LaTeX, pronounced ''Lah-Tech'', is a document preparation system that is
much more powerful than nroff-troff. To use it, you will definitely
need a LaTeX manual. You create/edit your LaTeX document with either
VI or EMACS, following the document syntax as described in the LaTeX
manual, and name the file with a .tex extension. To view or print the
document, you must first 'compile' the file with the .tex extension
using the latex command:
latex <documentname>
Successful compilation will produce a file with the same name
as your original document, but with a .dvi extension. This stands
for 'device independent file' and is the form required for viewing the
document with a program called xtex. To use xtex with the dvi
file enter:
xtex <documentname>
The .dvi extension will be assumed, and a document view window
will be created which shows your document as it would appear if
printed on a laser printer.
To print a LaTeX document one more step is required. The .dvi file
created by latex must be converted to a PostScript file that
can be output on a laser printer. To do this, use the dvips
command:
dvips -o <outdocumentname.ps> <indocumentname.dvi>
The outdocumentname.ps file can then be printed using the printing
procedures described later in this manual.