Getting started with LaTeX with Windows

1 Obtaining and installing LaTeX

We will assume that you are installing LaTeX on a computer running some version of Microsoft Windows. The front end (the program that you will actually click on) that we suggest you use is called TeXworks. You can obtain a complete LaTeX distribution(including TeXworks) by following the directions below.

  1. Go to http://www.miktex.org/download
  2. Click on the Recommended Download
  3. Save the file (it should be called something like “basic-miktex-2.9.3248.exe”) to a place where you can find it. (The default is the folder “D:\Data\Documents\Downloads”. I usually download it to the Desktop.) If you are using a wireless connection on campus, this might take up to 10 minutes to download. If you’re physically wired to the network it will be much faster.
  4. After it finishes downloading, double-click on the file to open it and select “Run” on the security warning. The Setup Wizard will now open.
  5. Accept the license agreement and click “Next” three times without changing anything.
  6. At the settings, choose “Letter” for preferred paper size and “Yes” for installing packages on the fly. Click “Next” and then click “Start”.
  7. Wait for the computer to finish the installation (~15 minutes) and then click "Next" and “Close”.
  8. You may now delete the installer basic-miktex-2.9.3248.exe which is still located where you downloaded it.

2 Running TeXWorKs

This section will walk you through using TeXWorKs to compile the first homework assignment.

  1. Download the file myFirstHomework.tex from this link. I recommend that make a new folder (e.g., Math111HW) and save the file to that folder.
  2. If you have installed MiKTeX, your Windows Start Programs folder should now contain a folder called MiKTeX 2.9. Inside of that folder should be a shortcut for TeXworks. (You might want to make a shortcut to this on the Desktop.) Open that shortcut in order to start TeXworks.
  3. Within TeXworks, click on File --> Open in order to open the file myFirstHomework.tex, or just double click on the file name.
  4. Make sure the drop-down menu in the upper left of the TeXworks window your toolbar says pdfLatex. Then either click the compile button in the toolbar (looks like a green block with an arrow) or press CTRL+T.
  5. A window titled myFirstHomework.pdf should have opened up in a separate window. The file myFirstHomework.pdf should reside in the same folder that you placed myFirstHomework.tex. This PDF file can be viewed and printed by anyone, on any computer, using web browser or PDF Reader.
  6. Feel free to experiment by modifying the file myFirstHomework.tex in the TeXworks editor and then clicking the compile button again.

3 LATEX references

There are a number of LaTeX resources on the internet. One place to start is at: http://www.tug.org/mactex/bookrefs.html