Why and How to install LaTeX?

LaTeX being an important type setting software not only helps to produce the documents neatly typeset but also helps to create complex mathematical equations without much hassle. Apart from used for typesetting it is must for researchers as many journals and conferences accepts papers in LaTeX template. Even though the software appears to be difficult it is easy to learn and use the software efficiently and quickly. Using LaTeX you can easily typeset documents, equations, prepare manuscripts as per the journal or conference requirements (template) and also can create presentations.

In this blog I try to post articles relevant to LaTeX from installation to usage in typesetting documents, equations, preparing manuscripts as per the journal or conference requirements (template) and also in creating presentations.

To begin with, in this blog post the step by step procedure to install LateX from scratch on your computer is given. Please note that the following steps has to be performed in sequence and not following it may result in non working of some the components. 

  1. Install MiKTek 2.9 downloading from http://miktex.org/2.9/setup depending on your OS but while installing select complete installation not the basic one
  2. Download gs907w32.exe and install
  3. Download gsv50w32.exe and install
  4. Download Sumatra PDF (you may have acrobat reader but use Sumatra pdf, the advantage of having it will be mentioned later)
  5. Install TeXnic center from this link, http://www.texniccenter.org/download/

Launch TeXnic center from shortcuts created on desktop. You will be shown with the screen as shown below once you have successfully installed LaTeX without any errors and launching TeXnic center. Also please check whether you can see the drop down box with LaTeX => DVI => PDF, if all seven configurations are visible then you have installed LaTeX successfully and you can use it for any of the purposes mentioned above.

please check whether you can see the drop down box with LaTeX => DVI => PDF all seven configurations