LaTeX and TeX

Using TEX or LATEX is a three-step process:

1. Create a source file containing text and valid TEX commands. You create the source file using whatever text editor you use for editing any other text file.

2. Run the TEX or LATEX processor (as appropriate) to produce a device-independent (DVI) file. The LATEX processor is the LATEX command, which takes the name of the source file as an argument. The TEX processor is the TEX command.

3. Translate the DVI file for a specific device, sending the output to a printer. This is done using the PTEX command.

Beginners should look at the document First Grade TEX: A Beginner's TEX Manual, by Arthur L. Samuel, and A Sample Document Produced with LATEX, or Getting Your Ducks in a Row, by Rusty Whitman. A copy of both documents is available on line--check with the Science Software Support Office for details.

All TEX and LATEX users should get a copy of the manual Using TEX and LATEX at STScI, which was written by Harry Payne in November 1992 and explains how TEX is used and how to troubleshoot common problems. There is also a chapter about using TEX and LATEX in the STScI Software Guide.

$ TEXSPELL filename