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\chapter{Preface}

\LaTeX{}\cite{manual} is a typesetting system which is most 
suited to producing scientific and mathematical documents of high
typographical quality. The system is also suitable for producing all
sorts of other documents, from simple letters to complete books.
\LaTeX{} uses \TeX\cite{texbook} as its formatting engine.

This short introduction describes \LaTeXe{} and should be sufficient
for most applications of \LaTeX. For a complete description of the
\LaTeX{} system refer to~\cite{manual,companion}.

\LaTeX{} is available for most computers from the IBM PC upwards.
On many university computer networks the system is already installed,
ready to operate. Information on how to access the local \LaTeX{}
installation should be provided in the \guide. If you have problems
getting started, ask the person who gave you this booklet. The
scope of this document is \emph{not} to tell you how to install and
set up a \LaTeX{} system, but to teach you how to write your
documents so that they can be processed by~\LaTeX{}.

\bigskip
\noindent This Introduction is split into 4 chapters:
\begin{description}
\item[Chapter 1] tells you about the basic structure of \LaTeXe{}
  documents. You will also learn a bit about the history of \LaTeX{}.
  After reading this chapter you should have a rough picture of
  \LaTeX{}. The picture will only be a framework, but it will enable
  you to integrate the information provided in the other chapters into
  the big picture.
\item[Chapter 2] goes into the details of typesetting your
  documents. It explains most of the essential \LaTeX{} commands and
  environments. After reading this chapter you will be able to write
  your first documents. 
\item[Chapter 3] explains how to typeset formulae with \LaTeX. Again a
  lot of examples help you to understand how to use one of \LaTeX{}
  main strengths. At the end of this chapter you find tables, listing
  all the mathematical symbols available in \LaTeX{}.
\item[Chapter 4] adds in some bits and bobs about \LaTeX{} which are
  not essential, but very handy. Among other things you will learn 
  how to include eps graphics into your documents or how to add an
  index to your publication.
\end{description}
\bigskip
It is important to read the chapters in sequential order. The book is
not that big after all. Make sure to carefully read the examples,
because a great part of the information is contained in the various
examples you will find all through out the book.

\bigskip
\noindent If you need to get hold of any \LaTeX{} related material, 
have a look in one of the \texttt{CTAN} ftp archives. For the US it is
at \texttt{ftp.shsu.edu}, for Germany it is \texttt{ftp.dante.de} and
for the UK it is \texttt{ftp.tex.ac.uk}. If you are not in one of
these countries, choose the archive closest to you.

\vspace{\stretch{1}}
\noindent If you have ideas for something to be
added, removed or altered in this document, please let me know. I am
especially interested in feedback from \LaTeX{} novices about which
bits of this intro are easy to understand and which could be explained
better.

\bigskip
\begin{verse}
\contrib{Tobias Oetiker}{oetiker@ee.ethz.ch}%
{Department of Electrical Engineering,\\
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology}
\end{verse}
\vspace{\stretch{1}}
\noindent The current version of this document will be available on\\
\texttt{CTAN:/tex-archive/info/lshort}
\endinput



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