TeX at GMU Math

Here's how to use TeX and assorted utilities to produce a handout, exam, research article, etc. on gauss.gmu.edu, and then post it on your web site.

Begin by editing a LaTeX file, which we'll call file.tex. Available editors on gauss include pico (simple to use, in other words no manual, and limited features), emacs, and vi. For example, the command 

gauss% pico file.tex
will open your file for editing with pico. If you prefer to work in plain TeX, AMSLaTeX, or some other odd variant, you will have to replace the latex command below with the appropriate command.

Use the command 

gauss% latex file
to process the file. Note that the .tex suffix is not needed. When this is successful, use 
gauss% see file
to accomplish two things at once: (1) produce a Postscript file called file.ps, and (2) view it using xgv, a version of Ghostview. (If you want to view a general Postscript file, 
gauss% xgv file.ps
is the command to use.)

When you are satisfied with the document or have run out of time, you can use 

gauss% lpr file.ps
to send it to the printer in 220 ST1.

To put the document on your web page, one more step is required. Type 

gauss% ps2html file.ps
and some html and gif files will be created, including one called file.html. Use ftp to move all of the new html and gif files to the appropriate directory on the web server math.gmu.edu, and create a link to file.html. Be sure to move all the new files, not just file.html, since they are all needed. A MUCH simpler way to accomplish this step is to move the Postscript file itself to the appropriate directory on math.gmu.edu, and use the ps2html command there. ps2html is an extremely helpful perl program written by a person who wishes to remain anonymous.

To get more information on the usage of commands like see, ps2html, and texps, type the name of the command with no arguments.

If you don't know how to use LaTeX, read the LaTeX book and/or start by modifying the sample file hw.tex, which can be used as a template for a homework assignment. You may download this file and apply the above sequence of steps on gauss, or skip some steps and view the final result.

A second template file, paper.tex, includes an example of a Postscript figure in a LaTeX document, so in order to process it be sure to download fig01.eps in addition, and keep it in the same directory.

Send comments or questions to tsauer@gmu.edu