Web Site for ISL Users
Contents
Lab Security
Lab security is of paramount importance. Please make sure that the lab door
is closed at all times, especially when nobody is present in the lab. Do not
prop the door open. Remember to log out when you are finished using the
machines. Change your password from time to time.
Getting Help
For most situations, use the request system in order to obtain help with
your computing problems. Just execute the command 'request' at the UNIX
prompt. The request program will then guide you through it.
See the lab manager(s) if you want to set up a new directory in lab space or
increase the quota for an existing directory in lab space. Include the
directory name, desired quota, and desired list of users to have permissions.
Of course, as always, you remain in control of your own home space.
Poster Template (MS PowerPoint Format)
File to Save/Download
poster_template.ppt
Instructions
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Save this poster_template.ppt file to the directory in which you are
creating your research posters.
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Open the file using Microsoft PowerPoint.
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Create your poster content on top of the template background.
PhD Thesis: LaTeX Class Files and Examples
File to Save/Download
thesis.tar
Instructions
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Save this thesis.tar file to the directory in your home space in which you
create and store your LaTeX documents.
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Execute the command 'tar -xf thesis.tar' in order to extract the Thesis/
directory and the files within it.
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Execute the commands 'tap tetex' (if necessary), 'latex thesis',
'bibtex thesis', 'latex thesis', 'latex thesis'. This will compile
the example thesis. The repetitions of commands are needed for LaTeX
to resolve references and citations.
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Use these files as a template to create your own thesis.
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With some small effort, these LaTeX class files can be modified to suit your
needs for other reports also.
Contents of Thesis/ Directory
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umcp-thesis-official.cls
This is the LaTeX class file you would use to compile the official single
sided double spaced 12pt version of your thesis. It has been used
successfully by George Kantor and Andrew Newman.
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umcp-thesis-official-2sided.cls
Use this file to compile a thesis with margins that alternate between
even and odd pages for double sided printing.
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umcp-thesis-draft.cls
Use this file to compile a significantly shorter version to conserve paper.
It produces a thesis that is single spaced and 10pt.
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umcp-thesis-draft-2sided.cls
Same as above but for double sided printing.
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umcp-thesis-95.cls
Old version that you might want to look at if you are doing a Masters thesis
or want to learn about ifthenelse statements in TeX.
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thesis.tex
This is the source file to compile.
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chapter1.tex, chapter2.tex, chapter3.tex, chapter4.tex, chapter5.tex,
appendixA.tex, abstract.tex, preface.tex, acknowledgements.tex,
dedication.tex, fig_data-plot.eps
Self explanatory.
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bibfile.tex
This is the file of bibliography entries for bibtex.
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math_commands.tex, chem_commands.tex
These files contain useful LaTeX commands that you may want to use in many
of your technical reports and conference papers.
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config.cm
Needed for command 'dvips -P cm filename' which converts filename.dvi to
filename.ps. Converts fonts so that the document displays well when ported
to PDF format.
Conference Papers
LaTeX class files are usually available from the web site of the conference.
I have some old ones, but they may be out of date. It is better to just
visit the conference web site and download the class files with the
required formatting. Another option is to modify the thesis class file
to match the required format of the conference. This would be a good
exercise and not very hard. The LaTeX books in the lab have plenty of
documentation on commands like /twocolumn.
Here is a link for
IEEE Control Systems Society Conferences including the ACC and CDC.
Bibcard: Bibliographic Database
File to Save/Download
bibcard.tar
Instructions
-
Save this bibcard.tar file to the directory in which you are
creating your LaTeX documents.
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Execute the command 'tar -xf bibcard.tar' in order to extract the
Bibcard/ directory containing the bibcard executable and the help file.
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Execute the command 'bibcard'.
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This program is very useful for creating and editing bibliographies.
Read the bibcard.help file for more information. It is pretty easy to use.
Creating Documents
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Read the man entry for xdvi by executing the command 'man xdvi' after
'tap tetex'. This has loads of useful information. Learn the keystroke
shortcuts for moving rapidly through the documents, toggling the figures
on and off, and so forth.
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Save a file in your working directory called 'config.cm'. It should
contain only the single line:
p +/dept/isr/software/acrobat/Fonts/cm/cm.map
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Procedure for compiling the DVI file, converting to PS, and converting
to PDF
- tap tetex
- latex filename.tex (compile)
- bibtex filename.tex (compile bibliography)
- latex filename.tex (resolve references and citations)
- latex filename.tex (resolve references and citations)
- xdvi filename.dvi (view the compiled document)
- dvips -P cm filename
(convert DVI to PS - must have config.cm in working directory)
- gv filename.ps (view the postscript document)
- cp filename.ps /software/isrwww/html/misc/tools/acrobat/IN/
(put PS file into special directory where it will be converted
to PDF)
- ls /software/isrwww/html/misc/tools/acrobat/OUT/
(look in this directory for your files)
- mv /software/isrwww/html/misc/tools/acrobat/OUT/filename.pdf .
(retrieve PDF file)
- rm /software/isrwww/html/misc/tools/acrobat/OUT/filename.ps
(delete PS file)
Scratch Space
The ISR staff has created some scratch disk space to be used by ISL users.
It is located in /scratch/isr-isl/ (it is auto mounted, so until you cd to
that directory, it is not mounted on your machine). It is available only on
ISR's GLUE machines. You can use this space to temporarily put large files
and so forth.
This space resides on yeti.isr.umd.edu. Please take a look at
/scratch/isr-isl/README file for the rules. Please note that this space
is NOT backed up and if the disk dies, everything on this space is lost.
It does not get wiped clean on reboots like the /tmp does.
You are responsible for watching over this space and
cleaning it up regularly. You must be root on yeti.isr to be able to do
super-user stuff on this space.
AFS Space
The lab has its own disk space at
/:/department/isr/labs/isl/
in which you can set up directories and
store files. It is organized as follows:
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Projects/
Store research related files, e.g., MATLAB programs, simulation results,
experimental data, and so forth. Subdirectories are named by project.
Each project subdirectory has its own quota and permissions list. See
lab manager(s) to set up a Project subdirectory.
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Docs/
Store finished documents, e.g., conference papers, technical reports, thesis.
Subdirectories are named by user. Each user subdirectory has its own quota
and permissions list (permissions usually for user and lab director). Set
up subsubdirectories in your Docs/username space by document, e.g.,
Docs/username/CDC99. See the lab manager(s) to set up your Docs subdirectory.
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Multimedia/
Store images, audio, movies, and other multimedia files. Sometimes the lab
manager(s) will move some of these files to the lab's public space to make
them accessible for the lab's web site.
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Software/
Store lab research specific software or software not supported by ISR staff.
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Courses/
For use by lab director.
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Backups/
Administrative purposes only.
It is useful to create a soft link from your home space to your Project
and Docs directories in lab space. To do this, first execute the command
ln -s /:/department/isr/labs/isl ISL
Then execute the commands
ln -s ~/ISL/Projects/YourProject/ YourProject
ln -s ~/ISL/Docs/username Docs
NT Space
Your home space on the NT network is stored on drive H:. However, there is
rarely any reason to store files in the limited space there, since you
can store any NT file in your UNIX home AFS space or lab AFS space. To
access these files, simply double click on 'Renew AFS Tokens' and select
'Get Tokens'. After typing in your username and password, you will have
access to your UNIX AFS space. You can access your AFS directories via
Start--->Programs--->Network Drives
Machine Shutdown
If a machine "crashes" see the lab manager or send a request.
Reboot machines only as a last resort. Never reboot the SGI machines.
Lab Managers: once you login as superuser (root), use the following
commands to shutdown:
/usr/ucb/shutdown -r now
/usr/ucb/shutdown [ -fhknr ] time [ warning-message ... ]
I don't think this is the default version of shutdown (type "which shutdown"),
but it's the one that I know the parameters for. -h is halt; -r is reboot
time is 24 hour time (or "now"), and warning-message is optional.
Audio CDs
Do not use xmcd and do not press the Music button in order to
play audio CDs on machines in the lab. Instead, use the buttons
on the CD drive itself. Invoking xmcd creates an unkillable
process and forces a reboot of the machine.
Essential Links
Web site for ISL users created by Andrew Newman.
Most recently updated 12/10/99.