i have just installed a new version (v5.0) of footmisc.dtx on ctan
this represents a substantial revision of the previous version.
1. new package options
1a: side - put notes into marginpars rather than at the foot of the page; this option isn't terribly satisfactory, but it addresses at least one user's requirements 1b: ragged - set notes ragged right in their box; also a parameter footnotelayout that determines how the notes are to be set 1c: hang - set footnote marker flush with the margin and hang-indent the footnote text according to the value of footnotemargin
2. new commands
2a: setfnsymbol and DefineFNsymbols - these commands permit control of the way fnsymbol-style footnote marks operate (i.e., they allow you to define the sequence of symbols) 2b: mpfootnotemark - like footnotemark, but referring to minipage footnotes if you're inside one 2c: footref - make reference to a footnote label as if a footnotemark (this is a copy of a command in the memoir class, at the suggestion of peter wilson)
3. improvements
3a: i've worked on the documentation somewhat. several things are noticeably better, i think. 3b: the multiple option has been completely re-implemented using a scheme that is compatible with alexander rozhenko's manyfoot package -- i.e., his package and my package will each respect the other's footnote marks when checking for multiple footnote markers.
Robin Fairbairns
For the CTAN team