How to override LaTeX template's string constants

Question

Hi, I'm typesetting my CV using the europecv LaTeX class. I don't actually need to conform to the EU's standardized CV form, but I like the general layout of it. One thing that bothers me about the class is how it sets certain headings, for instance

Surname(s) / First name(s): Smith, John

Where I'd rather have

Name: John Smith

I've found that these string constants for English are defined in a file called "ecven.def" thus:

\def\ecv@infosectionkey{\ecv@utf{Personal information}}
\def\ecv@namekey{\ecv@utf{Surname(s) / First name(s)}}
\def\ecv@addresskey{\ecv@utf{Address(es)}}
\def\ecv@telkey{\ecv@utf{Telephone(s)}}
\def\ecv@mobilekey{\ecv@utf{Mobile}}

I guess I could just edit this file to change them, but that seems like the wrong approach. I tried to do this at the top of my document:

\renewcommand{\ecv@namekey}{\ecv@utf{Name}}

which gives this error:

./eurocv.tex:22: LaTeX Error: Missing \begin{document}.

And I've tried this:

\def\ecv@namekey{\ecv@utf{Name}}

which doesn't give an error, but doesn't change the output. Any ideas?

Answer 1

You need to use the \makeatletter and \makeatother commands wrapping your changes.

\makeatletter
\def\ecv@namekey{\ecv@utf{Name}}
...
\makeatother