Basic Latex

Basic Program Usage:

Unix (teTex package)

Edit filename.tex with your favorite editor, e.g. gedit under gnome, or emacs.

Create filename.dvi by the invocation

 latex filename

Create postscript filename.ps by the invocation

 dvips filename -o filename.ps 

Create filename.pdf by the invocation

 pdflatex filename 

Print to the default printer with the invocation

 dvips filename 

Create html with the invovation

 latex2html filename 

Windows (Winedt/miktex)

Edit filename.tex with winedt, from the start menu.

Invoke latex by pushing the latex button or using the accessories menu.

Preview with yap from the accesories menu.

Print from the file menu or create pdf from the pdf submenu of the accesories menu.

Winedt has many buttons and menus for inserting elements of latex syntax into your files.

Mac (OzTex)

Edit filename.tex with alpha or bbedit lite.

The program alpha has many buttons and menus for inserting elements of latex syntax into your files.

Process, print and preview with OzTex.

Here is a local sample document (pdf | html | tex) illustrating basic mathematical constructions in latex.

Other references (e.g Math Symbols) and instructions for including pictures are at our web page TeX Sources.

Exercise: Using your favorite system (e.g. winedt/miktex on Windows) try to produce a tex file which could produce output visually like the small pythagorean triplet proof here postscript |pdf | html. Use the postscript file pyth4.ps which was produced by export from Maple V R7.

Mathlab Home Page

Last Update: September 20, 2002