LaTeX/TeX is a mark-up language that produces attractive text. LaTeX typesets a text file with interspersed commands that describe how the text should be formatted. Like other languages, it is best learned by looking at examples.

The advantages of LaTeX include that it is public domain, platform and printer independent, allows mathematical symbols and equations to be entered much easier and quicker than in conventional word processing programs, and produces camera ready text. Its disadvantage is that it is not as easy to learn initially as a word processor.

Another reason for learning LaTeX is that markup languages such as XML are becoming more important. But the most important reason is that after you learn LaTeX, you can focus on your writing and become more productive.

TeX consists of primitive operations as in other programming languages. LaTeX is a user interface for TeX to automate the common tasks of document preparation. It provides a simple way to use the power of TeX without having to learn the entire language. It also has features that allow the conversion of LaTeX documents into XML.

Read this LaTeX file to see examples of various TeX commands and then look at the output to see the typesetted file. Download TeX file and figures.

1. emacs filename.tex or use another editor.
2. latex filename.tex (.tex not needed)
3. xdvi filename.dvi (display file)

Links

• ReVTex4 example and output. If you want to use the same style as articles for Physical Review and the American Journal of Physics, use ReVTeX4. See what happens to superscripts when you replace prb by pre. If you want two columns, add twocolumn in the brackets [...].
• Mac OSX: TeXShop, TeX/LaTeX Software
• Windows: MiKTeX, WinEdt, LaTeXEditor, LaTeX for your PC
• Lyx works like a conventional word processor, but uses LaTeX as its typesetting engine in the background.
• Recommended book: Helmut Kopka and Patrick Daly, A Guide to LaTeX (Addison-Wesley, 2004), 4th ed., ISBN 0-321-17385-6.
• CTAN: the Comprehensive TeX Archive Network, LaTeX project site
• Online tutorials: Getting Started with TeX, LaTeX, TeX FAQ, A not so short introduction to LaTeX, A beginner's introduction to typesetting with LaTeX
• TeX Users Group

Please send comments and corrections to Harvey Gould, hgould@clarku.edu.