HOWTO Print and View LaTeX Documents

Purpose:

Explain how to format the Linux Training materials we distribute as LaTeX source code for printing or viewing on screen.

Assumptions:

1. You have a RECENT Linux Distribution installed on your computer
2. You have installed all the components of the LaTeX typsetting system which came with Linux (usually teTeX), or an alternative LaTeX distribution (e.g. CD Live from the TeX Users' Group).
3. You have installed and configured these Linux utilities: gs, gv, dvips, xdvi, lpr
4. You know how to use a Linux command-line interface
5. You have the X windowing system working properly, and you are giving shell commands from an xterm window.
6. You have a fully-functioning default printer

Understanding the Process:

How to do it all:

1. To turn filename.tex into filename.dvi, give this command from the directory which holds filename.tex:

   $ latex filename.tex

   To do this with the linuxtraining materials, move to the directory which you extracted linux_training.tar.gz into and then change into the subdirectory within it called "build", e.g.

   $ cd build

   Once inside the "build" directory, type:

   $ latex masterfile.tex ; latex masterfile.tex

   N.B. Repeating the command separated by the semicolon ensures that the "contents" listing and any other form of indexing is fully completed.

2. To view filename.dvi, give this command:

   $ xdvi filename.dvi &

   This launches the xdvi viewer and opens the file. See man xdvi for details on xdvi keyboard shortcuts (they are worth knowing)

   N.B. The ampersand (&) simply detaches the xdvi viewer application from the xterm which launched it. DO NOT use this command string outside the X windows environment, because the ampersand puts console apps into the background, i.e. renders them invisible!

3. To print filename.dvi to your default printer, give this command:

   $ lpr filename.dvi

   To print to another networked printer, try this

   $ lpr -P printername filename.dvi

4. To get complete control over every aspect of printing filename.dvi, use the dvips utility, e.g.

   $ dvips filename.dvi

   N.B. dvips has dozens of options for setting page ranges, reverse printing, etc. See man dvips for details

5. To turn filename.dvi into postscript (filename.ps), give this command:

   $ dvips -f filename.dvi > filename.ps

6. To view filename.ps:

   $ gv filename.ps &

7. To print filename.ps to your default printer:

   $ lpr filename.ps

   See man lpr for full details on printing options, or use the many printing options available in the gv viewer

8. To create portable document format (filename.pdf) output from the LaTeX source filename.tex, use this command:

   $ pdflatex filename.tex

9. To view filename.pdf

   $ xpdf filename.pdf &

   or

   $ acroread filename.pdf &

10. To print filename.pdf, use the options provided by your viewer.

    There are ways of sending .pdf straight to a Linux printer, but I don't know them. Can any body help?

Problems?

We know how hard it can be for newbies without a UNIX background to get going in Linux.

Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to answer non-commercial queries on the use of Linux and LaTeX. Please refer to these sources for free help and documentation:

Suggestions:

One of the principal reasons that we are releasing our Linux training materials as open source is that we never consider them a finished product. If you can suggest any improvements to this HOWTO (or any other document on this site), send them to: [email protected]