Getting Started: Overview
You have installed LaTeX, and you have a text editor (like nedit or WinEdt.) Now how do you actually create a document?In general, the process works like this:
-
Type the document using the text editor. This source file will
include LaTeX codes you enter to specify special formatting, math symbols,
tables, etc. Save it with a name that ends in .tex
- Example: myfile.tex
-
Compile the file using LaTeX. This automatically creates a file ending
in .dvi or .pdf
- Example: myfile.dvi or myfile.pdf
- View the DVI or PDF by opening it. In Windows, double-clicking should open a DVI file with Yap, and in Ubuntu Linux the DVI will open in Evince. If you generated a PDF, it should open with your Acrobat PDF Reader. Macs usually generate PDFs, so the document will open with your PDF reader.
- Make changes in the source file, recompile, and view again until the document is complete.
- Print the file from your DVI or PDF reader.
FAQ
What is a .tex file?
Files ending in .tex are the plain text files you edit to create the document.
LaTeX uses these files to create the .dvi files.
What is a .dvi file?
A .dvi file (DeVice Independent) is like an Adobe Acrobat PDF: it can be
viewed and printed, but not edited. You're not using MS Word anymore. This
is what you view or print once you have compiled your source file using the
LaTeX distribution.
What is Yap?
Yap is a program that lets you view or print .dvi files on a PC running Windows.
It is automatically installed when you install MiKTeX (the LaTeX package
I recommend.)
What is evince?
Ubuntu systems already have Evince installed. It is a program that
runs under Gnome that allows you to view DVI files.
Next: Downloading LaTeX