Essential free downloads:

 
Adobe Acrobat Reader V.8  - to view PDF files
 
PDF creator  - Add "print to pdf" option to all the applications.
 
 
WS-FTP or WS-FTP-Lite   - The traditional FTP.
 
SFTP / SSH  interface  - The secure versions of FTP and Telnet.
 
 
Netscape  - The full installation provides full Unicode and MathML support.
 
Nvu / KompoZer Editor  - Free HTML editor (improved version of  Netscape Composer).
 
Open Office [Hebrew Version] - Read about the project in Wikipedia
 
 
more applications from Wikipedia
 
more applications from the BGU HelpDesk
 
more applications from the BGU computation center via FTP
 
 

How to write mathematical text (Latex)

The only decent way to write mathematical text is to use Latex. It comes naturally with Unix / Linux systems, but with some effort it can be installed also on MS-Windows. For instructions see LaTeX for the masses. However for "light" use there are other options:

The online Latex web utilities (BGU password protected). Use it if you do not want to install Latex on your own PC
 
The Latex guide of Wikipedia (including tables of math symbols etc)
 
The online practice site of Mimetex (open worldwide site)
 
The online practice site of Mimetex (BGU site, password protected)
 
F(a,b) = \frac{1}{b-a}\int_a^b f(x,\alpha,\beta,\gamma) dx
 
You can practice Latex in the main courses page.
 
You can use Latex in the forum: [tex] F(a,b)=\frac{1}{b-a}\int_a^b f(x,\alpha) dx [/tex]
 
You can use Latex in HTML files: Insert > Image > Location > http://physweb.bgu.ac.il/cgi-bin/mimetex.cgi? F(a,b)=\frac{1}{b-a}\int_a^b f(x,\alpha) dx
 
 

The Nvu HTML Editor

Nvu is simpler to use than FrontPage, and it is free!
Recommended setting and tips for Nvu:
  • View -> ShowHide -> CustomizeToolbars -> FormatToolbar -> Add the change direction icon (for Hebrew)
  • Tools -> Preferences -> General -> Uncheck "Use CSS styles instead of HTML elements and attributes"
  • Tools -> Preferences -> General -> Select "Retain original source formatting"
  • Tools -> Preferences -> General -> Uncheck "Save images and other associated files when saving pages"
  • Tools -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Check "Don't encode '>' outside of attributes values"
  • Tools -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Check "Don't encode special characters in attribute values"

    • How to make graphs and figures?

    The only decent way to prepare graphs and figures is to use the Unix / Linux utilities Xmgrace and Xfig.  Only the latter has an MS-Windows version. You can install it on your PC, but for full functionality you have to pay.

    WinFig  -  Xfig for MS-Windows

    You can try the WinFIG which is installed on the departmental MS-Windows server (*). Tip: If you are working in remote mode on the departmental MS-Windows server change the pen color to blue (or try some other color), else you will not see the drawn lines on the white background...

    (*) From any BGU Windows-XP machine:     Use the command Start > Run > mstsc. The IP of the server is 132.72.14.189  (or you can write dcohen.bgu.ac.il).  You should log into the server using your BGU username and password to BGU-USERS.

    Note about MathML:

    Internet Explorer is too primitive!
    By default it is not able to display MathML equations (you will get an error message).

    From: Alex Stotland

    You can try to fix Explorer version > 6.0 by using a plugin.

    Use Linux at home without installing it:

    From: Alex Stotland

    Copy KNOPPIX to a CD from http://www.knoppix.org/

    If you reboot your PC with this CD, you will have a Linux environment.

    Your Hard Disk is not used neither affected.

    You can write stuff to a Diskonkey

    Linux home installation:

    From: Erez Gilad

    Download fedora:  http://fedora.redhat.com/download/

    You can find  installation process screenshots in section 3 (mainly 3.11-3.33) of  http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-9-Manual/install-guide/
    Although this installation guide is for RH9, the differences in the installation process between this and fedora should be minor.

    For more tips and getting started instructions see  http://www.bgu.ac.il/physics/PhysicsServer.html

    WMF-2-EPS:

    From: Alex Stotland

    I found some useful program which allows to convert WMF/EPS format to EPS (for Windows users).
    The WMF (Windows Meta File) is used by MS PowerPoint, for example, for saving pictures,
    so that one can draw a picture/graphics in the PowerPoint and convert it easily to EPS and insert to Latex.
    (and that's because almost all Windows programs just cannot create good EPS files...). 
     
    http://www.wmf2eps.de.vu/
     
    So the program  might be helpful for Windows users...


    deleted
    TeXnic editor  - Free LaTex editor (interface for writing Latex, similar to WinEdit)
    mikTeX  or  fpTeX   - for running LaTex in order to generate DVI / PS / PDF files
    TeXshop  - LaTex for people who work with MAC OS X 
    PDF 995