The LaTeX files are just simple text files. To get a printable output,
they have to be compiled. Current TeX distributions support several
formats like the TeX-specific DVI-format, PostScript or the famous
PDF-format.
Where other editors can only produce one format as output,
TeXnicCenter allows to use all the output formats,
available by TeX distributions or additional filters.
For each output format used, an output profile has to be defined first. The
number of output profiles in TeXnicCenter is not limited.
Properties of an output profile:
- Is a (La)TeX compiler necessary to generate the output?
If so, what is the path to the TeX compiler?
What are the command line arguments to pass to the compiler?
- Is a BibTeX compiler available for the specified format?
If it is, what is the path to the compiler?
What are the command line arguments to pass to the compiler.
- Is a MakeIndex compiler available for the specified format?
If so, what is the path to the compiler?
What are the command line arguments to pass to the compiler.
- Which additional tools (postprocessors) have to be started after
or instead of the TeX compiler to generate the desired output?
- Which application is used to view files of the wanted format?
What are the commands to display an output file?
What are the commands to perform a forward search?
Is it necessary to close the output before the compilation starts?
If it is, what is the command to do that.