Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!apple!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!usc!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!uunet!mcsun!ukc!icdoc!sot-ecs!spqr From: spqr@ecs.soton.ac.uk (Sebastian Rahtz) Newsgroups: comp.text.tex Subject: Re: How can I get started with TeX? Message-ID: Date: 8 Feb 91 11:19:46 GMT References: <1671@hpwala.wal.hp.com> <21384@hydra.gatech.EDU> Sender: news@ecs.soton.ac.uk Organization: Southampton University Computer Science Lines: 32 In-reply-to: Damian.Cugley@prg.ox.ac.uk's message of 7 Feb 91 11:55:47 GMT In article Damian.Cugley@prg.ox.ac.uk (Damian Cugley) writes: layered over TeX. (LaTeX isn't a "brand" of TeX.) It is useful for simple mathematics not using unusual notation, and is the one most usually used for preparing papers etc. I love it. Lets dismiss 90% of the publishing done in the world, and assume that TeX is for `non-simple' maths _A document preperation system: LaTeX_ is the *definitive* LaTeX reference -- so far as I know, the *only* one, bar the occasional 5-page "Introduction to LaTeX" that people keep on hacking out. on the contrary, there are some good books about LaTeX (admittedly not in English), and I wouldn't call Warbrick's `Essential LaTeX' noddy Even if you use LaTeX exclusively you will need the _TeXbook_ to plug holes in Lamport's manual and to assit you in making adjustments to the LaTeX macros. ah, Oxford perfectionism rules OK. Please can we establish once and for all that LaTeX was meant to be *used* by *authors*. Authors do *not* adjust the LaTeX macros, they produce generic input which is fed through a style written by a document designer. to say `adjust LaTeX macros' would imply that Lamport is offering a finalised system which needs tweaking - he doesn't, he offers a tool box and a set of examples Sebastian -- Sebastian Rahtz S.Rahtz@uk.ac.soton.ecs (JANET) Computer Science S.Rahtz@ecs.soton.ac.uk (Bitnet) Southampton S09 5NH, UK S.Rahtz@sot-ecs.uucp (uucp)