LaTeX

About LaTeX

Recently, I start to use LaTeX to write a IEEE paper.

IEEE provides good templates for LaTeX.

Once you know how to use LaTeX to write it, you would not use Word anymore to do that. This is my view.

You don't need to care about where you should put figures and tables and don't need to deal with a reference list which BiBTeX will make automatically. (have to be set correctly first)

All you have to do is put the command "\cite{}" when you want to cite one paper. You don't need to bother with the formation of reference or correctly abb. of journals.

There are more advantages. The document file is very tiny and portable. You can choose whatever text editors. You can find LaTeX in any kinds of platforms such as MAC, UNIX and so forth. (some says even in Smart phones) You even can use a variable in a manuscript. The most important is you pay nothing including a reference management software. (I use JabRef).

For sure, there are drawbacks. One of the drawbacks for me is making a table. It is very tough to make a complex table. In the point of view, Word is better. Fortunately, I found the good tool called LaTable. Besides, how many tables you will have in a technical papers ?

I told my colleague the tool and asked him "have you used the tool" ? He answered "never, I don't need it"....

I should expect the answer because he is really an expert on LaTeX. He can make slides using LaTeX !!

What a weird guy....