Chance Zhang, \(1^{st}\) ed
Keys: \(\LaTeX\), Guide, MCM/ICM, Template, Tools
Some Words before Start
Well, I once tried to be detailed like this:
However, I found that after the introduction, there were already 1k+ words, which means that nobody would look through it carefully.
So, to make my reader feel better, I create this document.
What Is \(\LaTeX\)
To be short, \(\LaTeX\) is a typesetting system created by a lazy professor who is mad at the existing typesetting software.
\(\LaTeX\) can:
- remain your typesetting for more than tens of years
- help you to construct your paper without concerning about the typesetting stuff
- rearrange your paper and make it more neat based on its algorithm
- save you from the endless arrangement of typesetting in Microsoft Word
- help you to create mathematical equations quickly
- make your mom proud
\(\LaTeX\) can not:
-
run itself
-
get you a girlfriend/boyfriend
-
feed your cat
How to Start
Here are some instructions for beginners:
-
Get yourself a Chrome
-
Open overleaf, and this may be what you will see:
-
Create an account and log in.
Click
Helpon the right side of the top.Then click
documentation.Now you get in the best web page to learn \(\LaTeX\).
-
You must know and admit that you definitely can not learn \(\LaTeX\) in 30 minutes:
or you can take your chances.
Click Learn \(\LaTeX\) in 30 minutes, and you can get to a page like:
Well, this page is exactly as same silly as this blog is. You can scroll down to explore more. Note that you should open the Open an example in Overleaf in another tab like this:
so that you can learn the stuff and check its codes in the online compiler.
I believe that Overleaf does a much better job in introducing \(\LaTeX\) than I do. But I think something more to tell you here before you begin your silly '30 minutes' would help you to understand better. So I think you might need to stay in this blog until you finish your reading of the next section.
Basic Guides
Online Compiler Interface
The online compiler has an interface like:
The most common file types in LaTeX are .tex , .bib and .cls, where .tex is your source code, .bib is place you put your references and .cls is where we set some special typesetting. The output of your source codes is a .pdf file on the right as you can see.
You could upload some files to Overleaf if you like, only by clicking the
up symbol of the rightest. More operations of the files are on your own exploration.
A Super Quick Intro
Your first source codes may look like this:
% hey, can you see me?
% We use ``%`` in $\LaTeX$ to comment, which means that they would no be shown in your final ``.pdf`` document, so no need to worry.
% below shows the preamble parts of LaTeX
% normally we just copy them, no need to memorise
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
% we state the author and date in advance
\author{Chance the beauty}
\date{\today}
% here begins the real document
\begin{document}
% we use \maketitle to make title, pretty easy to remember, huh?
\maketitle
% you may notice the format: \ + order_name + {more_detailed_instruction}
\section{Introduction}
Well, here is Chance. I have nothing to say.
\section{Discussion}
Bala Bala
\section{Conclusion}
Ok, let me say something.
% this corresponds to the \begin{document} in the head
\end{document}
Ok. Now I think you can move to explore the 30 minutes now.
Here is a checklist after that:
You are now able to
- create a \(\LaTeX\) document
- add a title, author name, date
- add a silly image
- create some chapters and sections, or subsections
- make a small table
What to Do Next
Ok. Now since you have known a little of the \(LaTeX\), the best suggestion to learn and explore more is to create a Lab Report as formal as you can based on \(\LaTeX\).
The idea is that these tools can not be managed if you stay reading without practising. The length and the contents of your Lab Report do not matters. Or you can create anything else as you wish.
2000 years later...
I suppose that you have done what I suggested
Templates
People are lazy.
Some templates can be directly used.
You can find them by clicking Help -> Documentations -> Templates and search whatever you are interested in.
More Tools
Well, let's be lazier.
As we are focusing on MCM/ICM,
To Learn More On LaTeX
In fact, what you know about \(\LaTeX\) now is just a little bit of it. For MCM/ICM writing, or your further writing for papers, what you know is not enough at all.
You can learn something more in liam's blog. You may compile all the codes in Overleaf but when you learn this, special attention should be paid to the math equations.
Note that whenever you find something you do not understand, you could google it or find the answer in help document in Overleaf.
Once you think you are Ok with \(\LaTeX\), you can now take a look at mcmthesis ~ a template for MCM. You can use this to form your MCM/ICM paper with some editing. But directly use it may be regarded as plagiarism.
You'd better download a \(\LaTeX\) offline compiler once your Internet fails. You can learn the details in texlive. However, when you do your writing, I think Overleaf is better as it can tell you where the bug is.
If you are in a hurry to learn \(\LaTeX\) for MCM/ICM, you may check mcmaid.
Overleaf as a Cooperation Tool
You can invite your teammates to edit your \(\LaTeX\) documents on Overleaf by clicking the 'people' symbol on the control bar on the head. It was proved useful in one model MCM/ICM competition of my school.
The end
In fact, I'm a beginner to \(\LaTeX\), too. So if any mistake was made in this blog, please inform me.
More things to explore are:
IEEE_Author Center% you can download LaTeX templates for IEEE writing
Manchester Academic Phrasebank
Well, this blog can be regarded as a guilder to resources. Hope you like it. If you do not, I would say that I do not have time to make it better. So maybe next time?