Latex for complete novices

Introduction 8 Recommended Reading 9 Some Definitions 11 Source Code 12 DVI File (or Output File) 12 Commands (also called ``Macros'' or ``Control Sequences'') 12 Grouping 12 Arguments (also called ``Parameters'') 13 Mandatory Arguments 13 Optional Arguments 14 Declarations 15 Environments 16 Preamble 16 Class File 17 TeX 17 From Source Code to Typeset Output 18 Notepad, MS-DOS Prompt, YAP 19 TeXnicCenter 26 WinEdt 35 Creating a Simple Document 38 Using Simple Commands 40 Special Characters and Symbols 41 Lists 44 Unordered Lists 44 Ordered Lists 46 Description Environment 48 Simple font changing commands 50 Creating Chapters, Sections etc 52 Author and title information 52 Abstract 53 Sections, Subsections ... 54 Creating a Table of Contents 56 Cross-Referencing 57 Creating a Bibliography 61 Page Styles and Page Numbering 64 Aligning Material in Rows and Columns 66 Packages 71 Using Packages 71 graphicx Package 71 Changing the format of \today 75 Downloading and Installing Packages 75 Figures and Tables 78 Figures 78 Subfigures 80 Tables 81 Defining Commands 83 Defining Commands with an Optional Argument 88 Redefining Commands 89 Mathematics 92 In-Line Mathematics 92 Displayed Mathematics 93 Mathematical Commands 94 Maths Fonts 95 Greek Letters 95 Subscripts and Superscripts 96 Functional Names 99 Fractions 102 Roots 104 Mathematical Symbols 106 Delimiters 109 Arrays 115 Vectors 116 Mathematical Spacing 117 Defining Environments 119 Counters 122 Lengths 125 Common Errors 127 * (No message, just an asterisk prompt!) 128 Argument of \cline has an extra } 128 Argument of \multicolumn has an extra } 128 \begin{...} ended by \end{...} 128 Bad math environment delimiter 129 Can only be used in preamble. 129 Command ... already defined 129 Display math should end with $$ 129 Environment ... undefined. 129 Extra alignment tab has been changed to \cr 130 Extra \right 130 File ended while scanning use of ... 130 File not found. 130 Illegal character in array arg 131 Illegal parameter number in definition 131 Illegal unit of measure (pt inserted). 131 Lonely \item 131 Misplaced alignment tab character & 132 Missing } inserted 132 Missing $ inserted 132 Missing \begin{document} 133 Missing delimiter 133 Missing \endcsname inserted 134 Missing \endgroup inserted 134 Missing number, treated as zero 134 Paragraph ended before \begin was complete 134 Runaway argument 135 Something's wrong--perhaps a missing \item. 135 There's no line here to end. 136 Undefined control sequence 136 You can't use `macro parameter character #' in horizontal mode 137 Bibliography 138 Index 139