Guide to Writing Your Thesis in LaTeX
Step 1: Install LaTeX and a LaTeX Aware Editor
LaTeX is not a word processor, it is a document preparation system for high-quality typesetting. It is most often used for medium-to-large technical or scientific documents, but it can be used for almost any form of publishing. LaTeX encourages authors not to worry too much about the appearance of their documents but to concentrate on getting the content right.
Because LaTeX source files are just ordinary text files, any text editor can be used to edit them, but it is important to have a LaTeX aware editor. A LaTeX aware editor can do things like syntax highlighting, spell checking, and automatic formatting. It can also run LaTeX on the source files, update the bibliography, then update the document in a viewer all at the click of a button.
Below are links to what you need to get started on various operating systems. Check out the LaTeX Project website for more information.
Linux
Your system distribution or vendor has probably provided a LaTeX system. If not, check your usual software source for the texlive package, or otherwise install texlive directly. All of the Linux systems in the ELE Department already have a complete LaTeX system installed.
Two good editors for Linux are Texmaker and TeXstudio.
Mac OS
MacTeX is a full LaTeX system for MacOS which includes an editor.
The editors Texmaker and TeXstudio can also be used.
Microsoft Windows
proTeXt is a full LaTeX system for Windows, which includes MikTeX and an editor. You can also install MikTeX directly with the editor of your choice.
There are numerous good editors for Windows, some of which are TeXnicCenter, Texmaker and TeXstudio.