to use the 'xspace' package in several cases. I recommend the following workcycle:

• Detect inefficiency: complicated names or specifications, error-prone names, repetitive use of commands and text.
• Refactor a fragment into a macro
• Use the macro and improve it
• Lather, rinse, repeat

AMS-Math

The 'amsmath' packaget, together with the 'amssymb' packate comprises a powerful math environment. Better than the standard math environments of LaTeX. If you plan on including sophisticated formulas you should read the 'amsmath' docs.

The 'listings' package caveat

Using the listings package with KOMA-Script is a little bit problematic. If you plan on using the listings package, remember to uncomment the line containig 'input{lsthack}' in 'masterarbeit.tex'

Versioning with GIT or HG

This template is versioned with GIT and Mercurial. If you cloned it, you already should have your preferred version control. If you don't want to version your thesis with git/hg, simply delete the '.git' or/and '.hg' subdirectories.