Letter Class

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You can use LaTeX to typeset letters, both personal and business. The letter document class is designed to make a number of letters at once, although you can make just one if you so desire.

Your .tex source file has the same minimum commands as the other document classes, i.e., you must have the following commands as a minimum:

      \documentclass{letter}
      \begin{document}
       … letters …
      \end{document}

Each letter is a letter environment, whose argument is the name and address of the recipient. For example, you might have:

      \begin{letter}{Mr. Joe Smith\\ 2345 Princess St. 
           \\ Edinburgh, EH1 1AA}
        …
      \end{letter}

The letter itself begins with the \opening command. The text of the letter follows. It is typed as ordinary LaTeX input. Commands that make no sense in a letter, like \chapter, don’t work. The letter closes with a \closing command.

After the closing, you can have additional material. The \cc command produces the usual “cc: …”. There’s also a similar \encl command for a list of enclosures.

\opening

Command:

    \opening{text} 

The letter begins with the \opening command. The mandatory argument, text, is whatever text you wish to start your letter, i.e.,

      \opening{Dear Joe,}

\closing

Command:

    \closing{text} 

The letter closes with a \closing command, i.e.,

      \closing{Best Regards,}

\address

Command:

    \address{Return address} 

The return address, as it should appear on the letter and the envelope. Separate lines of the address should be separated by \\ commands. If you do not make an \address declaration, then the letter will be formatted for copying onto your organization’s standard letterhead. (See the overview for details on your local implementation). If you give an \address declaration, then the letter will be formatted as a personal letter.

\signature

Command:

    \signature{Your name} 

Your name, as it should appear at the end of the letter underneath the space for your signature. Items that should go on separate lines should be separated by \\ commands.

\location

Command:

    \location{address} 

This modifies your organization’s standard address. This only appears if the firstpage pagestyle is selected.

\telephone

Command:

    \telephone{number} 

This is your telephone number. This only appears if the firstpage pagestyle is selected.

\cc

Command:

    \cc{text} 

Produces the usual “cc: text”.

\encl

Command:

    \encl{text} 

Produces the usual “encl: text”.

\makelabels

Command:

    \makelabels{number}

If you issue this command in the preamble, LaTeX will create a sheet of address labels. This sheet will be output before the letters.

\name

Command:

    \name{June Davenport}

Your name, used for printing on the envelope together with the return address.

\ps

Command:

    \ps

Use this command before a postscript.

\startbreaks

Command:

    \startbreaks

Used after a \stopbreaks command to allow page breaks again.

\stopbreaks

Command:

    \stopbreaks

Inhibit page breaks until a \startbreaks command occurs.

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