Introduction to the Unix Cluster. Node: LaTeX?

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8.1: What ARE TeX and LaTeX?

The LaTeX document preparation system is a special version of TeX, a structured typesetting and text formatting utility. Typesetting refers to the process of turning ordinary text files (in this case, files with special embedded LaTeX commands) into printed output. It's the typesetter that decides such things as the length of the printed line, what style of type to use, how much space to leave below the section headings, and the document's general appearance. Through the use of special commands, the writer can create tables and lists, enumerate examples, use special fonts, and many other conveniences designed to give the text a professional polish. Currently it is only available on HYDRA (Digital Unix V3.2C), but not WAVE (DU V4.OB), or jupiter, mars, mercury, neptune, saturn, venus (DU V4.OD).

Both TeX and LaTeX are particularly suited for producing high-quality documents with mathematical text. LaTeX, however, is actually a collection of high-level commands, called `macros,' which are designed to simplify the use of TeX and allow the user to concentrate on his or her writing rather than on formatting commands. The added power and flexibility that this provides is the reason we recommend the use of LaTeX. This chapter assumes that by now you already have a good working knowledge of LaTeX, so only necessary information that isn't included in the manual will be discussed here. For a more basic introduction, see LaTeX: A Document Preparation System - User's Guide and Reference Manual.

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