[texhax] Converting ascii text files to LaTeX

[Matthew Leingang]

On 2/11/07 6:02 PM, "cga2000" <cga2000 at optonline.net> wrote:

> On Sun, Feb 11, 2007 at 05:18:06PM EST, Justin C. Walker wrote:
>> 
>> On Feb 11, 2007, at 13:07 , cga wrote:
>> 
>>> I have a few text files that I would like to convert to LaTeX.
>>> 
>>> Is there any tool that does this..?
>>> 
>>> A google search appears to indicate that txt2tex adds minimal TeX
>>> formatting to a plain text file, which is precisely what I need,
>>> but so
>>> far I haven't been able to locate a debian package that provides this
>>> utility.
>> 
>> Don't know a thing about debian packages, but generally, TeX stuff is
>> available on CTAN.  Check the TUG website for pointers (<http://
>> www.tug.org>).  Links will be on the left side of the home-page.
> 
> Thanks. I found it on CTAN alright but I'm concerned I might screw up
> the debian packaging system if I install packages via CTAN.
> 
> Unless someone has a better suggestion I guess I'll take the chance.

Have no fear.  It appears that txt2tex is just a perl script.  You can put
it in a directory called "bin" below your home directory, then make sure
that directory is in your in your $PATH, and you can use the program without
getting in the way of your pristine package system.

If that's too complicated, you can just put the txt2tex script in the same
directory as the files you want to convert.  Make sure it's executable by
typing

$ chmod 755 txt2tex

Then just run it!

Hope that helps.

--Matt


-- 
Matthew Leingang
Preceptor in Mathematics
Harvard University

http://www.math.harvard.edu/~leingang/vCard.vcf