User Manual:30-Second Get Started Overview
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Contents |
Downloading & Installing
Download KLatexFormula from the download page: http://klatexformula.sourceforge.net/download/
Precise download and installation instructions can be found at User Manual:Downloading & Installing. System requirements are listed in User Manual:System Requirements.
First Run and Basic Usage
KLatexFormula can be launched through the system menu (normally, in the Office category) or with the command-line
> klatexformula
The window that appears presents a text area where you can enter a latex formula. Enter a formula, then hit the Evaluate button, and you will see the formula appear on the lower part of the window.
At this point, you may drag and drop either by dragging the image directly, either by pressing on the DRAG button, and drop the image in another application (OpenOffice.org, Gimp, Inkscape, ...); you may copy the image to the clipboard to paste it somewhere else; or you can save the image to disk in a variety of different formats.
If you think the preview is too small (eg. for large equations) a larger preview can be opened with the magnifying glass button (shortcut key: F2).
You can select the format in which you want to Copy or Drag your formulas in the menu that can be opened by clicking the button next to the magnifying glass.
Expanded Mode
There are a few buttons next to the big Evaluate button; the rightmost button switches KLatexFormula into expanded mode, where the window is made bigger to fit for more settings. You can specify:
- which colors you would like your formula to have (foreground and background colors)
- which Math Mode you would like to use ($ ... $ is inline math mode, \[ ... \] is display math mode, and \begin{eqnarray*} ... \end{eqnarray*} is for equation arrays spanning more than one line)
- You may include extra latex commands like \usepackage{myfancypackage} by editing the preamble of the document
- and finally you can specify which resolution you want your image to have (1200 is pretty high, 600 is good, 150 is low)
You will always have to re-click on the Evaluate button for any changes to these settings to take effect.
The Library Browser
The button next to the Evaluate button which figures a book opens the Library Browser.
KLatexFormula has a library in which you can save, organize (with categories and tags) your formulas. The library is split into resources, corresponding to storage rings for formulas. Two resources are provided built-in: History and Archive. Every time you evaluate a latex formula, it is automatically added to the History resource. If you want to save and organize certain specific formulas, just copy them to the Archive resource (use right-click context menu, copy/paste, or drag&drop).
Resources can be viewed in different view modes, namely organized in a tree by category, listed in one long list display, or shown as icons. Choose the view mode by selecting "Resource" button -> View Mode -> (your preferred view mode).
It is fairly easy to create new tabs by selecting Create New Sub-Resource in the "Resource" menu. This will create a new tab which will store its data into the local library. However you can also create new tabs that will store their data into other files, by selecting Create New Resource instead.
Read more on the library on the User Manual:The Library Browser wiki page.
The Latex Symbols Palette
You probably don't have a 2TB storage memory in your brain--neither do I. Instead of having to remember each symbol code individually, a collection of symbols is presented in KLatexFormula's Latex Symbol Palette which can be opened using the button next to the Evaluate button (figuring a partial derivative sign).
Symbols are organized by category, which can be chosen using the choice list at the bottom of the window. Then you may browse the symbols and insert them at the current location by clicking the corresponding icon.
Fine-tuning KLatexFormula : Settings
If you take pride in fine-tuning every aspect of your installed system and programs, you can have fun with KLatexFormula too. In expanded mode, find the Settings button at the bottom which will open a few pages of setting controls which you can tune however you want.
Among these settings, you can set specific paths for latex, dvips, gs and epstopdf executables under the Advanced tab. These programs are found in $PATH normally but if they're under some other location, specify that location here.
Providing Feedback
This program was published essentially because I was encouraged to do so. It is released under the GNU General Public License, thus open sourced, in the aim of profiting to all.
I am always interested in bug reports, suggestions and wishes. If you have any, I'd be happy to hear. Please report them here.
