# Converting text

1. Jun 20, 2004

### 3.14159265358979

how do you convert a text file into a LaTeX file? thank you soooo much...

2. Jun 20, 2004

### chroot

Staff Emeritus
I'm not exactly sure what you're asking. Are you asking how do I compose a paper or article in LaTeX?

- Warren

3. Jun 20, 2004

### 3.14159265358979

i'm teaching myself first year calculus and i wanna write the notes on the computer because of the convience factor....so, i typed out several problems with solutions..

example:
$\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to 2} {{[(x^2 + 1)(x^2 + 4x)]}}$
$= \mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to 2} {{(x^2 + 1)}} \mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to 2} {{(x^2 + 4x)}}$
$= {{((2)^2 + 1)}}{{((2)^2 + 4(2))}}$
$= 60$

...now i wanna convert what i have here so i can put it onto an acrobat file...so i have to convert this to LaTex (which i don't know how to do) and then convert that onto acrobat (which i do know how to do...) thanks for your help..

4. Jun 20, 2004

### chroot

Staff Emeritus
Well, download and install a package called MikTeX, if you're on Windows -- http://www.miktex.org/

Then, design a LaTeX document. Use a text editor. Put the following "preamble" in the file:

Code (Text):
\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}

\end{document}

Open a command prompt and run pdflatex myfile.tex and you'll get myfile.pdf, all ready to go.

- Warren

5. Jun 20, 2004

### 3.14159265358979

ok, i downloaded and installed MikTeX 2.4 and opened it up and it gave me a huge list of things (fonts, programs, ect...) now what? also, you said "use a text editor"....what's that? i'm pretty slow when it comes to computers (as you can surely tell)...thanks again..

6. Jun 20, 2004

### chroot

Staff Emeritus
Use any program you'd like that can save plain text files. Notepad is one such editor that comes with Windows, and you can find it under Start -> Programs -> Accessories. If you'd like a more sophisticated editor, I personally prefer a program called TextPad (http://www.textpad.com/), though there are many to choose from.

- Warren

7. Jun 20, 2004

### 3.14159265358979

i must be doing something wrong because it's still not working..

8. Jun 20, 2004

### 3.14159265358979

i have all my work in a 'WordPad' document with the MiKTeX program and the 'click to convert' program running...now what?

9. Jun 20, 2004

### chroot

Staff Emeritus
Make sure you tell WordPad to save as plain text. By default, WordPad saves formatting information similar to MS Word.

I don't know what the "click to convert" program is. Please just do as I suggested. Open a DOS window, change to your directory, and type pdflatex myfile.tex.

- Warren

10. Jun 20, 2004

### Nec

PI, why not use notepad to create the file and then save it with extention of .tex ?
Then run the command line type down pdflatex myfile.tex-as said above to change it into a pdf file...

11. Jun 20, 2004

### 3.14159265358979

chroot...you are brilliant...thank you soooo much!! it took me a while...but i finally got it...your patience was and is greatly appreciated...*hand shake and a hug*

12. Jun 20, 2004

### Nec

Change the file extention-- it might be YOURFILE.rft or YOURFILE.doc--into YOURFILE.tex

13. Jun 20, 2004

### Nec

Hey, I helped you also!

14. Jun 20, 2004

### chroot

Staff Emeritus
Anytime! LaTeX really is a beautiful piece of work, but it has a pretty steep learning curve. If you have any questions about it, please let me know.

- Warren

15. Jun 20, 2004

### 3.14159265358979

yeah Nec, you helped too...thanks a bunch..

16. Jun 20, 2004

### chroot

Staff Emeritus
That, by itself, is not sufficient to make WordPad save as plain text. Honestly, 3.141.., I'd rather you use NotePad or a more sophisticated editor like TextPad.

- Warren