Center for Patient Care and Outcomes Research (PCOR)

LaTeX FAQs

Package graphics Error: Division by 0?
This problem with the graphics package has been around a long time, but no one has bothered to fix it. That's probably because there is an easy workaround. Try something like the following:
\includegraphics[scale=.37,angle=270,keepaspectratio=true]{FILE}

How can I create presentations with LaTeX?
There are two classes that are used here: FoilTeX and Beamer. Beamer is easier to use and has a lot more features than FoilTeX although it is compatible with the FoilTeX commands for convenience. The following commands create a PowerPoint-like presentation:

\documentclass[landscape,24pt,dvipsnames]{beamer}
\usepackage{beamerfoils}
\usecolortheme{albatross}

\begin{document}

\foilhead{First Slide}

...

\foilhead{Last Slide}

...

\endfoil
\end{document}

Note that the last command has to be \endfoil. Also, note that including PDF graphics is problematic since the background color of the presentation will over-write the graphics and cannot be changed. The workaround is to convert the graphics to JPEG before including them. The beamer manual can be found at file:///opt/local/texlive/2007/texmf-dist/doc/latex/beamer/doc/beameruserguide.pdf 

How can I create posters with LaTeX?
There are several classes that are necessary, but the following should work:\documentclass[b1,landscape]{sciposter}

\usepackage{multicol}
\title{Reading, Writing and Ritalin: Parents and Teachers Agree that Stimulants are more effective than Behavioral Therapy for treatment of students with ADHD}

% Note: only give author names, not institute
\author{Rodney Sparapani, MS}

% insert correct institute name
\institute{Center for Patient Care and Outcomes Research,\\
the Medical College of Wisconsin\\}

\email{montypython@mcw.edu} % shows author email address below institute

%\date is unused by the current \maketitle

% The following commands can be used to alter the default logo settings
%\leftlogo[0.9]{logoWenI}{ % defines logo to left of title (with scale factor)
%\rightlogo[0.52]{RuGlogo} % same but on right

% NOTE: This will require presence of files logoWenI.eps and RuGlogo.eps, % or other supported format in the current directory

\begin{document}
%define conference poster is presented at (appears as footer)

\conference{Conference on Teaching Introductory Statistics,\\
July 14th, 2006, Milwaukee, WI, USA}

\maketitle

%%% Begin of Multicols-Enviroment
\begin{multicols}{3}

%%% Abstract
\begin{abstract}

...

\end{abstract}

...

\end{multicols}
\end{document}

Viewing the results with xdvi is usually not possible for large posters, but Acrobat Reader should be fine. The sizes are as follows (converted from metric to inches):