I am a supporter of most Open Source Software. I use GNU/Linux as my computer operating system. For the construction of all my academic essays, I use Latex. Latex is free and it is as type setting program which has many uses. You could create an entire book using Latex or just some simple essays and personal letters.
Latex uses and input file which is a type of custom code (not html) saved in a text file with a .tex file extension. You then compile this code, with the Latex compiler, and the output file is a PDF document. I use Latex to compose all my documents for my academic needs including my Slide Shows. You create a document/slide show by editing your source code to met your particular needs, and then compile the input text file, to produce the out put file, or your final document. That is the basics concept; however, it is far more complex than that. Another way to approach the concept is to state the text file is your template which can be altered as needed and then compiled. The difficult part is the initial configuration of the text file. Once you have the basic template you just edit it for a specific propose. This template is represented in the attached text file, or get it hear:spc2608-01.tex
I use the Beamer package (in conjunction with Latex) which is quite nice and you are able to produce a slide show that is much more professional looking, than the slide show you can be produced with the leading proprietary software, which is used by most computer users to produce their slide show presentations. Slide show presentations are common in business and in academia. It is a skill to be learned, to produce high quality slides, which shows a specific level of skill. Regardless, of which program you are using, to produce you slide show, your slides should look professional and be visually appealing to your audience.
I have attached two files to this post. The first file is the input file (e.g., text file) and the second is the output file. The attached slide show is a simple example of a recent slide show for a college class, but provides a good idea of what is possible with Latex and Beamer. The attached slide show is not meant to represent the limits of creativity; in contrast, it is a simple slide show.
I wanted to provide some information about Latex and Beamer because I think this is a much better method for producing documents. And using the Beamer package produces a much better slide show than if you were using high priced proprietary software.
The attached documents would be useful for someone who uses GNU/Linux and is seeking to get away from using the conventional text documentation software. Or, for someone who has no idea about Latex or Beamer, this person would also find this basic information interesting. However, the computer user who already uses Latex, but has not been introduced to Beamer would find my text file most useful.
The attached slide show is a PDF document and should be viewed in presentation mode. Get it hear:spc2608-01.pdf The text file is an example template and is a working example of the actual code which produced the slide show.
So, in this specific example input file = spc2608-01.tex and the output file = spc-2608.pdf. You edit and compile spc2608-01.tex and your slide show is as you see it.
A example of the code is:
\begin{frame}
\frametitle{\textcolor{LightOrange}{Over Consumption}}
\end{frame}
This code would start a new frame (or slide), provide the title of the frame, and the text color for the title.
I depart
for Belize on June 7th. I am planning to visit Belize City, Dangriga, Hopkins
Village and Punta Gorda (from North to South respectively).
Mindo, Ecuador
