How to create PDF documents and write in LaTex?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion focuses on methods for creating PDF documents and writing in LaTeX, exploring various tools and workflows suitable for different user preferences and technical setups.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests using a word processor to write text and a LaTeX interpreter for equations, then combining them as bitmaps in the document.
  • Another participant recommends using pdflatex to directly render documents to PDF instead of DVI.
  • A suggestion is made to utilize a PDF printer for document creation.
  • One participant emphasizes the advantages of using LaTeX for mathematically-intensive writing, noting its capability to handle entire articles and books.
  • Another participant describes a process involving saving a text file with a .tex extension, compiling it to DVI, and converting it to PDF using dvipdfm.
  • A light-hearted suggestion is made to consider using a Mac, highlighting its built-in PDF saving feature.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple methods and tools for creating PDFs with LaTeX, indicating a lack of consensus on a single best approach. Various workflows are proposed, reflecting differing preferences and experiences.

Contextual Notes

Some methods depend on specific software availability and user operating systems, and there are unresolved questions about the compatibility of certain tools with LaTeX outputs.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals interested in document preparation, particularly those looking to integrate LaTeX into their workflow for technical writing or academic purposes.

quasar987
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What do I need to do to be able to create PDF documents and be able to write in LaTex in them like on this forum?

Thanks.
 
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One way is to write text in MS Word or other word processor, do equations in a LaTeX interpreter, and copy the equations and paste them as a bitmap into the Wordprocessor text file.

If Adobe Acrobat is installed and integrated properly, one should be able to convert the Word (or other wordprocessor) file into a pdf. This is the method I use at work.

Or one can do text and equations in LateX, but I don't know if the file can then be imported into Acrobat.
 
Try using pdflatex. Instead of rendering to a dvi file, it renders to a pdf.
 
If you want to write something that is mathematically-intensive, use LaTeX directly, not any other kind of word processor. Then process the document with pdflatex, as graphic7 advises. LaTeX is not just a formula writer; you can write whole articles, papers, books,... with it.
 
Type your paper in a text editor and save it with the extension .tex You can then compile this source file to a DVI file by typing

latex <filename.tex>

The DVI can be converted to a pdf file by using dvipdfm:

dvipdfm <filename.dvi>
 
you could get a mac... Os X has system wide save as PDF :-)
 

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