Creating Beamer slides with winedt/Miktex or Scientific Word
Every computer in the lab contains a free Latex distribution called Miktex as well as the WinEdt text processor which is linked to this distribution. The Miktex distribution includes the Beamer presentation package which enables you to design slides in Latex.
NOTE on recommended software: If you would like to have a software installation on your home computer that is similar to the one in the lab, please refer to the following links:
Text editors: WinEdt (same as in the lab but not free - however, it is preconfigured to work with Miktex), Emacs (free, versatile, very customizable but with a bit of a learning curve), Textpad
Latex distribution: Miktex(free)
Postscript editor and viewer: Ghostscript (editor), Ghostview (viewer)(free)
NOTE for Scientific Word users: Version 5.5, currently installed in the lab, offers the choice of Beamer slides.
Simply put, Latex is a set of commands that formats the plain text, graphs and equations of your document. For comparison, any webpage that you see contains a series of commands that tell Internet Explorer how to format and display the content (to convince yourself, go to View-Source in Internet Explorer).
BASIC STEPS FOR LEARNING Latex WITH WinEdt AND Miktex:
Launch WinEdt from Start-Programs.
Since WinEdt is preconfigured to use Miktex (Latex), you can already start to create a basic Tex file/document.
For a GOOD introduction to Latex programming and syntax, please read this manual (a hard copy is available in the computer lab shelves - check the black folder).
Alternatively, you can refer to Latex for Complete Novices.
A complementary tutorial will teach you how to use WinEdt and Miktex.Please visit the WinEdt-Miktex tutorial.
For those who prefer a "what you see is what you get" graphical equation editor to work with WinEdt, please check the TeXaide webpage.This will be made available in the lab if a significant number of people request it.
USING Beamer WITH WinEdt AND Miktex:
Beamer is simply a subset of Latex commands that allows you to create slides from certain templates and add text and equations to them.
NOTE that you don't need to retype your equations if you already have the original Tex document (simply copy and paste the relevant Latex code).
Launch WinEdt from Start-Programs
Beamer resources are available below:
NOTE on EPS files: a simple way to process MS Office objects such as graphs and tables into EPS files for Latex/Beamer import is to use Adobe Illustrator (available in the Krieger computer lab) - simply copy and paste the object into the Illustrator file and save as EPS.
USING Beamer WITH Scientific Word:
Go to File - New to open a new document, select Other Documents- Slides-Beamer. To produce a PDF, click on Typeset - Preview PDF.
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