LaTeX Resources

LaTeX is a word-processor program to typeset mathematical symbols. It is not a WYSISYG word-processor, but requires compilation. LaTeX, written by Leslie Lamport, is a dialect of TeX, created by Donald E. Knuth.

The user first creates an ASCII file, usually with the extension ".tex", then runs the LaTeX program latex2pdf to produce a ".pdf" file. Here is an example: tex file , pdf file

There are (free) versions of LaTeX for every operating system. For Windoze, the standard package is called "MikTeX", available at http://www.miktex.org/. Download the program, and install it, using the standard setup. Then go to http://www.ToolsCenter.org and download the free editor "TeXnicCenter". After installation, the program will prompt you for configuration with "MikTeX".

The standard reference for the LaTeX programming language is Lamport's book "LaTeX: A Document Preparation System", Addison-Wesley, 2nd ed. 1994.

Here are some manuals on the web:

Some time ago, I wrote a very short Crash Course in LaTeX; you can also look at the source code.

Last, not least, some online-help is available at S.O.S. Mathematics CyberBoard's LaTeX Forum at http://www.sosmath.com/CBB/viewforum.php?f=16.

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