LaTeX output not copied to FILE Why?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around issues related to LaTeX output, specifically focusing on generating and formatting mathematical expressions and tables in LaTeX documents. Participants share their experiences, challenges, and solutions regarding LaTeX coding, output visibility, and document formatting.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their initial attempt to create a LaTeX document and expresses confusion about why no output pages were generated.
  • Another participant suggests using a different document class and emphasizes the importance of using math delimiters for proper formatting.
  • Some participants discuss the need to use math or displaymath mode to correctly format mathematical expressions, explaining the difference between inline and display modes.
  • There are inquiries about how to split equations across multiple lines in LaTeX, with suggestions to use separate displaymath sections.
  • One participant expresses frustration over not being able to produce equations on separate lines and questions if the class type or commands are incorrect.
  • Another participant shares a table example and seeks advice on aligning the table to the left while keeping the headings centered.
  • Concerns are raised about printing .dvi files, with suggestions to use specific previewers or render to PDF instead.
  • Participants discuss the alignment of table columns and the use of multicolumn commands to achieve desired formatting.
  • One participant mentions issues with font size in their document and seeks help to enlarge it.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints on LaTeX formatting and output issues, with no clear consensus on the best solutions for specific problems. Multiple competing approaches and suggestions are presented throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some participants' suggestions depend on specific LaTeX distributions or configurations, and there are unresolved questions about the correct usage of certain commands and document classes.

JamesJames
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I am just getting started on LateX and here is what I have done

I typed in this trial file and saved it. Then at the prompt typed latex myfile where myfile is the name of the file...
\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
psi\mapsto 1/2\,m{\omega}^{2}{x}^{2}\psi
\end{document}

A whole bunch of stuff came up and then it said "No output pages" and then "Transcript copied to myfile.log."

I am using XP.

What do I have to do to see the following output in a file?

[tex] H:=psi\mapsto \frac{1}{2}\,m{\omega}^{2}{x}^{2}\psi[/tex]


I am getting the hang of the coding..

[tex] shro:=-\frac{1}{2}\,{\frac {{h}^{2}{\frac {d^{2}}{d{x}^{2}}}\psi \left( x \right) }{<br /> m}}+\frac{1}{2}\,m{\omega}^{2}{x}^{2}\psi \left( x \right) =E\psi \left( x<br /> \right)[/tex]

[tex] -\frac{h \omega\}{2}\,left( {\frac {d^{2}}{d{y}^{2}}}\psi \left( y \right) <br /> \right) +\frac{1}{2}\,\omega\,{y}^{2}h\psi \left( y \right) =E\psi<br /> \left( y \right) [/tex]

James
 
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WOW, that really does look nice eh ?

Man, I wish it would just work on my system :cry:
 
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Try \documentclass[12pt, letterpaper]{article}

Just a shot in the dark.

Edit make sure you denote any math by $-delimiters.

You have a few choices: (I'll list a few)

$x^2$
\begin{displaymath}x^2\end{displaymath}


Make sure your read some of the LaTeX documentation, plenty of it on the internet. Any TeX distribution will come with a short introduction to LaTeX (it's a PDF file), along with the AMS Math documentation (very well written).
 
Where would I put this?

$x^2$
\begin{displaymath}x^2\end{displaymath}

why? and what does it do?
 
JamesJames said:
Where would I put this?

$x^2$
\begin{displaymath}x^2\end{displaymath}

why? and what does it do?

In order to have text formatted as math, you have to put LaTeX into either math or displaymath mode. $ ... $ puts LaTeX into math mode (it's actually the same as \begin{math} ... \end{math}). This mode is used when you want the math to be placed inline into text.

The other mode is \begin{displaymath} ... \end{displaymath}, which I think can also be written in shorthand as \[ ... \]. This mode places the math onto a separate line.

When writing LaTeX on this board, these modes are implicitly already in use; math mode produces the same formatting as using "itex" tags here, and displaymath mode produces the same formatting as using "tex" tags.

If you aren't in either of these modes then a lot of the math symbols are not defined and so will generate errors when you try to compile the document. This would explain why you aren't getting any output.
 
I am trying to get the output on more than one line...how do I split it up?

[tex] \\shro1:=-1/2\,{\frac {{h}^{2}{\frac {d^{2}}{d{x}^{2}}}\psi \left( x \right) }{<br /> m}}=E\psi \left( x \right)\\1/2\,{\frac {{h}^{2}{k_{{1}}}^{2}}{m}}[/tex]

[tex] -1/2\,{\frac {{h}^{2}{\frac {d^{2}}{d{x}^{2}}}\psi \left( x \right) }{<br /> m}}+{\it V0}\,\psi \left( x \right) =E\psi \left( x \right)[/tex]

I can do it on here but in latex, separating the lines using \\ does not seem to work

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
\begin{displaymath}
\\shro1:=-1/2\,{\frac {{h}^{2}{\frac {d^{2}}{d{x}^{2}}}\psi \left( x \right) }{
m}}=E\psi \left( x \right)\\1/2\,{\frac {{h}^{2}{k_{{1}}}^{2}}{m}}\\-1/2\,{\frac {{h}^{2}{\frac {d^{2}}{d{x}^{2}}}\psi \left( x \right) }{
m}}+{\it V0}\,\psi \left( x \right) =E\psi \left( x \right)
\end{displaymath}
\end{document}
 
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I am trying to produce equations one line after another rather than side by side but it won't work. Is the class type wrong? AM I giving the wrong begin and end commands?

This is really frustrating !

[tex] \begin{eqnarray}<br /> f(x) & = & \cos x \\<br /> f’(x) & = & -\sin x \\<br /> \int_{0}^{x} f(y)dy &<br /> = & \sin x<br /> \end{eqnarray}[/tex]
 
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Put the equations you want on two different lines into two separate displaymath sections.
 
Got it..thanks again !
 
  • #10
One last question for now...how do I put tables into latex. Here is what I got...I would want the actual table to be left aligned but the table itself(not the columns) are center aligned on the page...ALL of THE TABLES ! :confused:

Here is what I am using
\begin{center}
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|}
\hline
Biased Voltage & \multicolumn{2}{c|}{Recorded data}\\
\cline{2-3}
& Voltage drop across diode(mV) & Voltage drop across resistor(mV)\\
\hline
0.00 & 0.006432 & -0.006394\\
5.01 & 4.5550 & 0.691\\
10.01 & 9.0899 & 1.023\\
15.03 & 13.648 & 1.744\\
20.00 & 18.166 & 1.939\\
25.06 & 22.752 & 1.984\\
30.00 & 27.235 & 3.813\\
35.04 & 31.810 & 2.979\\
40.00 & 36.353 & 3.859\\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{center}

Also, once I haev created a .dvi file is there some special way to print or can it be done just by file print?
 
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  • #11
It won' t print a .dvi file! :cry: :cry: How do I print? This is urgent.
 
  • #12
If you're using MiKTeX, it comes with a DVI previewer called Yap. If you're not, then get Yap. Another option that you should be aware of is you can render to PDF files by using pdflatex. Depending on the TeX editor you are using, it should be easy to choose how you would like to render.
 
  • #13
James, your sourcecode is good!, however the command:
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|}

means three columns that are center 'c' aligned. I believe you want to substitute this command:
\begin{tabular}{|l|l|l|}

'l' for left aligned, instead of 'c' centered.

Reference:
http://www.astro.ku.dk/help/LaTeX/ltx-68.html
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #14
GOT it...PDF LATEX works ! That is one big relief !

Now, I have tried the |l|l|l rather than |c|c|c| but this not only moves the table to the left as I want but it ALSO realigns the headings thus MOVING them also to the left which is what I don' t want.
 
  • #15
Is there some way to remove the center "indent" that seems to exit for the tables?

And also, the first line of page 1 seems to start with two or three blank spaces before the first word appears. Is that customary?
 
  • #16
James, try these substituted commands:
\begin{tabular}{|l|l|l|}

& \multicolumn{1}{c|}{Voltage drop across diode(mV)} & \multicolumn{1}{c|}{Voltage drop across resistor(mV)}\\

Let me know if these commands work.

Reference:
http://www.informatica.us.es/~calvo/prog/in/p4.htm#C%F3digo%20ejemplo%203.-
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #17
I played around with the l(left) and the c(center) and it worked for this one.

\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|}

& \multicolumn{1}{l|}{Voltage drop across diode(mV)} & \multicolumn{1}{c|}{Voltage drop across resistor(mV)}\\
 
  • #18
Ok, I am trying to type up a math document but the font is incredibly small. Is there some way to enlarge it..I tried [25pt] but it does not change a thing. Even {\Large and then the math stuff} does not change a thing.

I need help please :cry: !
 

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