Using Mathematica to build presentations and documents

Question

I use Mma mainly to solve relatively small problems.

I want to start using it also to prepare my presentations and documents, but I am having troubl

Answer 1

I agree with all that mzabsky said in his answer. Here's a few of extra things:

I find it useful to make statements using a Text or DisplayFormula cell then manually group a Mathematica check/proof to the statement which is then collapsed and can be displayed when you want.

The Writing Assistant Palette has quite a few useful constructions in it that you can learn from.

Finally, I found it really useful to make my own style sheet for a couple reasons: 1) the built-in ones are a bit ugly; 2) it really helps you to understand how the notebooks work.

To see examples of the stylesheet I made (which I don't claim to be perfect - I didn't bother making it work in all screen environments) look at some of the files in ftp://ftp.physics.uwa.edu.au/pub/MATH2200/2010/. I use a similar stylesheet in all of my notes - I have many research projects primarily contained in Mma notebooks, eg http://arxiv.org/abs/1102.3043.

Like Mr Wizard, I also recommend David Park's notes as a starting point. Also, you should study stylesheets that you like by going to the Format menu and clicking "Edit Stylesheet". Don't forget to follow the links through the cascade of stylesheets (version 6 onwards).

To answer the questions in your edit: Once you are viewing a notebook's stylesheet, you can save it, edit it, and use it in your own documents. Stylesheets in $UserBaseDirectory/SystemFiles/FrontEnd/StyleSheets are automatically available in the menu. You can then use that stylesheet in any notebook by simply selecting it from the menu.

The formating in the screenshot that you posted is all contained in the stylesheet. This includes the grey background in the table.

Addendum:

When distributing notebooks to others, if the stylesheet is external from the notebook, then other people will not see it as you do. To include the stylesheet into the current notebook, you need code like

ss = StyleDefinitions /. Options[EvaluationNotebook[]]
fn = ToFileName[{$UserBaseDirectory, "SystemFiles", "FrontEnd",  "StyleSheets"}, ss]

If[FileExistsQ[fn],
     style=Get[fn];SetOptions[EvaluationNotebook[],StyleDefinitions->style];,
     Print["Can not find file"]]

(Assuming the file is in stored in the conventional place)

Here's an EmbedStylesheet.m that is an improved version of the above.

Answer 2

I use Mathematica to take lecture notes in real time without any major issues (while the proud TeX guys struggle hard to keep up :) ). I have also used it for most math-related homework/assignments I wrote during past two and half years on university.

Before you start, you may want to look at some of these video tutorials.

Also, a few recommendations from me:

• Keyboard shortcuts are the key to type fast. Ctrl+9 for inline math cell, Ctrl+6 for superscript, etc.
• Learn symbol identifiers for the "esc - symbol - esc" notation. "sum" for Sum, "es" for empty set...you can find list of these in the Mathematica documentation. I have encountered only very few symbols I wanted to type that don't have the esc notation name (for example, leftwards double arrow or double right tee).
• Type all math-related stuff into inline math cells. The math cell will do some of the math related formatting for you - put spaces where they belong, render all variables and symbols in italics, etc.
• Use the preformatted templates found in "New"->"Styled Notebook".
• Do not use ENTER for breaklines, individual paragraph should go into separate text cells (Ctrl+Shift+D) so Mathematica can break the content into individual pages/slides correctly.
• In-built Mathematica PDF export sucks big-time; I use CutePDF printer for this.

Also, save often and back up often (Dropbox/Syncplicity are the ideal solution), one misplaced keyboard shortcut can turn hundred hours of work worth document into a goulash (trust me, been there) :)

Example of lecture notes I took in real-time during lecture (it is in Czech, but that doesn't matter much).

Answer 3

A Mathgroup thread on embedded stylesheets, particularly here (John Browne) and here (David Park and Selwyn Hollis) might be of interest.

I find stylesheets problematical. In particular I don't like having to remember to embed a stylesheet before I give the notebook to someone else, or before I try to print from an unfamiliar computer. However, along with David Park's tutorial (referenced above by Mr Wizard), I find this advice from Bob Ueland very useful.

Answer 4

If you browse the back-issues of The Mathematica Journal you will see that articles are available in Notebook format. These may be a useful reference.

Edit

I cannot recall a good formatting tutorial at the moment. You can use Show Expression (Win: Shift+Ctrl+E) to view the code expression for a block, such as the table in your example. While one may not enter code by hand in the same form, it can give indications of the options or methods that are used. Code can also be procedurally produced as needed.

I will add links as I find or recall them.

David Park's StyleSheet creation notes

Tips for Mathematica SlideShow presenters

These are brief, but may still be useful:

Notebook formatting

Presentations with Mathematica