The following page provides step-by-step formatting/technical instructions for setting up a thesis framework in Word 2008. By following these instructions and setting up a framework *before you begin writing* your thesis, you will avoid common formatting issues that can cause stress and headaches later on!

Introductory Pages

To begin formatting your thesis document, create a Title Page, Abstract Page and any other pages that you may need later to create your Introductory Pages. These pages can simply be blank placeholders, but are important to include from the outset as they impact the page numbering and table of contents set up in the steps below. The second section you will create by making a Section Break will be called the Body of the Thesis.

Page Numbering

Step 1: Move the cursor to the last page of your Introductory Pages, Insert -> Breaks -> Section Break (Next Page)

Step 2: Select any page in your Introductory Pages, Insert -> Page Numbers...

Step 3: Uncheck "Show number on first page -> Format -> select "i, ii, iii..." for Number Format -> Choose "Continue from previous section -> OK -> OK

Step 4: Go to View -> Header and Footer

'Step 5: Click on the Footer or Header of your Body Section then select, Toolbox -> Header and Footer -> Uncheck "Link to Previous"

Step 6: Notice the "Same as Previous" tag is removed

Step 7: Go to Insert -> Page Numbers...

Step 8: Make sure "Show number on First Page" is checked Format -> select "1, 2, 3..." for Number Format -> Choose "Start at..." and enter '1' -> OK -> OK

Step 1: Go to Insert -> Index and Tables...

Step 2: Go to Table of Contents -> Determine the levels you have -> OK

Step 3: This is what you should see

Step 4: Highlight your title and choose the heading style for it (Heading 1 will be the Top Level, e.g. Abstract, List of Tables, Chapter Title. Heading 2 will indent once, Heading 3 will indent more...etc)

Step 5: Select the Table of Contents, then Table of Contents -> Update Table...

Step 6: Voila, Now we have every title updated! No more manual Table of Contents!

List of Tables/Figures

Please note, List of Tables comes before List of Figures for the proper order of your thesis but the process is the same for adding both tables and figures.

Step 1: Go to Insert -> Index and Tables...

Step 2: Go to Table of Figures -> Choose Table for creating a "List of Tables", Figure for "List of Figures" -> OK

Step 3: This is what you should see

Step 4: Select your Table/Figure, then Insert -> Caption...

Step 5: Select the type of label (Table or Figure), and you can choose where the caption should appear; then type in the caption you want -> OK

Step 6: Right Click on the List of Table/Figure -> Update Field

Step 7: Now we have every table or figure updated here! (The demos shown are List of Tables)

Demo I: Caption will be the identifier on the list

Demo II: 3 tables on the list