Installing LaTeX

To install a running LaTeX system on your computer you will need to acquire and install a "front-end" editor,  ghostscript & ghostview (for creating and viewing postscript output), and the TeX software itself. There are various ways to do this. Here are some options:

• The Adobe Acrobat Reader
  
  The Adobe Reader allows you to read and print PDF files. It is likely that you likely already have installed on your computer, but for the sake of completeness I have listed it anyway.

• WinShell 2.51
  
  This is the one choice of a "front-end" editor.

• TeXnicCenter
  
  This is another choice of a "front-end" editor.

• Ghostscript 8.14
  
  (See the Section for Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000 or XP) This program is necessary for creating PostScript output. Such output can be viewed on-screen using Ghostview (GSview 4.6, see below). This program takes an incredibly long time to download.

• GSview 4.6

• TeX Live
  
  This is one version LaTeX software itself, which can be obtained from a variety of sources, including on CD from Dr. Fishback. When you install it, make sure you are connected to the internet. At a certain point during the installation procedure, you will want to select a checkbox labelled ``enable internet download.''

• MikTeX 2.4
  
  This is another source of the LaTeX software itself available online.

• ProTeXt

This is an open-source complete LaTeX system based upon MikTeX and the TeXnicCenter editor. The installation is quite straightforward, with a basic installation requiring only a few minutes. Upon first use, the editor will configure the system and ask you for the directory path of  the latex executable file. If you have followed the normal process of installing the system in the Program Files directory, simply type "C:\Program Files\MiKTeX 2.5\miktex\bin ."

LaTeX Resources

There's an enormous amount   LaTeX resources available online and in text form. Here are just a few.

• Sample LaTeX files:

  • Template for Getting Started with LaTeX: Template

  • Sample Homework Assignment: Source Code  PDF Output

  • Sample Paper: Source Code  PDF Output

• The book Math Into LaTeX by George Gratzer. This is one of many books available on the market. It is relatively easy to use and is fairly well organized.

• LaTeX Symbols : This PDF document is an extensive reference of LaTeX symbols.

• TeX Users Group: This URL contains many links to other TeX-related sites.