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1 Introduction to AUC TeX
2 ***********************
3
4 This section of the AUC TeX manual gives a brief overview of what AUC
5 TeX is, and the section is also available as a `README' file. It is
6 *not* an attempt to document AUC TeX. Real documentation for AUC TeX
7 is available in the rest of the manual, which you can find in the `doc'
8 directory.
9
10 Read the `INSTALLATION' file for information about how to install
11 AUC TeX. It is identical to the Installation chapter in the AUC TeX
12 manual.
13
14 If you are upgrading from the previous version of AUC TeX, the
15 latest changes can be found in the `CHANGES' file. If you are
16 upgrading from an older version, read the History chapter in the AUC
17 TeX manual.
18
19 AUC TeX is a comprehensive customizable integrated environment for
20 writing input files for LaTeX using GNU Emacs.
21
22 AUC TeX lets you run TeX/LaTeX and other LaTeX-related tools, such
23 as a output filters or post processor from inside Emacs. Especially
24 `running LaTeX' is interesting, as AUC TeX lets you browse through the
25 errors TeX reported, while it moves the cursor directly to the reported
26 error, and displays some documentation for that particular error. This
27 will even work when the document is spread over several files.
28
29 AUC TeX automatically indents your `LaTeX-source', not only as you
30 write it -- you can also let it indent and format an entire document.
31 It has a special outline feature, which can greatly help you `getting an
32 overview' of a document.
33
34 Apart from these special features, AUC TeX provides an large range of
35 handy Emacs macros, which in several different ways can help you write
36 your LaTeX documents fast and painless.
37
38 All features of AUC TeX are documented using the GNU Emacs online
39 documentation system. That is, documentation for any command is just a
40 key click away!
41
42 AUC TeX is written entirely in Emacs-Lisp, and hence you can easily
43 add new features for your own needs. It was not made as part of any
44 particular employment or project (apart from the AUC TeX project
45 itself). AUC TeX is distributed under the `GNU Emacs General Public
46 License' and may therefore almost freely be copied and redistributed.
47
48 The next sections are a short introduction to some `actual' features.
49 For further information, refer to the build-in online documentation of
50 AUC TeX.
51
52 Indentation and formatting
53 ==========================
54
55 AUC TeX may automatically indent your document as you write it. By
56 pressing lfd instead of ret at the end of a line, the current line is
57 indented by two spaces according to the current environment level, and
58 the cursor is moved down one line. By pressing tab, the current line
59 is indented, and the cursor stays where it is. The well-known Emacs
60 feature `format-paragraph' (`M-q') is reimplemented especially for AUC
61 TeX to follow the indentation. A special command `LaTeX-fill-buffer'
62 lets you indent an entire document like the well-known C utility indent
63 (this time, only according to the LaTeX structure :-).
64
65 Completion
66 ==========
67
68 By studying your `\documentstyle' command (in the top of your
69 document), and consulting a precompiled list of (La)TeX symbols from a
70 large number of TeX and LaTeX files, AUC TeX is aware of the LaTeX
71 commands you should able to use in this particular document. This
72 `knowledge' of AUC TeX is used for two purposes.
73
74 1. To make you able to `complete' partly written LaTeX commands. You
75 may e.g. write `\renew' and press `M-tab' (`TeX-complete-symbol'),
76 and then AUC TeX will complete the word `\renewcommand' for you.
77 In case of ambiguity it will display a list of possible
78 completions.
79
80 2. To aid you inserting environments, that is \begin - \end pairs.
81 This is done by pressing C-c C-e (LaTeX-environment), and you will
82 be prompted for which `environment' to insert.
83
84 Editing your document
85 =====================
86
87 A number of more or less intelligent keyboard macros have been
88 defined to aid you editing your document. The most important are
89 listed here below.
90
91 `LaTeX-environment'
92 (`C-c C-e') Insert a `\begin{}' -- `\end{}' pair as described
93 above.
94
95 `LaTeX-section'
96 (`C-c C-s') Insert one of `\chapter', `\section', etc.
97
98 `TeX-font'
99 (`C-c C-f C-r', `C-c C-f C-i', `C-c C-f C-b') Insert one of
100 `{\textrm }'), `{\textit \/}' `{\textbf }' etc.
101
102 A number of additional functions are available. But it would be far
103 too much to write about here. Refer to the rest of the AUC TeX
104 documentation for further information.
105
106 Running LaTeX
107 =============
108
109 When invoking on of the commands `TeX-command-master' (`C-c C-c') or
110 `TeX-command-region' (`C-c C-r') LaTeX is run on either the entire
111 current document or a given region of it. The Emacs view is split in
112 two, and the output of TeX is printed in the second half of the screen,
113 as you may simultaneously continue editing your document. In case TeX
114 found any errors when processing your input you can call the function
115 `TeX-next-error' (`C-c `') which will move the cursor to the first
116 given error, and display a short explanatory text along with the
117 message TeX gave. This procedure may be repeated until all errors have
118 been displayed. By pressing `C-c C-w' (`TeX-toggle-debug-boxes') you
119 can toggle whether the browser also should notify over-full/under-full
120 boxes or not.
121
122 Once you've successfully formatted your document, you may preview or
123 print it by invoking `TeX-command-master' again.
124
125 Outlines
126 ========
127
128 Along with AUC TeX comes support for outline mode for Emacs, which
129 lets you browse the sectioning structure of your document, while you
130 will still be able to use the full power of the rest of the AUC TeX
131 functionality.
132
133 Availability
134 ============
135
136 The most recent version is always available by ftp at
137
138 `ftp://ftp.iesd.auc.dk/pub/emacs-lisp/auctex.tar.gz'
139
140 In case you don't have access anonymous ftp, you can get it by email
141 requests to `<ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com>'.
142
143 WWW users may want to check out the AUC TeX page at
144
145 `http://www.iesd.auc.dk/~amanda/auctex/'
146
147 Contacts
148 ========
149
150 There has been established a mailing list for help, bug reports,
151 feature requests and general discussion about AUC TeX. You're very
152 welcome to join. Traffic average at an article by day, but they come
153 in bursts. If you are only interested in information on updates, you
154 could refer to the newsgroups `comp.text.tex' and `gnu.emacs.sources'.
155
156 If you want to contact the AUC TeX mailing list, send mail to
157 `<auc-tex-request@iesd.auc.dk>' in order to join. Articles should be
158 send to `<auc-tex@iesd.auc.dk>'.
159
160 To contact the current maintainers of auc-TeX directly, email
161 `<auc-tex_mgr@iesd.auc.dk>'.
162
163 AUC TeX development
164 c/o Kresten Krab Thorup
165
166 Mathematics and Computer Science
167 University of Aalborg
168 DK 9000 Aalborg
169 Denmark
170