Learning LaTeX

Why LaTeX?

• There are different kinds of "TeX"
  • Plain TeX
  • AmsTeX
  • LaTeX

• LaTeX is probably the most popular

• Most new packages are designed for LaTeX

• Important specialty packages like SliTeX are designed for LaTeX

• It is probably easiest to learn

Preparing a "TeX" document is a 3 step Process

• Make in input file myfile.tex

• Compile myfile.tex to produce myfile.dvi

• Print or preview myfile.dvi

The Basic Structure of the Input file

• Every input file must begin with a \documentstyle command.

• Input files have a preamble for setting global formatting properties, and a body where the text goes, as in this example.

• Formatting is controlled by commands, declarations and environments
  • Commands produce output or set parameters. Examples are \author{Robert Miner},\maketitle and \bigskip.

  • Environments are sets of formatting rules that determine how the input file is read. Examples are \itemize, \quote and \displaymath.

  • The Scope of an environment is marked by the commands

    \begin{environment_name}
\end{environment_name}

    commands, though you can also write {\environment_name ... }.

  • Declarations change the default formatting style until the end of the current environment. Examples are \em, \bf, and \Large.

What about Math?

• Use $ ... $ to go into in-line math mode. Use \[ ... \] for unnumbered, displayed equations, or \begin{equation} ... \end{equation} for numbered, displayed equations.

• x^{2y} does a superscript, a_{2n-1} does a subscript

• \frac{1}{x} does a fraction.

• \sqrt{\alpha + \Gamma} does what you expect, too.

• There are a whole bunch of special symbols like \rightarrow.

• \int_0^1 and \lim_{x \rightarrow 0} \sin(x^2) = 0 are examples worth looking at.

• You also need to do arrays.

Defining New Commands

• It is a very good idea to define new commands for frequently used notations in your papers. Collect them all at the beginning.

• You can also define new enviroments. The most common example is defining new theorem environments.

Common Pitfalls

• Colons in function maps are different than text colons.

  Use $f\colon X \to Y$ not f: X \to Y

• Iterated integrals come out to far apart. Use the "negative thin space" to bring them together. Also, put in space before the differentials

  $\int \!\! \int x y \,dx dy$ not \int \int x y dx\, dy

• Lists of symbols should be put in separate dollar signs to get the space right. The same holds for negative integers.

  $x$, $y$, $z$, and $-1$ not $x, y, z$ and -1

• There are some spacing subtleties with set definitons. Use

  $\{\, x \mid x > 0 \,\}$ not \{x \mid x > 0\}

  although you still use $\{x,y,z\}$.

• When including Roman text in a displayed equation, you should put it in an \mbox. Use

  \[
F(z) < 0 \mbox{ for all $z > 0$}
\]


Where to go from here...

• Get the book LaTeX by Leslie Lamport
• A higher level reference is The LaTeX Companion by Goosens, Mittelbach and Samarin.

• The picture environment
• The tabular environment
• The geomsty package
• SliTeX and BibTeX
• The story on including graphics