LaTex is a document preparation system with the aims to allow authors to focus on the content of their documents rather than its formatting. It is used most often for technical and scientific document preparation. Best of all, the software is FREE! I also found an online LaTex equation editor, which should suit most of the needs of those working in the LTC.

There are two basic types of formatting in LaTex temporary and semipermanent.

1. Temporary changes have a definite end and a definite beginning. Example:

   \begin{document}

   \end{document}

2. Semipermanent changes on the other hand will stay 'activated' until turned off, like flipping switch on. Example:

   \documentclass{article}

COMMANDS

1. To change font size:

   {\tiny word}

   Font sizes available:tiny, scriptsize, small, normalsize, large, Large, LARGE, and huge

2. To change font style:

   {\sc word}- small caps; {\it words}-italic; {\bf word}-bold font

3. Sectioning:

   \section{text for heading}; \subsection{text for heading}; \subsubsection{text for heading}; \paragraph {text for start of paragraph}; \section*{text for heading}- removes numbering from section

4. Foot note:

   \footnote{footnote text}

5. Tabulating:

   \begin{tabular}{11}two colums

   \hlinehorizontal line

   \something & something

   \end{tabular}

6. Bibliography:

   \begin{thebibliography}{XX}

   \bibitem{lamp} Leslie Lamporm,

   { \em Latex, A Document Preparation System},

   Addison-Wesley

   \end{thebibliography}

7. In text citation:

   \cite{lamp}

8. Centering:

   \begin{center}

   \end{center}

9. Itemized list:

   \begin{itemize}

   \item some item

   \end{itemize}

10. To view formatted document:

    xdvi filename.dvi

1. \% => %

2. \& => &

3. \_ => \

4. \# => #

5. \{ \} => { }

6. \'{e} => acute accent