Once one has written the LaTeX 'source-code' into a file
(say called yourfile.tex), then LaTeX is run by:
latex yourfile.tex(the
.tex extension can be left off if there is only one
period in the filename).
LaTeX will dump various pieces of information during the run, along
with any error or warning messages.
Errors will cause LaTeX to stop with a ? prompt
along with some information regarding the nature of the error.
Errors are usually the result of
typographical errors in the *.tex file.
One has a number of options when faced with the ? prompt
(which can be listed by typing ? ? prompt) including
getting a limited about of further help (h),
skipping to be next error (s),
quiting LaTeX (x), or
editing your *.tex file (e).
Further ionformation on the causes and solutions to errors is
beyond the scope of this memo, but can be found in the
LaTeX User's Guide & Reference Manual
(paperback; ISBN 0-202-15790-X) by
Leslie Lamport (Addison-Wesley Publishing Company).
Warnings are usually straighforward and are related to either the fact that LaTeX should be run again, or that something is missing or multiply defined. Again consultation of the LaTeX User's Guide & Reference Manual is advised. if the messages aren't 'obvious'. NOTE: Warning messages concerning undefined references will ALWAYS to produced on the initial LaTeX run of a document making use of the automatic cross-referencing facilities (see Section 5.1).
Assuming successful completion, LaTeX will produce several files
in the local directory with the yourfile root.
Probably the most inportant is the *.dvi file
(ie yourfile.dvi in the above example) which serves
as the input to several associated software tasks
(see the following sections).
The other files produced depend somewhat in which features of LaTeX
are used in the *.tex file. For example a *.toc is
(only) produced if the LaTeX command \tableofcontents is
included in the *.tex file. Most of these files are ASCII and
can be inspected. Unless you are an expert, we'd recommend NOT
deleting any of the files produced by a successful LaTeX run since
many are also required by the associated software such as those
listed in the following sections.