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The core of LaTeX is a backend software package that complies the LaTeX code (.tex file) and creates the final document (PDF). There are a few different programs available to do this depending on the operating system of the user. Provides information about how to install LaTeX on Windows, Macs, and Linux, as well as online services.
Instruction on how to install the most common LaTeX programs for Windows and Mac can be found in the ' Installation for Windows' and ' Installation for Mac OS X' sections below. Aside from the back end software required to run LaTeX it is highly recommend that users install a text editor. A text editor is a frontend software that can be used to create.tex file used by the compiler. Text editor programs such as TeXwork, TexStudio, TexMaker, and TexShop provide a friendly interface for users. Often these front end programs include help menus, wizards for creating LaTeX objects, drop down menus for inserting symbols or altering text, and many other features that will support both new and experienced LaTeX users. You will find more information about these frontend programs in the ' LaTeX Interfaces' box below. For a Windows computer it is strongly recommend that you use the common MiKTeX editor.
The page contains several links including how to, and MiKTeX. A basic set of installation instruction can be found below, but if you are having trouble be sure to check the MiKTeX page (click the previous install hyperlink):. (make sure you choice the right option either basic MiKTeX 64 or basic MiKTeX 32 depending on your computer).
Free Mac LaTeX editor software Texmaker for Mac is the best free LaTeX editor software available in the market for Mac operating system. It is a simple basic software and has all the tools instilled in it for developing LaTex documents. LaTex for Mac Free Download: LaTex for Mac is an amazing editor and a productivity tool for the academic and as well as professional writing. Download LaTex for Mac Free. With the LaTex Mac app, you can edit and typeset the LaTeX right on your desktop PC.
After the download is complete run the installer. During the installation you will be prompted to select the paper size. It is recommend that you choice letter (this can be changed later if needed).
Once the installation is complete it is recommend that you check for any updates. The update wizard can be found through the Windows start menu. Following the steps provided by the update wizard should be a simple, but if you are having trouble instructions can be found by clicking the update hyperlink above. With everything installed and updated the last step is to try typesetting.
MiKTeX comes with a front end text editor built in, TexWork. To open TeXwork go to Start All Programs MiKTeX TeXwork. At this point you may want to play around and try typesetting your own document.
For your first document you should go to the tab. Once you have gone through that if you are looking for some additional ideas or exercises go to the tab. For Mac OS X it is strongly recommended that you use MacTex. Information about MacTex can be found on their main page. It is recommended that you click the link 'download MacTex'. This link will take you to a page with the download package, as well as, the instructions for downloading MacTex. If you are having trouble locating the download package click.
Follow the instruction on that page or the simple instructions listed below:. Click on 'MacTex.pkg' near the top of the page to begin the download. One the download is complete open the package and following along the installation wizard.
The 'MacTex.pkg' contains several different programs and documents. If you did not change the path during installation these items should appear in a folder with the following location Application/TeX. The two most important items contained in the TeX folder are TeX Live Utility a program that you can use to update MacTex, and TeXShop a front end text editor. It is recommended that your run Tex Live Utility before getting started to check for updates. With everything installed and up to date you may want to play around and try typesetting your own document, to do this open TeXShop. For your first document you should go to the tab.
Once you have gone through that if you are looking f or some additional ideas or exercises go to the tab. When starting a new document in TeXShop you may want to begin by going to File New from Stationary AMS-Article this will open a text editor with a standard template for creating an article. You will see other templates in New from Stationary that you may want to use in the future, such as beamer for creating slide show. As mentioned before the use of a front end text editor program is strongly encouraged. These programs help to increase the readability of LaTeX code during the editing process. Many of these programs contain wizards that can speed of the creation of certain LaTeX objects such as tables, they have overlays when using commands to provide information and to make sure the inputs are formatted properly, and they often have toolbars that simplify the use of certain common commands and symbols. Both the MiKTeX and MacTex downloads discussed above include a text editor, but you may want to look around to find the one you like best.
I for example use TexStudio, a popular text editor. A comparison of various editors can be found.
To illustrate how powerful a good text editor can be look at the two codes below. The first is written in notepad, for the new user it can be very difficult to follow this code and equally difficult to edit.
The second image is the same code written in TexStudio. In TexStudio the code is automatically color coded. The color coding makes it much easier to tell the difference between comments, equations, text, commands, and other LaTeX structures. Notepad TexStudio.