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LaTeX

a guide to using LaTeX document preparation software

Advanced LaTeX Features

There are lots that are not discussed in this guide (see below) that we haven’t include either because they are not often used or they are too advanced to include in an introductory guide. We recommend exploring some of these as you get more comfortable with using LaTeX. Some of the resources provided at the end of this guide will help you get started on that journey.

Another thing to keep in mind is that TeX system is open-source, meaning that users can, and continually do, create more and more to add into it. Typically this is done via packages, which you can find online, download, and use within your document. Manuals are usually provided so that you know what the package includes and how to use it. Keep in mind that some packages will override commands in other packages or in the basic LaTeX itself. Also note that there is always more than one way to do things in LaTeX! What we have provided here are just examples of what this product can do, and we hope to have provided you with the most widely-used and most useful syntax. So while this guide will certainly help you in creating professional documents, there may be times when you wish to create more complex or customized reports, and in that case we hope this guide has provided you with the foundation needed to seek out more advanced LaTeX programming skills.

Some things not discussed in this guide

  • Changing document default text size, margins, columns, etc.
  • Defining new commands
  • Rotations
  • Footnotes and Margin Notes
  • Hyperlinks
  • Labels and Cross-referencing
  • How to read errors and warnings
  • Theorems and other advanced mathematics
  • Arrays
  • Indexing
  • Glossary
  • Appendices
  • Creating graphics
  • Subfigures, subtables, subfloats, side-by-side tables/figures, and more advanced figure/table options
  • Macros
  • Creating packages
  • Themes
  • Exporting to other formats
  • Using R in LaTeX with Sweave
  • Other more advanced options