Why Use Thesis Templates?
When properly used, templates will help you by automatically numbering and formatting the headings, tables, figures, equations, and literature citations in your document. For example, if you change the format of a single heading in a template-based document, the remaining headings can be updated with the click of a button. Additionally, an index and a table of contents can be automatically generated on the fly—allowing you to more effectively preview your document as it evolves.
Two key document authoring features in Word, Outline view and the Navigation pane, are made available through the use of styles. With Outline view, you can view your document with the level of detail you choose—you can view all of the content at once, just top-level headings, or anything in between. The Navigation pane offers an auto-generated list of your document's headings, which can be used for quick traversal, making navigating your document fast and efficient. Therefore, by using properly designed, style-enabled templates, you gain instant access to advanced document creation tools that will further accelerate your writing process.
Never start at the beginning
The greatest aspect of using templates is that they save you from having to design your documents from scratch. Instead of spending up to several hours creating and maintaining your document's formatting, numbering, and structure, you can use templates to jump straight into creating content.
Additionally, the templates that you develop can be quickly adapted for use with future publications, and your previous work can be easily imported into new template designs. Most importantly, using templates will make your papers easier on the eyes, and will let you focus on what matters—the content.
Important fundamental concepts
Because templates are so powerful, the core rules can be reduced to four easy-to- remember steps:
Step 1:
Use template files to create your new manuscripts.
Step 2
Copy existing elements—headings, equations, figures, tables, and references—and paste the copy
into a new location in the document to create a new element that maintains automatic numbering.
Step 3
Edit the elements.
Step 4
Cross-reference elements, especially equations, figures, tables, and references, to ensure your references update automatically.
These practices apply across the entire system, regardless of the particular type of document or place in the document.