ETD: Get Help: LaTex


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	LaTeX
	Frequently Asked Questions of the ETD Initiative

	1. Is it true that with LaTeX, I don't have to worry about page numbering and margins?
	Yes. LaTeX will number your pages and your sections. It will also generate your table of contents, as well as lists of figures and tables. It will format your bibliography for you. You can even change from single to double spacing and LaTeX will renumber your pages and redo your table of contents, list of figures, and list of tables automatically. The Graduate School accepts LaTeX submissions. Simply submit the DVI file (output of LaTeX) and any graphic files you have used.

	2. Can I do the LaTeX->DVI->PS->PDF conversion myself? What do I need?
	Yes. You may use the Adobe Distiller product to convert PostScript files to PDF. Adobe Distiller is available for Macintosh, PC, and most UNIX platforms.

	3. What Macintosh software is available for developing TeX documents? Textures from Blue Sky Research is easily the superior implementation of TeX for the Mac. It's the only TeX for the Mac that typesets and displays text and equations continuously as the TeX code describing them is typed, includes PostScript versions of the Computer Modern fonts, or allows simple copying and pasting of graphics and formatted pages between TeX and other Mac applications. If you work with TeX on a daily basis, Textures at $195 student price is worth a look. Blue Sky Research is famous on the net for technical support that should be a model for the industry. For more information send E-mail to sales@bluesky.com. Andrew Trevorrow's OzTeX is not as sophisticated or as Maclike as Textures, but OzTeX files are somewhat more easily exported to TeX systems on other platforms than are Textures files. More importantly OzTeX is only $30 shareware. OzTeX is the most integrated and Maclike of the shareware TeX's. It's also the only shareware TeX with anything approaching complete documentation. It's slower than the other programs discussed here but does allow background compilation and printing. If you only need to print or preview an occasional TeX document, get OzTeX. Tom Kiffe recently released CMacTeX 2.1, a more modular TeX for the Mac. The different pieces of this full TeX package like dvipreview, TeX, and METAFONT are all available separately. CMacTeX is available in both freeware and commercial versions. The freeware package includes information on ordering the commercial version which costs $25 and adds the "big" TeX and Metafont packages. Both versions include METAFONT, dvips, and various other TeXie tools. However both versions require a PostScript printer. Unlike the other TeX programs CMacTeX cannot print to a QuickDraw printer. CMacTeX's documentation is somewhat lacking. Finally Wilfried Ricken maintains DirectTeX, shareware, $100 for up to three copies, $20 for each additonal copy. It can be retrieved from hadron.tp2.ruhr-uni-bochum.de [134.147.104.8] in pub/directtex. DirectTeX sits on top of and requires the payware MPW. This gives it exceptionally strong macro abilities but makes it by far the least Maclike of the four packages. DirectTeX supports bidirectional typesetting as is needed for Hebrew and Arabic. It includes most TeX utilities such as BibTeX, METAFONT, and various tools for working with .dvi files. DirectTeX is the fastest shareware TeX and offers the most complete collection of TeX capabilities and tools. [Thanks to Thomas Dunbar of Virginia Tech for compiling this information.]

	4. How do I insert graphics into a LaTeX file?
	Different installations of LaTeX have different commands for inserting figures. Probably the most common is: \epsffile{figure.eps} You will probably need to declare a package in the preamble. Consult your local guide to LaTeX.


	5. How do I submit multiple files?
	The submission form has a place for you to list your files for upload. If you have more than about thirty you may use "tar" and "gzip." On UNIX, if you are using GNU tar it only takes one step: tar -cvzf etd.tgz etd.dvi .eps Otherwise, create the tar file like this: tar -cvf etd.tar etd.dvi .eps Create the gzip file like this: gzip etd.tar mv etd.tar.gz etd.tgz For Windows 95 and NT, use the WinZip application to create tgz files.

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Last Updated on: Monday, 21-Apr-2008 10:52:48 EDT