Texmaker

Texmaker is yet another GUI centric tool for LaTeX and a pretty good one. The latest edition (1.9.9) has been spruced up and looks pretty neat. One of the best features in Texmaker that is not available in other tools like Kile, LyX,  is the online spell-check. For a person like me who makes a billion spelling mistakes, the online spell-check is a savior. Texmaker is available across platforms for free. Check the download page for more details.

For Ubuntu users

$ sudo aptitude install texmaker

Latex tip - how to include graphics

Tools

First convert your PNG file to EPS format. For that the png2eps can be used. To make png2eps work you would need to install the following:

1. pngcheck (part of netpbm)
2. pngtopnm (part of netpbm)
3. pnmtotiff (part of netpbm)
4. tiff2ps (part of libtiff-tools)
5. sed basename bc (should come default with your distro)

$ sudo aptitude install pngcheck libtiff4 libtiff-tools netpbm
$ wget http://www.henlich.de/media/png2eps/png2eps
$ chmod a+x png2eps
$ ./png2eps myimage.png > myimage.eps

Using graphics

\documentclass[a4paper,10pt]{article}
\usepackage{graphics}
\usepackage{graphicx}

\begin{figure}
\caption{some figure}
\begin{center}
\includegraphics[bb=0 0 438 476]{myimage.eps}
\end{center}
\end{figure}

NOTE: Although I prefer PNG, if you have a jpj file, the jpg2eps tool can be used.

[Source: A PNG to EPS convertor, Images in LaTeX]

Update:
I have found it much easier to create illustrations in Dia and export them directly in the eps format. Dia is available for Windows, Mac and Linux.

Latex tip - don't forget to run bibtex

If you compile your .tex file and end up seeing an error ".bbl could not be located", after you open the .dvi file generated, you will notice that the reference section is missing. This is because in the first run LaTeX created the .aux file which needs to be fed to Bibtex which will generate the .bbl file.

So,

#1 $ latex source.tex
#2 $ bibtex source.aux (generated in Step #1)
#3 $ latex source.tex

Kile does this in one shot, it is able to figure out that bibtex needs to be run in the middle.

Q: Is there any another way to do this in one shot from the command line?

Latex Math symbols

A good online reference to the different Math symbols in LaTeX. The file A.tex has all the symbols for ready reference.

Download the file
$ latex A.tex

Open DVI file in Evince or Okular.

Tools

You would need to install latex(TeX-Live). Also, KBibTex, Kile and Lyx are highly recommended tools

sudo aptitude install texlive-full kile kbibtex lyx

Ubuntu LaTeX help guide

Using Latex for formulas

NOTE: This is only if you are using it within OpenOffice

All of this translates to the formulas below

P_total = AC{V^2}f + {%tau}AVI_shortf + VI_leak newline
P_o = C_o {{V_o}^2}f newline
P_n = 0.5 P_o newline
I_leak = K_2 W(V over {T_ox})^2 func e^({{%alpha}T_ox over V}) newline
sum from 0 to 100 (a^2)(b^3)d newline
where, left lbrace {stack{a, contanst# b, variable # d, dynamic}} right rbrace