Table of Contents

1. Preface
2. PDF Version of this Course
3. Australasian Digital Theses Program (ADT)
   1. Introduction
   2. FAQ
   3. More FAQ
4. E-Prints
   1. Introduction
   2. FAQ
   3. More FAQ
5. Preparing for Conversion to PDF
   1. Table of Contents
   2. Bookmarks
   3. Links to external Files
   4. Creation of files for conversion and subsequent submission
6. Converting to PDF
   1. Introduction
   2. Method 1
   3. Method 2
   4. Method 3
7. Editing your PDF File
   1. Introduction
   2. Files for Submission to ADT
   3. Table of Contents
   4. New Bookmark
   5. Links to external Files
8. Depositing your Thesis
   1. The ADT Deposit Form
   2. Trial Submission
9. Quoted Sources

Australasian Digital Theses Program (ADT)

More frequently asked Questions

Why use Adobe?

Portable Document Format was chosen as the format, as it is capable of being read on a wide range of operating systems, preserves the appearance of the original word-processed document (from which it can be made relatively easily), and is readable by Acrobat reader software, which is readily down-loadable from the Web for free.

What about document security?

The standard document security set for the ADT is to allow read & print only.

This security is set by the local ADT administrator. However, PDF is not immune to hackers. There will always be some risk but the security settings will minimise such risk.

What about copyright and plagiarism concerns?

There will be instances where parts of the document are subject to copyright restrictions. These parts, or the whole document can be restricted by choosing the appropriate restriction on the deposit form. Plagiarism will always be a matter for concern, but many feel that publishing on the web for all to see (with appropriate document security) is more likely to be a foil against blatant plagiarism. The thinking being that anyone can see where the material is lifted from.

The ANU may sometimes need to protect the intellectual property of its research community and therefore choose to restrict open access to some theses. Copyright remains with the author in most instances, however, and it is therefore up to the author to choose the appropriate restriction.

If you have further concerns please contact the Electronic Publishing Coordinator at library.epub@anu.edu.au.

Does a submission to the ADT web site affect the author's rights to publish commercially?

Publication obviously concerns students and the academics who are advising them. Students do not want to jeopardise their chances of later commercial publication by publishing with ADT and, equally, they do not want to get into contractual difficulties with a publisher with whom they may have a prior contract.

Helpful material on this question can be found on the NDLTD site. A few items:

If there is a chance of publication (and quite a small percentage actually do publish) authors can restrict access until they see if they can find a publisher.

If your thesis contains material that has been published elsewhere, you need to check the pre-existing contracts and, if necessary, obtain written permission to reproduce it in ADT. If you copy images or other material from commercial publications you need to obtain permission from the copyright owner.