Modifying the location of page number on the first page of chapter to fit within height

Question

I am working on writing my masters thesis, for which the layout requirements are:

1. 1.5 inch margin on left, 1 inch on all other side

2. Page number on top right on every page, except for first page of chapter and preliminary pages where they occur at the center bottom.

3. The page numbers should fit within the margin on everypage

I am using the geometry package to set the above layout as follows:

\usepackage[letterpaper, height = 9in, left =1.5in, right=1in, top=1in, includehead,includefoot]{geometry}

which works fine, except for the fact that on the subsequent pages of the chapter (after first page) the bottom margin is leaving margin > 1 inch. I think this is happening because of the fact that I have included includefoot in the geometry option, but since I need the page numbers within the margin, including the first page of the chapter, I had to do this.

What is the correct method of setting the above layout so that page number falls in the margin, including the first page of chapter, and in subsequent pages, where the page number lies on top right, while leaving only 1 inch bottom margin?

Answer 1

I think the solution is to remove the includefootand then:

1. Use\thispagestyle{empty} after the chapter command so the page number disappears.
2. Use the command \enlargethispage{-\baselineskip} to reduce the type block on the chapter page one line (-2\baselineskipto reduce with two lines).
3. Use the package textpos to place the page number centred one line under the body text.

I assume all command can be defined in a page style to be linked to you chapter command.

And here is a MWE (which has to be refined):

\documentclass[11pt, letterpaper]{report}

\usepackage[left =1.5in, right=1in, top=1in, includehead]{geometry}

\usepackage[absolute]{textpos}
\setlength{\TPHorizModule}{\paperwidth}
\setlength{\TPVertModule}{\paperheight} 

\usepackage{blindtext}
\pagestyle{headings}

\begin{document}

\begin{textblock}{0.8}[0.5,0.5](0.52,0.88)% Increase 0.88 to move down
                                          % Increase 0.52 to move to right
  \centering%
    \noindent{\thepage}
\end{textblock}

\chapter{This is the first chapter}
\thispagestyle{empty}             % Remove page number
\enlargethispage{-\baselineskip}  % Reduce the type block one line

\Blindtext
\blinddocument

\end{document}

To move the page number further down, increase the last figure in the command:

\begin{textblock}{0.8}[0.5,0.5](0.5,0.86)%

Try changing the two lines

\enlargethispage{-\baselineskip}

and

\begin{textblock}{0.8}[0.5,0.5](0.52,0.88)%

My code is brute force. It is more sophisticated methods, f.ex. (re)defining the page style, or define one macro combining all the commands.