Non-numbered footnotes

[David Oxilia]

Louters,

Thanks for your quick reply to my query regarding split one
column and two column pages. It's unfortunate that lout doesn't
allow this as many journals (at least those that that I read)
usually place the abstract above the main part of the two-column
text. This is also often required when a displayed object (for 
example an equation) is wider than the column width. The practice
is to use horizontal rules to mark the transition between two
column mode and one column mode and display the wide object in
one column mode. At any rate, perhaps one day the handling of
objects might allow this to be done.

A quick question: Is it possible to place unnumbered footnotes?
More generally, can one label a footnote with any arbitrary
object (e.g., a dagger or an asterisk). I'm aware that it is
possible to set this for the document as a whole (in the style
definitions) but can one define a symbol that will pass as an
option an arbitrary object? Of course one would still want to
retain the usual @FootNote symbol for in-text flowing footnotes.

The application of this is to use footnotes to assign affiliations
to authors at the bottom of the start-page. It is also useful for
placing a corresponding address for the authors (in this case the
footnote is "unmarked")

The above questions are hoping that it is not necessary to use
the @Place symbol but rather that there is some means to do this
with @Footnote that I haven't figured out.

cheers,

David.

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David Oxilia                    Tel: (541) 737-2368
COAS:Oregon State University    Fax: (541) 737-2064
Ocean Admin. Bldg. 104          WWW: http://www.oce.orst.edu/po
Corvallis, OR 97331-5503        Email: address@hidden
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