LaTeX:Help
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This article will answer common LaTeX questions and provide solutions to common LaTeX problems. For more active help, please consult the AoPS message board.
Contents
- 1 Frequently Asked Questions
- 2 LaTeX Errors with Error Messages
- 2.1 Extra alignment tab has been changed to \cr.
- 2.2 LaTeX Error: \begin{something} on input line line number ended by \end{document}
- 2.3 LaTeX Warning: Reference ... undefined on ....
- 2.4 LaTeX Warning: There were undefined references.
- 2.5 Missing $ inserted
- 2.6 Paragraph ended before \end was complete.
- 2.7 Runaway argument?
- 2.8 Undefined control sequence.
- 3 LaTeX Errors Without Warnings
- 3.1 Forget the error messages, when I try to compile, it starts, but then just hangs. Nothing happens, and I can't do anything. Then when I try to save the file, it won't let me save it with the same name.
- 3.2 I'm trying to use fancyhdr to make headers and footers, but they don't align with the rest of my page. The rest of the page extends beyond the header line to the right or left.
- 3.3 I'm using referencing, but the page numbers or equation numbers aren't coming out right.
- 4 See Also
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are commonly asked LaTeX questions and possible answers.
Installation
I'm using a Macintosh. What do I do?
Some Mac users use TeXShop, OzTeX or Textures (we wrote the Art of Problem Solving textbooks in 1993 using Textures). The TeXShop is free. (Special thanks to Community member nr1337 for letting us know about TeXShop.)
Why aren't there instructions for how to install on a Linux machine?
We figure that if you're computer-savvy enough to use a Linux machine in the first place, you can handle installing LaTeX on your own (with perhaps a little help from Google).
How can I install LaTeX on my website like you have on the TeXer and your message board?
We used LatexRender, which can be found here. You will need to be able to install LaTeX and imagemagick on your server to use this. That site also has a TeX Converter that doesn't require LaTeX and Imagemagick.
Coding Questions
My pages start too low!
Use \topmargin in the preamble as described here to set the top margin smaller.
LaTeX Errors with Error Messages
When you use TeXnicCenter, a separate window contains output from LaTeX concerning various compiling information, including errors. Much of this text can be ignored. However, if you see a symbol that looks like this:
Then you have a serious problem.
If you have a whole string of these error messages, scroll back until you hit the first one. Often one error will cause many others, so you should fix them starting with your first problem. Also, the output from the compiler will give you a line number to help you find the error in your code. In TeXnicCenter, the line number you are on is given at the bottom of the TeXnicCenter window on the right.
Here are some common error messages, as well as other possible problems, and a little information about what the problem usually is. Most of these error messages will appear right after the red symbol. Occasionally, they will appear 1-2 lines before it. A few of these are just warnings - they generate yellow triangles in TeXnicCenter when compiling.
Extra alignment tab has been changed to \cr.
LaTeX Error: \begin{something} on input line line number ended by \end{document}
LaTeX Warning: Reference ... undefined on ....
LaTeX Warning: There were undefined references.
Missing $ inserted
Paragraph ended before \end was complete.
Runaway argument?
Undefined control sequence.
LaTeX Errors Without Warnings
Here are some problems that might occur that don't have error messages in the compiler. If your problem isn't solved by this page, consider posting on the AoPS message board for help.
