[MiKTeX] Re: how to write class in miktex

[GR <kkb...@pe...>]

Not a MiKTeX problem, but at least not SPAM!

However, see at the end of this message for documentation gathered by
MiKTeX.

The title should be "How to write classes in *LaTeX* "

"\chaptermark " is explained in the  "LaTeX Companion" from
Goossens-Mittelbach-Samarin, section 4.3.1, Writing New Page Styles

"\abovecaptionskip", as somebody already said, is a length that sets the
amount
of space left above a caption, for example between a figure and its legend;
the default is generally 10pt. You can modify it by

\setlength{\abovecaptionskip}{the_length_you_want}

and look whether you like the result.

These are *NOT* internal LaTeX commands, but commands provided by LaTeX
classes or packages, and it is not harmful to modify them, except for the
result which is a matter of taste. *Internal* commands generally contain the
character @ (like \@startsection , which you are likely to use, but better
not to
modify, if you want to change some settings of a class).

I fully agree with the advice of looking at and trying existing classes (not
only thesis, but also book) and modify them step by step, rather then
starting ex nihilo

For references: everyone using LaTeX should have at least "LaTex" of Lamport
and "LaTeX Companion" from Goossens-Mittelbach-Samarin. (This is necessary,
not always sufficient, especially for writing new packages or classes). For
more, I have a very good reference, but in French.

Before searching the web, use what is provided by MiKTeX! A search for the
text
"\abovecaptionskip" in \texmf\doc gives (in my very uncomplete installation)
not less than 27 files; the same search for \chaptermark provides 45 files.
As a corollary of this search, you may be willing to have a look at some
packages, which probably already have 95% of what you want, and 4% more
using their flexibility.

Season's greetings

G.R.