Research Resource

  1. Writing webpages: use MS Word and save as html.
  2. Backup your files! Fullsync is a very good freeware to synchronize your files between hard drives.
  3. Softwares used to write paper
    1. To generate EPS figures
      • Use Powerpoint to draw diagram
        1. Print the current single page, using IBM 4079 driver (can be installed from Windows), with *.ps as file name
        2. Open the ps file using GSview, use PS to EPS to change the file to a *.eps file. (This is to produce bounding box automatically.)
      • Use Matlab to draw figures
        1. In a Figure window, select file-export-save as type-EPS color file.
    2. To write a paper, use Lyx.
      1. Learn a little bit Latex basics. A good reference is "A guide to Latex2e" by Kopka and Daly.
      2. Learn a little bit how to use Latex to write formula
      3. Actually use Lyx to write papers.
        1. Lyx Pros: You can see the formula that you write and you can write the formula as easy as in Latex
        2. As easy as Latex for reference and graphics inclusion
        3. You can export *.lyx file to a *.tex
      4. Wirte paper use the right environments
      5. Insert Pictures (*.eps)
      6. Insert citations
      7. export the file to *.pdf
    3. To prepare bib files
      1. Bib files contains text database entry for your reference
      2. Download a software Endnote
      3. Go to IEEExplore, go to a paper, select abstract-download citation-download with/without abstract to Endnote
      4. Use the Endnote function of "export to bibtex" to produce bib entry and copy it to your bib file
      5. Use freeware Jabref to manage your bib files.
  4. Use Powerpoint to write slides. If you feel the equation editor in Powerpoint is not good enough for you, you are writing too many equations for the audience to digest.