Xy-pic User's Guide: Next: 1.3 Arrows. Up: 1 Basics. Previous: 1.1 Loading.

## 1.2 Entries

A diagram is created by the command

`\xymatrix``{` ... `}`

where the `...' should be replaced by entries to be aligned in rows and columns where

- entries in a row are separated by `&` and
- entire rows are separated by `\\` .

For example,

was typeset by

>     \xymatrix{
>       A &*+[F]{\sum_{i=n}^m {i^2}} \\
>         & {\bullet} & D \ar[ul]	}

Notice the following:

- entries are typeset as mathematics (in `text style'); entries should not start with a macro (hence the use of `{`...`}` in some of the entries),
- all entries are centered,
- the separation between rows and columns is usually quite large in a diagram,
- entries at the end of rows that are empty may be omitted,
- ``Xy-decorations'' (here `\ar[ul]`) last in entries allow drawing of arrows and such relative to the entries without changing the overall layout, and
- ``Xy-modifiers'' (here `*+[F]`) first in entries allow changing the format and shape in many ways.

Xy-pic User's Guide: Next: 1.3 Arrows. Up: 1 Basics. Previous: 1.1 Loading.