upgrading novathesis

What's new in NOVAthesis v6.x?

• A new organization for the customization of the template.
  • Now the file "template.tex" is out of limits 😊and all the confuguration/customization is done in the files in the folder “Config”.
  • The main contents are still in the folder “Chapters”.
• Faster processing time (noticeable with a SSD disk and a small document).
  • Probably less noticeable with larger documents and/or slower disks.
• Support for the new FCT-NOVA covers.
  • The new covers are not there yet, but once they become official, it will be trivial to "update" to use the new covers.

See below for some basic instruction in the wiki on how to upgrade from both v4.x and v5.x to v6.x. Have a look at the instructions and try to upgrade following them carefully. Please post your problems and difficulties — always referring your current version — and, if you have a solutoin, go and edit/update the wiki yourself with the problem and solution (that would be very very nice).

How to convert from v6.X to a more recent v6.X

Please follow these instructions carefully!

Let's say A is your current version, and B is the newest version.

1. Download the latest version of the template (v6.x) — version B
2. Replace the folders “Bibliography”, “Chapters”, and “Config” (in B) with your current versions (from A).
3. In file 3_cover.tex the syntax of most commands changed from square brackets to parenthesis, ie.e., \command[…]{…} to \command(…){…}
4. If you are upgrading from 6.0.x, 6.1.x, or 6.2.x, you may need to rename these files: 8_packages.tex => 7_packages.tex and 7_list_of.tex => 8_list_of.tex.

You are done! 😊

How to convert from v5.X TO v6.X

Please follow these instructions carefully!

1. Download the latest version of the template (v6.x)
2. Replace the folder “Chapters” (v6.x) with yours (v5.x)
3. Copy your bibliography files “*.bib” (v5.x) into the “Bibliography” folder (v6.x)
4. Go through the files in the “Config” folder (v6.x), one-by-one, and copy-in the relevant information from your “template.tex” (v5.x). If you leave the configuration files in their default values (evrything is commented) it will generate a PhD thesis cover for FCT-NOVA.

How to convert from v4.x to v6.x

Please follow these instructions carefully!

This is a rather complex and difficult upgrade and a few things can become problematic. Please remember ot keep an extra copy of your original (v4.x) version in a safe place.

1. Download the latest version of the template (v6.x).
2. Replace these (and only these) files in the folder “Chapters” (v6.x) with yours (v4.x): “chapter*.tex”, “appendix*.tex”, “annex*.tex”, “acronyms.tex”, “glossary.tex”, and “symbols.tex”. DO NOT replace the other files.
3. For the remainder of the files in your “Chapters” (v4.x) folder, namely “abstract-*.tex”, “acknowledgments.tex”, “dedicatory.tex”, and "quote.tex", you must copy-in your text from the original (v4.x) file to the new file (v6.x). Please note that you must copy in your text, not the macros and other stuff that was there from the begining. Lots of things can go wrong here… be very very careful!
4. Copy your bibliography files (v4.x) into the “Bibliography” folder (v6.x)
5. Go through the files in the “Config” folder (v6.x), one-by-one, and copy-in the relevant information from your “template.tex” (v5.x). If you leave the configuration files in their default values (everything is commented) it will generate a PhD thesis cover for FCT-NOVA.

Help and support

If after following these steps carefully you still have some “compilation” problem, let me know either here in GitHub in the “discussions” page, or in the Facebook group.