How to Create Basic LaTeX Documents Efficiently?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around creating basic LaTeX documents efficiently, focusing on the challenges of understanding and utilizing .tex files. Participants seek concise resources and practical tips for formatting, including headers, line-spacing, and equations, without delving into extensive tutorials.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty with the .tex file creation process and requests a brief tutorial covering essential elements.
  • Another participant suggests a lengthy resource titled "The-not-so-short-introduction to LaTeX" but acknowledges it may not meet the request for brevity.
  • A participant mentions using specific project needs to search for LaTeX commands online, indicating a practical approach to learning.
  • One suggestion includes a link to a PDF that outlines the basics of writing a small LaTeX file, including equations and symbols.
  • A participant recommends looking at sample .tex documents to quickly grasp essential features like tables of contents, images, and formulas.
  • Another participant notes that the lengthy resource has an index, allowing for selective reading based on immediate needs.
  • A link to the LaTeX project website is provided as a starting point for further exploration.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need for concise resources and practical tips for LaTeX document creation, but there is no consensus on a single preferred resource or method.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of familiarity with LaTeX, and the discussion reflects differing preferences for resource length and detail. Some suggestions may depend on individual project requirements and prior knowledge.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals seeking to learn LaTeX efficiently, particularly those who prefer concise guides and practical examples over extensive tutorials.

amcavoy
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I know basic formulas / symbols in LaTeX, but I'm not too good with the whole PDF thing. I mean, once I have a .tex file I can make a PS, DVI, or PDF file no problem, but the .tex file is the hard part. Every tutorial I read is like 100 pages long. Does anyone have a brief tutorial that gives the basics (headers, line-spacing, equations, etc.) without all the extras?

Thanks.
 
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I think I'm looking for the short introduction to LaTeX.
 
apmcavoy said:
I think I'm looking for the short introduction to LaTeX.

What I did was use the projects that I wanted done and then looked up the commands I needed using google and the operation I wanted to perform.

like:

"Insert picture latex"
 
Try this: http://www.copernicus.org/guidelines/GSWLaTeX.pdf

The first ten pages (less even) show you how to write a small latex file, and then it goes into equations and symbols etc.

PS
 
If you have a look at a sample .tex document with some essential elements like TOC, pictures, and formulae, then it will be the fastest way you can get these features to work.
 
You don't have to go through the whole not-so-short... It has an index and you can just go to the page relevant to your current problem. And it's not that much of a read anyway. Especially if you use a bit of selective reading.
 

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