Document 240

Printing portable LaTeX files on non-SWP/SW systems

Version: 3.x, 4.x, 5.x - Scientific WorkPlace & Scientific Word

Take advantage of portable LaTeX files, a feature in Version 3.0 and later, to ensure that your files can be printed on non-SWP/SW systems.

If you send a portable LaTeX file to someone who does not have any form of SWP or SW on his computer, but who does have the December 1995 version (or later) of LaTeX 2.09 or LaTeX 2e, he will be able to preview and print the document without adding style files or macros to his hard disk.

When you save a document as a portable LaTeX file, the program doesn't insert tcilatex, a special set of macros, into the document. Further, it includes in your document standard LaTeX packages such as amsmath and graphicx. Note, however, that it uses only those packages that should be standard on most LaTeX installations.

The graphicx package used to format graphics requires the December 1995 version of LaTeX (or later). The LaTeX2e terminology has been generally been dropped (except when comparing files with the older LaTeX 2.09 type).

To increase the chances that the recipient of your file can preview and print it easily, we suggest you start with a known portable style (such as Standard LaTeX Article or Standard LaTeX Book), and then save the file with the new portable LaTeX filter, according to these instructions:

1. From the File menu, choose Save As.
2. In the Save As dialog box, change the Save As type to Portable LaTeX (*.tex).
3. Name the file.
4. Choose OK.

Last revised 01/23/06

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