Recomended Packages
Index
Documents
The document files are palaced on the
doc folder of texmf
tree. Recomend to see following documents:
- lshort-english (or your language) on doc\guides: short
introduction for LaTex2e
- file on doc\tex-refs: document for (La)TeX and friends.
- files on doc\latex\help: LaTeX2e command help.
- files on doc\latex\compreensive: table of LaTex symbols
The document of package are placed inside of folder with name
of package, in
doc\generic or
doc\latex, depending
the
package are of generic Tex package or LaTex specific one. Some package
documents
will not compiled. If document files is not found (for example, only
readme
file are on package document folder), see the folder with same name of
package, inside of
source or
source\latex.
Norrmally this folder contain source files (
dtx and
ins)
for style and document of package. Copy
dtx and
ins
file to temporary folder
and execute latex as
c:\temp>latex [dtx file name with extensin]
When document use grossary or like, will require more calling of above,
in
way to solve cross reference problem. Note that the extensin is
required because
extensionless file are assumed as
tex (processing
ins
file in similar manner, will generate package file such as
sty
file).
The general documents for LaTeX are found on
http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/info/,
http://www.tug.org/, and
http://www.latex-project.org/.
Intalling the package on TDS compliant systems
To install package on TDS (TeX directory Structure) compliant TeX
systems
without apropriate instalation script, you need to put each files in
the correct
place. If the package becomes with
dtx file and
insfile,
need to process using latex in the command line:
c:\temp>latex [dtx file with extensin]
c:\temp>latex [ins file with extension]
Will be necessary to execute LaTex command more that one times for
dtxfile
to solve cross reference problem. Note that extension are required
because
the file extensions are not the
tex. The
dtxfile
produce
package document file and
ins file produce package files such
as style file.
- If package are for LaTex only, create the folder with package
name inside of tex\latex and copy the the style and support
file
(sty, cls, clo, cfg, def). Copy fd (Font Definition)
file if exist.
- If package are for Tex or Tex and LaTex, create folder with
package name inside tex\generic and copy Tex support file (tex,
but check the file first because document file will be tex
too) and LaTex style and support file (sty, cls, clo, cfg, def).
Copy fd (Font Definition) file if present.
- Create folder with package name inside of doc\generic
or doc\latex according to place of Tex support file or/and
LaTex
style support files are inside of tex\generic or tex\latex.
Copy the document files (doc, inf, tex, dvi, pdf, ps, txt, etc).
- Create folder with package name inside of bibtex\bstand
copy BibTex support files (bst).
- Create folder with package name inside dvips and copy
dvips support file (pro.map).
- Create folder with package name inside of metapost and
copy the Meta Post file (mp).
- Fonts: The fd (Font Definition) file are placed in the
same folder as Tex support file (tex) and/ou LaTex style
support
files (sty, cls, clo, cfg, def). Other fonts file are placed
in
the folder with package name inside of corresponding font folders.
Create
theses folders and copy it:
tfm (Tex Font Metric) -> fonts\tfm\public
mf (Meta Font) -> fonts\source\public
afm (Adobe Font Metric)->fonts\afm\public
ofm (Omega font Metric) ->fonts\ofm\public
vf (Virtual Fonts)->fonts\vf\public
pfb (Post Script Fonts)-> fonts\type1\public
ttf (True Type fonts)->fonts\truetype\public
and so on.
- Are not recomended to install personal style files (sty, def,
tex, etc) in the texmf tree. Put theses files in the working
folder (on the same folder of your tex files that use theses files) or
on
the folder pointed by envilonment variable TEXINPUTS.
For more details for file distribuiton on the texmf tree, see the
tds
(Tex Directory Structures) documentation (
doc\tds).
Obs.: The user will install their own package, puting all
required
files into folder pointed by environment variable
TEXINPUTS
(it
works for all systems).
Recomended Packages
The package of "base" or "required" category are included on all LaTex
distributions.
The package that are not "base" and "required" category will require
separate
instalations. Thus, when have several similar packages, opto for "base"
or
"required" category one.
Base classes: article, book, report (book variant), letter, slides
(printed
transparences), proc (proceedings: variation of article), amsart (AMS
article),
amsbook (AMS book), amsproc (AMS proc).
Deveoper's classes: ltxdoc, ltxguide, ltnews, minimal, amsdtx
(AMS
ltxdoc).
Usefull packages
Are on "base" or "required" category:
- babel: to configure document language for hyphenization,
names, etc (option are language or dialet. e.g.:
\usepackage[brazil]{babel}, \usepackage[english]{babel}).
To disable hyphenation, use nohyphenation for hyphenrules
environment.
- color: to use colored text or box inside LaTeX document
using
command like \color[]{}, \textcolor[]{}, etc. this package are
automatically
loaded by graphicx.
- fontenc: specify the font encoodings. e.g.:
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
activate 8 bit encodding (it made correct hyphenation and ligadure of
punctuated
characters).
- graphicx: standard package to include graphics, using
command
\includegraphics[]{}. The drive will be indicated in the option (e.g.:
\usepackage[dvips]{graphicx).
- inputenc: to configure input encodings (e.g.:
\usepackage[latin1]{inputenc} permit use of punctuated character).
- latexsym: some aditional LaTeX symbols as normal subgroup
(not
required if use amssymb).
- makeidx: to create index. Put \makeindex in the preamble
and
use \index{} to add in index. The \printindex are used to put index in
the document. Note that requires following calling sequence: latex,
makeindex,
latex, latex in way to perform index creation (if use bibtex too, use:
latex,
makeindex, bibtex, latex, latex
- others (see usrguide on doc\latex\base): alltt, doc,
exscale,
graphpap, ifthen, newlfont, oldlfont, showidx, syntonly, tracefnt,
cyrillic,
graphics (old version of graphicx), keyval, epsfig,
Are not on "base" and "required" category:
- a0poster: to produce posters, using large size fonts.
- beamer: To produce hight
quality presentation slide and printed transparences. It works both
with PDF LaTeX and LaTeX+DVIPS. The pgf and xcolor package are required.
- concmath: Use Concrete Roman
and Euler math fonts. It provides "Clarendon" (square serif) based
document.
concmath provides LaTeX font/symbols and AMS font/symbols. If does not
use
aditional symbols (that loaded by packages) that are not AMS, will
produce
hight tipographic quality document using "Clarendon".
- dsfont (double stroke): provides \matds{} to use Computer
Modern
Compatible double stroke font apropriate to represent number sets, such
as
real, rational, natural, etc.
- eso-pic: To include
backgroung on all pages.
- float: will create your own float. will
reconfigure figure and table border.
- floatflt: to wrap text around floats (figure and
table)
as in word processors. For this, use floatingfigure and floatingtable
instead of figure and table (require float package
installed). Other popular
package with similar functionality is wrapfig.
- geometry: to set papers, margins, and related spacings
(e.g.:
\usepackage[largin=2cm,
rmargin=2cm,tmargin=2cm,bmargin=2cm]{geometry}).
Support A0-A6 and B0-B6 paper, and screen sizes.
- hyperref: to create hyperlinked dvi, ps, or PDF file. The
table of contents, cross references, citations, etc are converted
automatically to links. The drive option as dvips, dvipdfm, pdftex will
be passed to package option.
- pgf/tikz: powerfull and modern graphics package.
- psfrag: to replace text inside eps figure with LaTex
commands
(symbols, texts, etc). For this, use \psfrag{key text on eps
file}{LaTex
command to replace with text} before \includegraphics. Note that the
yap
does not support psfrag. To complete replacement, need to use more
sofisticated
DVI viewer such as DVI
Out or convert to PS file.
- setspace: provides commands to control line
spacings: \singlespacing, \onehalfspacing, \doublespacing and
environment spacing[] to set line spacing locally with any values.
- titlesec: format title of chapter and sections.
- txfonts: Provides
profissional quality Times based Post Script font set. The
txfonts
are downloadable from CTAN (http://www.ctan.org)
and it set fonts as above like, but most fine and complete times
compatible adjustment (for example, typewriter font are bit
fat than courierto combine with times) and provides
times
compatible fonts for almost aditional fonts/symbols, inclusing Black
Board
Bold, AMS fonts, double stroke fonts (\varmathbb{} and \varBbk:
varBba,
.., \varBbz). The txfonts package will be loaded using \usepackage{txfonts}or
\usepackage[varg]{txfonts}depending
if want to use traditional math alphabet or alternative math alphabet
for
math fonts. When the varg option are not indicated, still acess
alternative
math alphabet using \varg: \vara, .., \varz. For palatino
based
font set, use pxfonts from same author, downloadable from CTAN (http://www.ctan.org), but it will
change structure
of some aditional fonts such as mathbb{} of AMS font set with other one.
- twoup: to print two virtual pages in one fisical page.(two
reduzed
pages printed in one page).
- xy (xypic): powerfull diagram typesetting macro.
For PDF document only.
- ae: virtual fonts for PDF files with T1 encoded CMR fonts
(this
package solve some Computer Modern font maping problem for accented
character
on PDF document). Recomend to use type 1 encoded Comuter Modern fonts
such
as lmodern (http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/fonts/ps-type1/lm/)
or cm-super (http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/fonts/ps-type1/cm-super/)
insteaded of ae package, due to PDF document quality.
- epstopdf (for PDFLaTeX only): when write18 are
enabled, PDFLaTex will convert eps figure to pdf
and
manage correctly (note that dvipdfm made it by default). If
system
securit are essential, keep write18 disabled and use dvipdfm.
Note: The
hyperref are not on "base" and "required"
category
yet, but almost LaTeX distribution include this.
Usefull package
family:
- AMS family ("required" category):
- classes: amsart, amsbook, amsproc, and amsdtx
are
AMS article, book, proc, and ltxdoc classes.
- math: amsmath, amscd, amsthm, and amsxtra
are package for mathematical enhancements, comutative diagrams,
enhanced newtheorem,
and support for older amsmath, respectivelly.
- fonts: amssymb provides AMS fontset and
symbols (use
amsfonts, if only fonts are required), and eucal or euscript
with eucal option replace calligraphic letter on mathcal with Euler
Script
on mathcal, The eucal or euscript with mathscr option create mathscr
command
for euler Script, keeping mathcal unchanged.
- amsthm: theorem and like.
- Carlisle (popular, but are not "required" category:
distributed
as single package):
- comma: to insert comma (or other thinks) on conter
values
- colortbl: to produce colored tables
- dotlessj: provides dotless j on any font family.
- fix2col: fix some loss on LaTex two colunm features
- ltxtable: merge of longtable and tabularx
- plain: to typeset plain tex markup inside
LaTex document
- pspicture: reimplement picture mode to use dvips
specials
- remreset: to control counter reset (maded by chapter,
etc)
- scalefnt: scale fonts
- slashed: commands for 'Feynman slashed character'
notation
- textcase: controled upercase/lowercase macro
- typehtml: typeset HTML directly on LaTex
- obsolete package: blkarray.
- advanced packages: mylatex.ltx provides methos
to
make special formats
- Easy family: (not are "required" category: distributed as
one
single package):
- easybib: custonizable bibliograph style inspired on AMS
TeX
- easyeqn: equation reimplementation with
custonizable label fields
- easymat: array with equal row/colunm
- easybmat: array for block matrices
- easytable: array/tabular like envilonment with equal
row/colunm
- easyvector: C like syntax vector/matrices writing macro
- Fancy family: (popular, but are not "required"
category:
distributed as several small package):
- fancybox: enhanced boxes
- fancyhdr: extensive control of page headers and footers.
- fancynum: typeset numbers
- fancyref: LaTex package for fancy cross refering
- fancyverb: sophisticated verbatin text
- fncychap: this package provides six predefined chapter
headdings
- LaTex tools family (see doc\latex\tools): ("required"
category):
- afterpage: will execute specific command at endo of
current
page
- array: Arrays and tables (tabular) with formatted
columns.
- bm: will use bold math symbols easy.
- calc: aritmethic package, usefull for calculus of lenght
and
couter values.
- dcolumn: align decimal points on array/tabular
- delarray: automatic delimited arrays
- enumerate: control enumeration style
- ftnright: footnote on multi colunm document
- hhline: double line.
- indentfirst: indent the first paragraph of
section/chapter
- layort: show layort for current document
- longtable: provides longtable (combination of table and
tabular)
that break across pages
- multicol: multi colunm document
- tabularx: produce equal width colunm of array/tabular on
selected
colunms, keeping automatic width calculation.
- theorem: extend the newtheorem to set style
- varioref: enhanced cross references
- verbatim: new implementation of verbatim.
- xspace: control space acording to the next character,
usefull
to write macro.
- xr: external document referencing.
- for package developers: fileerr, fontsmpl,
rawfonts, showkeys,
somedefs, and trace ("LaTeX base" also include som
package
for developer such as doc, docstrip, ltxdoc, and ifthen. The
other
package of "required", the graphics offer keyval
and trig
for devel,opment).
- psnfss (Post Script font family): ("required"
category):
Provides several packages to set fonts for type 1 Postscript fonts. See
the doc\latex\psnff\psnfss2e.pdfon texmf tree for
font provided
by each package.
important note: The Times package are obsolete due
to
font scalling bug. Use combination of mathptmx, helvet,
and courier (\usepackage{mathptmx,courier}
\usepackage[scaled=.92]{helvet})
in way to use times compatible font set: Adobe Times
for roman (variable width fonts for body text) and math
(formula), Helvetica for Sans Serif, Courierfor
typewriter
(mono spaced fonts for code). Note that the typewriterare
ticker
than other fonts and several additional fonts and symbols such as AMS
fonts, Black Board Bolds, additional symbols, etc, are not
provided
and it will keep as original one (normally compatible with Computer
Modern
fonts). If need to produce all fonts compatibles on Times,
use txfonts.
Presentation slides/transparence
- beamer: To produce hight
quality presentation slides and printed slides, in PDF (using PDF
LaTeX) and PostScript (using LaTeX+DVIPS). It support table of contents
and bibliography and provides several themes. This is most recomended
package for presentation slides/printed transparences. Neeed pgf and xcolor installed.
- pdfscreen: To made screen document/presentation slides
using
PDFLaTeX. If wnat printed slide, need to print presentation slide using
Acrobat Reader. The paise are not implemented. (the "texpause" of
"ppower4".seems to that not working)
- ppower4: This is a post processor to create highty quality
PDF
presentation (usign own post processor). The texpause provides pause command
that work without restriction
on document and post processor are not required. The prost processor
will
be applied to almost kind of document and provide sofisticated page
background/page
transition and real pause.
- prosper: To create printed transparences and PDF
presentation
slides (using LaTeX+DVIPS+PS2PDF). Need to generate post script as
intermediate format. The pause are
produced by "overlays".
- seminar: class for hight quality printed transparences.
For
presentation slides, need to use aditional packages such as pdfslides