What is the fastest way to learn LaTeX basics?

Question

I am completely new to LaTeX. I know, it is not very complicated. But there are always some basics that one need to be taught before going into the autonomous exploration stage.

Currently, I have installed MiKTeX, but I can't even figure out how to compile a dummy example. Can you help me?

Update Found a nice helpful article on how to compile from LaTeX to PDF.

Answer 1

I have found the not so short introduction to LaTeX extremely useful when I was a newbie (and actually I still use it as a reference when I need a feature that's less commonly used).

AFAICT it includes all the basics you need to know, and then something more.

Answer 2

I learned LaTeX through Lamport's book long time ago, and it was very helpful. Nowadays there a lot of good online tutorials--a quick search on google yields these two good results:

Latex primer and Beginning Latex

Also if you have access to Linux, you can run LyX which helps you create LaTeX documents visually, and you can learn from the generated text.

Answer 3

I found TeXnicCenter very helpfull in getting started with LaTeX. It's a free Windows IDE for LaTeX, and once set up properly, makes compilation a breeze, just a simple key press.

It also has a lot of toolbars for standard tags, which could be a useful way to learn LaTeX, though once you're familiar with the commands you'll probably find it's a lot quicker to type them.

Answer 4

If you're using a Mac (and even if you're not), there's a lot of helpful information on the MacTex Wiki. Also, although it's pretty old-school, comp.text.tex (I get to it via Google Groups) can be very helpful.

Answer 5

If you just want to get familiar with the syntax, try an online or offline Latex editor:

http://www.latexeditor.org/ (download)

http://www.monkeytex.com/ (online service -- haven't tried it, but looks interesting)

http://www.codecogs.com/components/equationeditor/equationeditor.php (equation editor)

Unfortunately one of the hardest parts can be just getting set up.

Answer 6

Why are you using latex? Often the easiest way to get started is just to find a template that works for whatever you're doing and use that. As you learn more about latex and addon packages, you can tweak the template so that it better meets your needs.

In terms of basic skills, you should learn about:

• Document headings/sections
• Basic text formatting: italic, bold, etc.
• Including images
• Float environments like figure, and how to reference them with \ref{}
• Tables
• Citations and bibliographies with bibtex
• Math environments, if you need them

Answer 7

Here are some LaTeX resources that I've found useful:

• The not so Short Introduction to LaTeX is a great introduction, as finrod already mentioned, and really the best place to start.
• The Comprehensive LaTeX Symbol List shows how to produce almost any symbol you could want.
• The Memoir class User Manual contains a really good introduction to typography.
• The LaTeX Companion is indispensable for more advanced features, such as formatting and layout customisation.

Answer 8

I've found Leslie Lamport's [amazon.com] reference very useful as an introductory text and an ongoing reference.

Answer 9

Try TeX Frequently Asked Questions.

Answer 10

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/LaTeX has a lot of content about latex, and it is very helpful if you are starting with it. I used it while I was writing my first major document and it was very valuable

Answer 11

There is a great program Scientific Workplace that is a full fledged text processor based on LaTeX. It will allow you to grow into LaTeX easily through using help, menus etc.

Answer 12

IMHO, the book by Kopka & Daly is still the best to learn LaTeX.