LatexPrimer--Paul Humke

LATEX: A Beginning

You will need access to a tex program like MicTex on the PCs, TexShop on the Macs to make things happen. Also, you may want to consult Humke for some pointers on how to get going.

Here are some files you will want to download:

definitions.tex (This is all you'll need to get started with Math 344 definitions)

After saving "definitions.tex", use the tex application to process it (using latex) or open a shell window and type "latex definitions.tex" This will produce a "definitions.pdf" or "definitions.dvi" file and a "definitions.log" file. The .log file contains a list of how latex processed the original .tex file; the .pdf and .dvi files are viewable. To see it use your tex application or type "xdvi definitions.dvi &" in your shell window. This will bring up a previewer.

latexprimer.tex

devil.pdf

Here is a ``real paper'' to download and play with:

real-paper.tex
Best of Luck!!
pdh
- Need Latex Help??? with set up, characters,commands etc. Use the Find Button to search for "math" or "formula".
- A Comprehensive list of TeXSymbols, fonts, etcAgain use the Find Button to search for "math".
- Unix, Emacs and all that Here is an introduction to UNIX (an operating system used on workstations) and the editor Emacs. Emacs is the editor of choice for us mathematics editor types. This is a brief introduction to it. You'll need a UNIX workstation to make things go, but perhaps John D. can fix you up!!w
- Below are two files to download to a unix workstation. The first is a latex training document entitled latexprimer.tex; you should save it with that name. The second document is a postscript picture which should be downloaded under the name devil.pdf.
  To see how things work:
  1. print the document latexprimer.tex. This is the code to produce a mini-mathematics paper.
  2. make certain that both latexprimer.tex and devil.pdf are in the same directory.
  3. using a shell window to the directory containing the files, type the following command
    
    latex latexprimer.tex
    This will create several files for later use. The latexprimer.aux file contains info to be inserted in a second run (we'll do this in a minute), a latexprimer.log file which contains a "log" of the first run, and a latexprimer.dvi file which should be viewable and/or printable. To incorporate the reference and citation info created in the aux file, type the command
    
    latex latexprimer.tex
    once again. Now see if you can view and/or print the dvi file. You might need help doing this!! Let me know if anything works-- there are hundreds of things that can go wrong!! The main ones are 1. no one uses latex at Illinois State (unlikely) 2. latex is used, but an older version that doesn't understand "documentclass" (not as unlikely, but if this is the case, I can deal.)
Disclaimer

Questions? Click here: humke@stolaf.edu