LaTeX


$\mbox{\LaTeX{}}$ is a document markup language and document preparation system for the TeX typesetting program. It is wide used on cientific publications and should be easier than MS Word. In fact is necessary some time to get the things working, but at the end the results are fabulous.

To start is necessary a compiler and an editor.
In Windows you need:

  • Compiler MikTex, download the "Basic MiKTeX". It will give more flexibility, but you must have internet access because the missing packages are downloaded on demand. Otherwise take the full one version.
  • Pdf viewer Foxit. Unfortunately the version 2.2 works better with TeXniCCenter than the version 3.0. The Acrobat reader can also be used, it requires more computer resources and therefore is slower to start than Foxit.
  • Ps package Ghost, download and install Ghostview and Ghostscript.
  • Editor TeXniCCenter. An excelent $\mbox{\LaTeX{}}$ Editor. Install it at the end to make possible the application connection with the programs above.

For Linux (Latex in Ubuntu) :

  • Compiler "TeX-Live". I recomend package texlive-full for large $\mbox{\LaTeX{}}$ work to avoid extra work installing missing styles. It already includes pdflatex and bibtex.
  • dvi viewer Kdvi, package kdvi. For ubuntu users see kdvi or use the program okular.
  • Editor Kile, package kile.
  • Image Magick to work with figures, package imagemagick.
  • Optional: Compiler to Web files, package latex2html. Acrobat reader can also be installed to view pdf files, have a look at Medibuntu for installation instructions.

For debian based systems use sudo apt-get install <package> to install a package.

For $\mbox{\LaTeX{}}$ users and also for people that refuse to use it, I strong recomend to install JabRef. It is a simple program that helps to archive your collection of digital books, papers and so on. It offers a good overview of all your literature with a link to your digital library. It is Java based, it means that it works in all platforms that support Java. And the best, it generates BibTex files.

If you are not convinced about $\mbox{\LaTeX{}}$ and want to use MS-Office or OpenOffice, I can cite two ways to insert presentable equations in your work. First of all, the equations are treated as pictures, so you can generate a script to do the work for you, (see script), or add plug-ins in your favorite Editor, (see plug-ins).

Contents:


Basics:
documentclass - LaTeX document class options.
Beamer - A documentclass for Presentations.
Beamer preambel - A preambel using Beamer.
Table and Figure - Floats, position of figures and tables.

Extra tips:
BibTex-Style - Inserting and changing the bibliography style.
Comment - Comment a text block.
Special characters - ä á à …
overpic - Put LaTeX on top of included graphics.
subfig - sort subfigures within one figure.
picture - drawing with TeX.
mbox - wirite text inside equations.
thispagestyle - suppress the page number on the current page.

Administration:
mktexlsr - Tex-Live, installing new style files.
TeXniCCenter with Acrobat - Viewing pdf with Acrobat.
TeXniCCenter with Foxit - Viewing pdf with Foxit.
script - Shell script to generate Images based on a LaTeX document.
plug-ins - Add a LaTeX equation editor in MS-Office or OpenOffice editor.
kdvi - Installing Kdvi in Ubuntu.

Database:

Basics:

documentclass arrowUp.jpg

LaTeX document class options.

Beamer arrowUp.jpg

A documentclass for Presentations.

Beamer preambel arrowUp.jpg

A preambel using Beamer.

Floats, position of figures and tables. arrowUp.jpg

Define figure and table position.

Extra tips:

BibTex-Style arrowUp.jpg

Inserting and changing the bibliography style.

Comment arrowUp.jpg

Comment a text block.

Special characters arrowUp.jpg

ä á à …

overpic arrowUp.jpg

Put LaTeX on top of included graphics.

subfig arrowUp.jpg

Sort subfigures within one figure.

picture arrowUp.jpg

Drawing with TeX.

mbox arrowUp.jpg

Wirite text inside equations.

thispagestyle arrowUp.jpg

Suppress the page number on the current page.

Administration:

mktexlsr arrowUp.jpg

Tex-Live, installing new style files.

TexnicCenter with Acrobat arrowUp.jpg

Viewing pdf with Acrobat.

TeXniCCenter with Foxit arrowUp.jpg

Viewing pdf with Foxit.

script arrowUp.jpg

Shell script to generate Images based on a LaTeX document.

plug-ins arrowUp.jpg

Add a LaTeX equation editor in MS-Office or OpenOffice editor.

kdvi arrowUp.jpg

Installing Kdvi in Ubuntu.

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License