The Adobe Acrobat software required to create a PDF document is available on PCs located in the computer laboratories on campus. Alternatively, Adobe Acrobat can be purchased from the UK Computer Store.
The UK Writing Center has tutors specially trained in creating PDF ETDs from MS Word. You can make an appointment with one of the tutors during their scheduled hours (recommended) or drop in during regular Writing Center hours for general help. Be sure to mention that you want to meet with an ETD tutor.
PDF workshops are also available throughout the semester at the W.T. Young Library Computer Lab.
This substantially improves navigation of your document. It allows readers to jump between sections of your document by clicking on bookmark links. The utility of this feature can be appreciated in this sample ETD from the UK Libraries' ETD collection. Acrobat can automatically generate Bookmarks, which will appear in a window on the left side of the screen, from the Table of Contents generated from several modern word processors, including Microsoft Word. The creator of a PDF document can create additional bookmarks in an existing PDF document to another PDF document or to a Web page. (Bookmarks are generated automatically only if your Word document is structured appropriately to use an automatic table of contents. BYU provides excellent video clips to show you how to do this. Choose the Table of Contents video (part 1) for help). To set your document to open with bookmarks revealed:
Embedding fonts simply means that all of the font information used to make your document look the way it does is stored in the PDF file. So no matter what fonts someone else has on their computer, they'll be able to see the file as you intended it to be seen. If you don't embed fonts, Acrobat will use fonts available on the reader's computer. Substitution can result in significant differences between your intended output and what the reader observes (particularly with symbol fonts), so it is best to have the fonts embedded. Fonts can be embedded when you convert from Word to PDF:
Strict file-naming requirements insure that hyperlinks will work. Specifically, using spaces in the file name will cause a problem with hyperlinking, possibly making your document inaccessible to some readers. Re-name any files that don't comply before submitting your ETD to the Graduate School . (e.g., thesis.pdf is correct; my thesis.pdf is incorrect).
Linking file names to the actual files in the List of Files section makes it easier for users to preview the multimedia enhancements you have taken time to include in your document. It also makes it easier for the Graduate School to make sure your multimedia files are working correctly. If you include multimedia files, or if your document is too large to be useful as a single PDF and must be broken into sections, be sure that all components are linked appropriately. With multimedia files, be sure that links exist within the document to access these files. If you create multiple PDFs, be sure you provide a way to move between the sections. Many people recommend submitting the full text of an ETD as a single PDF file. For longer ETDs, one very large file can become cumbersome to work with. If you do submit your ETD as a set of PDF files, however, you must include (and test) sufficient navigational links so that the reader can readily move from one file to another without having to close out one file in Acrobat and then open up the next PDF file. This is true also for any external files submitted with the document (e.g., video files). Links to these files must be included within the document and as linked file names within the "List of Files" page. In Acrobat:
Highlight links consistently. Links to additional files in the document should be visible. You should change the color of linked text within your document, create a box around linked text, or otherwise make sure that links are obvious. To change text color in Acrobat: Highlight text using the "Touch-Up Text" tool. Right click and choose the "Properties" option. Choose "Fill" color to change the color.
These are not allowed for several reasons; for example it allows ETD processors to copy your abstract and other information for inclusion in the database; it facilitates future migration of the document and it provides a more functional document for your readers. (so people can copy/paste citations, etc.). Additionally, it allows UMI to add their "archival information" page to dissertations. In Acrobat, the default is to have no security restrictions, so you should not have to do anything.
These are not permitted because w e cannot control the future availability of external files. All files necessary for your document must be submitted with the document. If you do include references to online works, be sure to follow current guidelines for citing Web resources.
There is no specific size limit for UK ETDs, but you should consider breaking up large files into multiple PDF's to facilitate download.
We will make every attempt to migrate the listed file formats indefinitely. Files submitted in the RECOMMENDED formats will have the best chance of future migration. If you would like to submit in a format that is not listed here, contact Beth Kraemer, kraemer@email.uky.edu.
Direct questions to the Degree Certification Officer for your program.
Direct questions to grad.webmaster@email.uky.edu
Last updated May 6, 2005