I strongly recommend to learn how to use LaTeX for report writing. While it is not as obvious to use as conventional word processing software, it saves a lot of time taking formatting task away from you.

Required software

LaTeX/TeX software

LaTeX is part of TeX distributions and can be installed with variable set of “packages”. If you have enough space I suggest to go for the full version.

• TeX Live for Windows and Linux
  • Windows user may alternatively use proTeXt or MiKTeX
• MacTeX for Mac users
• other alternatives

Online LaTeX tools

If you do not want to install above gigantic distributions, you may try web based Overleaf (requires registration). It seems to be the most popular way. Here is the direct link to lab report template in Overleaf

Integrated LaTeX writing environment software

LaTeX files can be prepared with any text editor, but alternatives below hide the LaTeX machinery from you and simplify document compilation. They are user friendly and recommended for beginners.

• TeXstudio cross-platformed, AJ's recommended
• TeXnicCenter, unfortunately, it is windows only
• other alternatives

LaTeX manual

Below is a link to The not so Short Introduction to LaTeX.

LaTex source of the sample report

This template shows how to use section, figures, tables, and citations.

• Main LaTeX file of the lab report labreport_template.tex note tex extension.
• Figure files are necessary for successful generation, copy them to the same directory where LaTeX file located.
  • figure 1 sr_setup.pdf
  • figure 2 sr_squeezing_vs_detuning.pdf

Run several times the command:

pdflatex labreport_template.pdf

Latex takes care of the page numbering and references to the figures, tables and citations thus several executions are required. This is similar to the execution of the parser, compiler, and linker for compiling languages.

Results of compilation

• Resulting pdf