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https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/2 | 11 |
>
> **Possible Duplicate:**
>
> [ToC numbering problem](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/13914/toc-numbering-problem)
>
>
>
My LaTeX document is acting strangely. Here is a simplified version of it:
```
\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
\tableofcontents
\newpage
\addcontentsline{toc}{part}{A Part of My Document}
\include{includedfile}
\end{document}
```
And in `includedfile.tex`:
```
\section{My Section Title}
Quack.
```
Clearly, in the table of contents, the heading for the part should precede the one for the section, but it doesn't! What's wrong?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/9 | Table of contents numbering is strange | true | Try `\input` instead of `\include` -- it's as if you typed in the contents of the file there. I believe `\include` does some additional processing, so maybe that's causing your problem.
| 7 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/27 | 4 | 0 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/3 | 241 | I have heard rumors that you can compile documents online, and more specifically that Google has a free online compiler, but I have never been able to find any. Is there a way to compile documents online, so that I can write and compile documents even if I don't have a TeX distribution installed on my computer?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/14 | Compiling documents online | false | The Google-related solution was available here at <http://docs.latexlab.org/> but has been taken offline.
Note, however, that the online compiler was never affiliated with Google. It simply used Google UI toolkit and Google Apps hosting platform. (from [Dima](https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/137/dima))
| 67 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/30 | 6 | 1 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/3 | 241 | I have heard rumors that you can compile documents online, and more specifically that Google has a free online compiler, but I have never been able to find any. Is there a way to compile documents online, so that I can write and compile documents even if I don't have a TeX distribution installed on my computer?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/14 | Compiling documents online | false | [Verbosus](http://www.verbosus.com/) seems to be the most convenient and appealing to me.
It worth noting that Verbosus has a good app for smartphone and tablet (with a dark theme, which someone may prefer) and, last but not least, use an updated version of TeX Live, whereas Overleaf and ShareLaTeX do not.
On the other hand, it has not the instant compilation on-the-fly, which Overleaf has.
| 16 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/5 | 8 | 2 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/9 | 0 | I copied a `beamer` presentation and made new slides, but when I compile it the table of contents is missing.
I tried copying and pasting the old presentation into mine and it is still missing the table of contents.
Is there any extra build flags I have to add to make this work?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/39 | Why does my table of contents not appear in my beamer presentation? | false | You need to build the presentation twice to see the table of contents in it.
The first build will generate it based on the content, and the second will put the finished table of contents in your presentation.
| 3 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/39 | 10 | 3 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/2 | 11 |
>
> **Possible Duplicate:**
>
> [ToC numbering problem](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/13914/toc-numbering-problem)
>
>
>
My LaTeX document is acting strangely. Here is a simplified version of it:
```
\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
\tableofcontents
\newpage
\addcontentsline{toc}{part}{A Part of My Document}
\include{includedfile}
\end{document}
```
And in `includedfile.tex`:
```
\section{My Section Title}
Quack.
```
Clearly, in the table of contents, the heading for the part should precede the one for the section, but it doesn't! What's wrong?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/9 | Table of contents numbering is strange | false | The problem is to do with the `\newpage` command. If you remove it, I think you'll get exactly the output you're looking for.
| 2 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/32 | 12 | 4 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/11 | 383 | Which book (free or otherwise) was the most useful to you when you started learning LaTeX?
I am frequently asked this question by friends who want to learn LaTeX, and I recommend the book which got me started, [The Not So Short Introduction to LaTeX2ε](http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/info/lshort/english/lshort.pdf), but I feel that there might be better options around.
Also see [LaTeX Introductions in languages other than English](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/84384/latex-introductions-in-languages-other-than-english).
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/14 | What are good learning resources for a LaTeX beginner? | false | I found [Art of Problem Solving Wiki page on LaTeX](http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php?title=LaTeX:About) to be a good resource. (it's themed towards learning simple syntax for texing math, which was exactly what I wanted)
Additionally, there is the useful [list of LaTeX symbols](http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/info/symbols/comprehensive/symbols-a4.pdf).
| 13 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/8 | 16 | 5 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/1 | 8 | I'm using LyX all the time and over the last 2 years I've accumulated some very handy macros for my lecture notes. As it is today, every time I start a new document, I copy and paste the macros from one of my other documents. Is it possible, somehow, to automatically load macros for all files?
(I asked this on SO a while back and got no answers. I hope in this new home I'll get a response).
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/5 | Automatically define macros in LyX documents | true | I am not sure if you mean LyX macros or not. But if they are standard LaTeX macros, you can make your own style file, say "rachum.sty". Put all of your macros in there, and then have it included in the preamble by default.
This is useful for (La)TeX users in general. I have a lot of common things in my own file, such as `\newcommand{\Integers}{\mathbb{Z}}` and such.
| 5 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/59 | 17 | 6 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/13 | 32 | My experience at the present moment is restricted to Microsoft Word and is likely to remain for most of my collaborative work. However, for my individual authored documents I would like to use LaTeX. I am familiar with some tex notation but have not used LaTeX extensively.
In light of the above I was wondering what is the best way to make the transition from Word to LaTeX?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/nan | What is the best way to make the transition from Microsoft Word to LaTeX? | true | The best way to learn it is simply to do it. Find someone else's template (e.g. from a friend) to get started. From there on you can always tinker and experiment with it to gain a greater insight.
<http://wikibooks.org/wiki/LaTeX> is a pretty good reference.
If you're in college/university there are probably a lot of people who can help you (particularly in science, math, CS and similar programs). At my university, the department of mathematics usually have beginner's LaTeX courses at the beginning of the year to get people started.
Also, often when people are editing text in Word they're focusing on how it looks. Make sure you don't do that when writing LaTeX. Just write it. The parser will figure out how to make it look good.
| 20 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/4 | 18 | 7 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/15 | 149 | What's the best strategy for spell checking LaTeX documents?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/55 | Spell checking LaTeX documents | false | It sort of depends on the system you're working on.
I'm using GNU/Linux and here `aspell` does a good job. For instance, to check `test.tex` in Danish, I would do like this from the terminal:
```
aspell -c -t test.tex -d da
```
The option `-c` tells `aspell` to check the file, `-t` puts it in TeX mode, and `-d` gives the base name of the main dictionary to use.
On Ubuntu/Debian, this can be installed using:
```
sudo aptitude install aspell
```
[Aspell is also available as a Windows executable](http://aspell.net/win32/). It can but run from the command line or from any good text-editor (i.e. one that supports macros to run external programs).
| 73 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/4 | 19 | 8 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/14 | 723 | I know what my symbol or character looks like, but I don't know what the command is or which math alphabet it came from. How do I go about finding this out?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/39 | How to look up a symbol or identify a letter from a math alphabet or other character? | false | [This reference](http://web.ift.uib.no/Teori/KURS/WRK/TeX/symALL.html) has yet to fail me; it has all the symbols typeset along with the `\foo` command needed to generate them. There's also [this PDF](http://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A//amath.colorado.edu/documentation/LaTeX/Symbols.pdf), which is considerably better put-together and covers other symbols besides the base math ones
| 27 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/29 | 20 | 9 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/14 | 723 | I know what my symbol or character looks like, but I don't know what the command is or which math alphabet it came from. How do I go about finding this out?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/39 | How to look up a symbol or identify a letter from a math alphabet or other character? | true | 1. You can look things up in the [**Comprehensive LaTeX symbols**](http://mirrors.ctan.org/info/symbols/comprehensive/symbols-a4.pdf) list. It can usually be easily accessed with `texdoc symbols` or `texdoc symbols-a4` (in MiKTeX the latter only).
2. Another good option is to try the web-based software [**Detexify**](http://detexify.kirelabs.org/classify.html), which allows you to draw the symbol and tries to recognize what you've drawn. Here is a screenshot:
>
>
>
3. If you are using the package [`unicode-math`](http://www.ctan.org/pkg/unicode-math), then besides using any Unicode character list, the [**list of all supported symbols**](http://mirror.ctan.org/macros/latex/contrib/unicode-math/unimath-symbols.pdf) (`texdoc unimath-symbols`) is very useful as it also lists which symbols are available in the various fonts.
4. Using [`unicode-math`](http://www.ctan.org/pkg/unicode-math), you can also search for characters by drawing (just like with detexify) using [**ShapeCatcher**](http://shapecatcher.com/).
The above techniques provide an adequate way of finding symbols but are not necessarily foolproof since you sometimes need to know what you're looking for in order to find it. For example, in [Typing Following notation in Latex](https://tex.stackexchange.com/q/132453) it may not be apparent that "vector fields in differential geometry" are somehow related to "bowties". To that end, searching for a symbol rotated 90 degrees or flipped horizontally, say, might lead you in the right direction.
| 861 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/61 | 21 | 10 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/13 | 32 | My experience at the present moment is restricted to Microsoft Word and is likely to remain for most of my collaborative work. However, for my individual authored documents I would like to use LaTeX. I am familiar with some tex notation but have not used LaTeX extensively.
In light of the above I was wondering what is the best way to make the transition from Word to LaTeX?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/nan | What is the best way to make the transition from Microsoft Word to LaTeX? | false | I don't think that there's a special path for getting used to LaTeX after word than any other way. Take a TeX/LaTeX book, take it slow and don't panic. The most important thing it to try out whatever you learn! ["A Gentle Introduction to TeX"](https://ctan.org/tex-archive/info/gentle/gentle.pdf) might be a good start. Another option is to use [LyX](http://www.lyx.org/), which is a graphical front-end for the latex engine, which will allow you to use LaTeX in a word-processor-like manner.
| 6 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/5 | 22 | 11 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/14 | 723 | I know what my symbol or character looks like, but I don't know what the command is or which math alphabet it came from. How do I go about finding this out?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/39 | How to look up a symbol or identify a letter from a math alphabet or other character? | false | Theres lots of ways of doing this, but the two I've found to be most useful are these:
* [Detexify](http://detexify.kirelabs.org/classify.html) Allows you to draw the symbol, and then guesses based on similar symbols. This is great for me because I don't always remember the name of the symbol, and even if I know the name, I may not have the *correct* name.
* [AMS LaTeX Short Math Guide](ftp://ftp.ams.org/pub/tex/doc/amsmath/short-math-guide.pdf) This short pdf gives an overview of AMS LaTeX functionality, and includes a pretty thorough list of *most* of the math symbols (un)commonly used in proofs and formulas.
| 160 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/39 | 23 | 12 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/14 | 723 | I know what my symbol or character looks like, but I don't know what the command is or which math alphabet it came from. How do I go about finding this out?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/39 | How to look up a symbol or identify a letter from a math alphabet or other character? | false | The old school way is to look it up in the [Comprehensive LaTeX Symbol List](http://tug.ctan.org/info/symbols/comprehensive/symbols-a4.pdf) (**warning:** 4 MB PDF file).
The new hotness is to use [DeTeXify](http://detexify.kirelabs.org/classify.html) which uses handwriting recognition to look the symbol up for you.
DeTeXify even comes in an iPhone/Andriod app- you can get a free version or pay for one. The only difference is that with the paid app you are making a donation to the developer- the feature set is exactly the same.
The author is planning to work on a mobile version of the website [that will supplant](http://detexify.posterous.com/the-road-ahead-20) these apps.
| 101 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/17 | 26 | 13 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/14 | 723 | I know what my symbol or character looks like, but I don't know what the command is or which math alphabet it came from. How do I go about finding this out?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/39 | How to look up a symbol or identify a letter from a math alphabet or other character? | false | I often look up the relevant topic on Wikipedia, (e.g. [Set theory](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set_theory)) and look at the source there. Wikipedia uses LaTeX for math markup as well.
| 91 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/4 | 27 | 14 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/15 | 149 | What's the best strategy for spell checking LaTeX documents?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/55 | Spell checking LaTeX documents | false | **Spell-checking can commonly be handled by your text editor**. I'm not sure what the windows LaTeX editors have, but it's common to use **vi** or **emacs** in linux, and the editor's spell checking is pretty sufficient. Also, because these editors are syntax-aware, your spell-checking can be as well.
| 35 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/39 | 29 | 15 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/11 | 383 | Which book (free or otherwise) was the most useful to you when you started learning LaTeX?
I am frequently asked this question by friends who want to learn LaTeX, and I recommend the book which got me started, [The Not So Short Introduction to LaTeX2ε](http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/info/lshort/english/lshort.pdf), but I feel that there might be better options around.
Also see [LaTeX Introductions in languages other than English](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/84384/latex-introductions-in-languages-other-than-english).
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/14 | What are good learning resources for a LaTeX beginner? | false | Grätzer's under-appreciated book is excellent, especially at showing you how to do things the "right" way:
* George Grätzer (2016), [*More Math Into LaTeX*](http://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783319237954), 5th edition, Springer, ISBN 978-3-319-23796-1
(Earlier editions were called "Math into LaTeX"; it's not a sequel.) Especially if you're learning LaTeX for typesetting mathematics or related areas, this is a wonderful book — it includes, for example, chapters on the several AMS environments for multiline equation displays, making presentations with Beamer and other classes, and BibTeX — all things that you're likely to need at some point. Several samples from the book are available [on CTAN](http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/info/examples/Math_into_LaTeX-4/).
[**Edit**: His first section, [*A Short Course in LaTeX*](http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/info/Math_into_LaTeX-4/Short_Course.pdf), is available on CTAN and I recommend it even higher than lshort/not-so-short introduction: it's shorter, though of course less detailed. As quoted in the comment below, it's IMHO the ideal introduction to LaTeX for mathematics.]
Among actually free books, take a look at [the LaTeX book on Wikibooks](http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/LaTeX/); its excellent quality may surprise you!
| 72 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/48 | 30 | 16 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/11 | 383 | Which book (free or otherwise) was the most useful to you when you started learning LaTeX?
I am frequently asked this question by friends who want to learn LaTeX, and I recommend the book which got me started, [The Not So Short Introduction to LaTeX2ε](http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/info/lshort/english/lshort.pdf), but I feel that there might be better options around.
Also see [LaTeX Introductions in languages other than English](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/84384/latex-introductions-in-languages-other-than-english).
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/14 | What are good learning resources for a LaTeX beginner? | false | I found Kopka and Daly's *[Guide to LaTeX](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0321173856)* to be very helpful. It starts with the basics of what a LaTeX document is, how it's laid out, what components it can and should have, etc. and then moves on to cover technics for drawing and including figures, creating new commands and environments, and more advanced customization in case you ever need it.
Most important to me were the many examples scattered throughout, so that if you have some idea of what you're trying to do you usually don't have read an entire section but just flip through until you find an appropriate example and then try something similar.
| 58 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/32 | 31 | 17 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/28 | 21 | My university's thesis guidelines require that each bibliographic entry appear in whole on a single page, rather than being split across two. How can I prevent (La)TeX breaking a paragraph across a page boundary?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/60 | How can I prevent page break between lines of a paragraph or bibliography entry? | true | You can modify the variable that tells TeX how bad an idea it is to break up lines of a paragraph as follows:
```
\interlinepenalty=10000
```
The `10000` there means TeX will never do this. This could mean that a long paragraph could even overrun the bottom of a page. If you just want to make a strong suggestion, use a smaller number.
| 17 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/60 | 32 | 18 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/7 | 16 | For certain styles it appears that the `\label` statement must be included in `\caption` to preserve good referencing. Why is that?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/nan | Label in caption | true | Actually, `\label` must appear after (not necessarily inside) `\caption`, because the `\caption` command increments the counter to which `\label`'s argument associates itself.
| 18 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/60 | 33 | 19 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/15 | 149 | What's the best strategy for spell checking LaTeX documents?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/55 | Spell checking LaTeX documents | false | I use a mac and I have [cocoaspell](http://people.ict.usc.edu/~leuski/cocoaspell/), which works for the whole computer. As I use Aquamacs, I then enable flyspell (spell check on the fly), and it is all done!
| 5 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/14 | 34 | 20 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/24 | 14 | I would like to layout a professionally designed book containing poems. What template should I use?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/63 | Is there a template available that allows easy publishing of poem book? | true | See the LaTeX package `verse` for typesetting poems: <http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/verse/>
| 7 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/59 | 37 | 21 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/11 | 383 | Which book (free or otherwise) was the most useful to you when you started learning LaTeX?
I am frequently asked this question by friends who want to learn LaTeX, and I recommend the book which got me started, [The Not So Short Introduction to LaTeX2ε](http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/info/lshort/english/lshort.pdf), but I feel that there might be better options around.
Also see [LaTeX Introductions in languages other than English](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/84384/latex-introductions-in-languages-other-than-english).
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/14 | What are good learning resources for a LaTeX beginner? | false | I've used [LaTeX wikibook](http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/LaTeX) mostly. It's a really good resource when writing mark-up which is the easiest and fastest way to learn.
---
Unfortunately, proper maintenance of the LaTeX Wikibook has gone astray. Quite a lot of the provided information is a bit outdated. Since it is very hard for a beginner to judge the quality of advice, maybe it's better to choose another document for now.
When the information is once again up to date, this little note will disappear again.
| 126 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/nan | 38 | 22 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/35 | 216 | I often see output from TeX with the warning `overfull hbox, badness 10000`. What does this message mean?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/60 | What does "overfull hbox" mean? (Why is there a black mark at the end of a line?) | false | This message means that a line of your document is too long to fit within the horizontal space on the page, and TeX couldn't find a good way to break it apart. This will usually result in text hanging out past the margin, possibly even running off the side of the page. Common causes are long words without proper hyphenation information and long displayed equations.
| 72 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/60 | 39 | 23 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/14 | 723 | I know what my symbol or character looks like, but I don't know what the command is or which math alphabet it came from. How do I go about finding this out?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/39 | How to look up a symbol or identify a letter from a math alphabet or other character? | false | There's also an iPhone app for Detexify, which I've used occasionally, for some reason ...
Links (on the US iTunes App Store): [free version](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/detexify/id328805329) and [supporter version](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/detexify-supporter-version/id328800612) ($0.99, same functionality).
| 37 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/77 | 41 | 24 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/13 | 32 | My experience at the present moment is restricted to Microsoft Word and is likely to remain for most of my collaborative work. However, for my individual authored documents I would like to use LaTeX. I am familiar with some tex notation but have not used LaTeX extensively.
In light of the above I was wondering what is the best way to make the transition from Word to LaTeX?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/nan | What is the best way to make the transition from Microsoft Word to LaTeX? | false | In addition to the advice in the other answers, I'd say be ready to make changes to how you work. Word (and indeed all word processors) are fundamentally different from LaTeX. Some things that people do in Word are regarded as poor typography, and so are discouraged by many LaTeX users. So the question is not always 'Word can do this, how do I do it in LaTeX?' but 'Should I do this at all, and if so how do I do it in LaTeX?'. It's subtle, I know, but it will also help you get the best from the other answers you were given.
| 15 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/73 | 43 | 25 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/11 | 383 | Which book (free or otherwise) was the most useful to you when you started learning LaTeX?
I am frequently asked this question by friends who want to learn LaTeX, and I recommend the book which got me started, [The Not So Short Introduction to LaTeX2ε](http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/info/lshort/english/lshort.pdf), but I feel that there might be better options around.
Also see [LaTeX Introductions in languages other than English](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/84384/latex-introductions-in-languages-other-than-english).
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/14 | What are good learning resources for a LaTeX beginner? | false | The most important is to learn by doing. Take some small piece you want to typeset and make a most simple possible document. Then start to make it more compilicated. If you want figures/plots use TikZ.
| 12 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/69 | 44 | 26 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/45 | 105 | The slowest part is a dozen of diagrams in `TikZ.`
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/69 | How to speed up LaTeX compilation with several TikZ pictures? | false | I am unsure for TikZ, but for XY-pic the command \CompileMatrices doesn't recompile your arrays, greatly speeding up the compilation time.
| 2 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/84 | 51 | 27 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/36 | 475 | I’m interested in the differences and commonalities between the “new” (La)TeX processors:
* [**LuaTeX**](http://www.luatex.org/),
* [**XeTeX**](http://tug.org/xetex/), and
* [**ConTeXt**](http://wiki.contextgarden.net/Main_Page).
Personally, I’ve only used XeTeX so far and without having the time to try out all three systems, I’m having a surprisingly hard time setting them off from one each other.
As I understand it, these systems are actually *very* different in some regards. So I’m explicitly asking for strengths and weaknesses in every-day use (whatever that is), rather than very special scenarios.
(I’ve already asked a [similar question](https://superuser.com/questions/112818/difference-between-xetex-and-luatex) on Super User some time ago.)
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/42 | Differences between LuaTeX, ConTeXt and XeTeX | false | Each of them is variation/implementation of TeX. LuaTeX is really just like Knuth's original TeX system (with LaTeX) but is using Lua as its embedded scripting engine, which some find to be easier to handle and extend. I believe TeXLive is officially switching to use LuaTeX from now on.
XeTeX has especially useful font capabilities. It is essentially standard TeX but the ability to use OpenType and TrueType (instead of Type 1) fonts instead of the confusing setup in standard TeX. If you've ever had to install a font with standard TeX, or even make your own, you know it's a pain, even with `fontinst`.
ConTeXt is a different approach to TeX. ConTeXt is like LaTeX, but with different ideas of how thing should work. ConTeXt attempts to make things easier, especially typographical issues. Colors, figures, and changing document structure is more straightforward in this system.
Disclaimer: I am no expert on these systems. I personally use just standard LaTeX.
| 26 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/59 | 52 | 28 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/47 | 31 | In what applications doesn't LaTeX give you much?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/69 | When does it make sense to use TeX only and skip LaTeX? | false | Usually you want to use TeX directly when you don't want the typographic settings been done as it is done by LaTeX. If you want to use direct control of the kerning etc., you probably better off using directly TeX.
| 7 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/63 | 54 | 29 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/42 | 185 | I would like to have my whole document showing a blank line (or space) between paragraphs and no indentation. I know how to do it line by line, but is there a way to change that with just one or a few lines at the beginning of the document? Like a package you can install, or a new command?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/14 | How can I use a vertical space between paragraphs, rather than indentation? | false | You can use
```
\setlength{\parindent}{0pt}
\setlength{\parskip}{\baselineskip}
```
in your preamble if you're not using any other fancy (or not so fancy) formatting such as tables, etc. Apparently the package parskip fixes most of the issues that this setup can cause if you do have more complicated formats within your document. I've never used that package myself, though, so I can't speak from personal experience.
| 7 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/61 | 56 | 30 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/42 | 185 | I would like to have my whole document showing a blank line (or space) between paragraphs and no indentation. I know how to do it line by line, but is there a way to change that with just one or a few lines at the beginning of the document? Like a package you can install, or a new command?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/14 | How can I use a vertical space between paragraphs, rather than indentation? | true | Adding
```
\usepackage{parskip}
```
to the preamble of your document (the part between `\documentclass{...}` and `\begin{document}` will set the paragraphs to have no indentation and a bit of space between them.
Note that this isn't a complete solution, because there may be elements in your document that you don't want this format to apply to (footnotes, for example). A proper solution would involve (effectively) writing a new document class.
You can read a bit about how the [`parskip`](http://www.ctan.org/pkg/parskip) package works by looking at the comments in [`parskip.sty` itself](http://mirrors.ctan.org/macros/latex/contrib/parskip/parskip.sty).
| 153 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/80 | 57 | 31 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/53 | 72 | As opposed to LaTeX, which is addressed in another question.
Most of the references I've seen get too complex too quickly. I'm looking for something that gives me a top-down view of the language - what the parts of a document are and how (and when) each is processed before proceeding to infinite detail like character classes (e.g.). Something heavily example-based, with real-world examples, would be helpful as well. I just find the language incredibly obscure and difficult to grok.
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/76 | What is the best way to learn TeX? | false | Although I must admit I haven't read it, the obvious choice would be to go straight to the source with Knuth: <http://www-cs-faculty.stanford.edu/~uno/abcde.html>
| 0 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/4 | 58 | 32 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/55 | 55 | For some complicated diagrams, I need to use something like Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape, and would like to include nicely typeset labels. (I'm aware of post-processing solutions, such as pinlabel.) One way to do this is to use a closely-matching font, and then convert fonts to outlines. Better, however, would be to use Computer Modern directly in Illustrator.
**Where can I find a Computer Modern font compatible with Adobe Illustrator?**
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/77 | Where can I find computer modern fonts for use in other programs, e.g. Adobe Illustrator? | true | You can download them here: <http://sourceforge.net/projects/cm-unicode/>
| 43 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/4 | 60 | 33 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/50 | 32 | Like most people here, my resume/CV is in LaTeX, but there are always these annoying companies (or more often, recruiters) who will only look at resumes in Microsoft Word format. How can I translate my beautiful LaTeX document into .doc without making it look horrible?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/70 | How can I convert math-less latex documents into Microsoft Word? | false | Print or compile it to an image, then paste it in a word file. Then copy and paste the source and/or textual form, and paste it in the document invisible under the image.
This does 3 things:
1. Works independent of MS Word version. Pasting an image in a word file is not a new feature
2. Includes the text in the document. Many companies want this so they can do a textual search for keywords (to narrow down or sift resumes)
3. Sticks it to the Word users (makes me smile inside)
Then I usually go find a different company that likes computer nerds.
| 37 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/39 | 61 | 34 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/53 | 72 | As opposed to LaTeX, which is addressed in another question.
Most of the references I've seen get too complex too quickly. I'm looking for something that gives me a top-down view of the language - what the parts of a document are and how (and when) each is processed before proceeding to infinite detail like character classes (e.g.). Something heavily example-based, with real-world examples, would be helpful as well. I just find the language incredibly obscure and difficult to grok.
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/76 | What is the best way to learn TeX? | false | I learned from [A Gentle Introduction to TeX](http://mirror.ctan.org/info/gentle/gentle.pdf) (PDF file). I also have a copy of Knuth's *TeXbook* which I look at once in a while.
| 8 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/52 | 62 | 35 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/3 | 241 | I have heard rumors that you can compile documents online, and more specifically that Google has a free online compiler, but I have never been able to find any. Is there a way to compile documents online, so that I can write and compile documents even if I don't have a TeX distribution installed on my computer?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/14 | Compiling documents online | false | [ScribTeX](http://www.scribtex.com/) is another good choice. You can also checkout the [Common LaTeX Service Interface](http://code.google.com/p/common-latex-service-interface/) (CLSI) which is one of the underlying technologies of both ScribTeX and [LaTeX Lab](http://docs.latexlab.org/).
The CLSI provides the underlying infrastructure for exposing a LaTeX compiler to requests from the internet and can be used to build your own custom web-based solution.
### Update
ScribTeX uses `git` internally to store revisions to documents and the site's author is planning to open the service up to allow users to push and pull repositories as soon as he gets the logistics worked out.
Looks like there may finally be a GitHub-like service for LaTeX documents!
| 27 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/17 | 63 | 36 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/53 | 72 | As opposed to LaTeX, which is addressed in another question.
Most of the references I've seen get too complex too quickly. I'm looking for something that gives me a top-down view of the language - what the parts of a document are and how (and when) each is processed before proceeding to infinite detail like character classes (e.g.). Something heavily example-based, with real-world examples, would be helpful as well. I just find the language incredibly obscure and difficult to grok.
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/76 | What is the best way to learn TeX? | false | As for a different method,
I learned by building LaTeX documents and then looking at the TeX generated. This is so I could associate LaTeX commands with their TeX structures.
Much different from learning from a book.
| 5 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/39 | 65 | 37 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/50 | 32 | Like most people here, my resume/CV is in LaTeX, but there are always these annoying companies (or more often, recruiters) who will only look at resumes in Microsoft Word format. How can I translate my beautiful LaTeX document into .doc without making it look horrible?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/70 | How can I convert math-less latex documents into Microsoft Word? | true | There is a commercial product called [GrindEQ](http://www.grindeq.com/) which can also convert math. Another option is to import your LaTeX into LyX, and output as a Word document.
Aside from the free solution using LyX, you can use [LaTeX2RTF](http://sourceforge.net/projects/latex2rtf/), which works okay. Also [latex2doc](http://www.dur.ac.uk/p.j.heslin/Software/Latex/latex2doc.php) which is a bit more sophisticated. Lastly, there is [pandoc](http://johnmacfarlane.net/pandoc/) which is a more universal converter.
Your mileage may vary, which is why I am inundating you with choices.
| 33 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/59 | 67 | 38 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/1 | 8 | I'm using LyX all the time and over the last 2 years I've accumulated some very handy macros for my lecture notes. As it is today, every time I start a new document, I copy and paste the macros from one of my other documents. Is it possible, somehow, to automatically load macros for all files?
(I asked this on SO a while back and got no answers. I hope in this new home I'll get a response).
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/5 | Automatically define macros in LyX documents | false | You can put all your macros in the Preamble in Documents → Settings, then click `Save as Document Defaults`.
These macros should then be present in every *new* LyX document.
| 7 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/82 | 68 | 39 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/42 | 185 | I would like to have my whole document showing a blank line (or space) between paragraphs and no indentation. I know how to do it line by line, but is there a way to change that with just one or a few lines at the beginning of the document? Like a package you can install, or a new command?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/14 | How can I use a vertical space between paragraphs, rather than indentation? | false | To change the amount of space between paragraphs, you want to change `\parskip`.
This adds an extra line between paragraphs:
```
\setlength{\parskip}{\baselineskip}
```
This removes the indent at the start of paragraphs:
```
\setlength{\parindent}{0pt}
```
| 26 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/16 | 69 | 40 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/36 | 475 | I’m interested in the differences and commonalities between the “new” (La)TeX processors:
* [**LuaTeX**](http://www.luatex.org/),
* [**XeTeX**](http://tug.org/xetex/), and
* [**ConTeXt**](http://wiki.contextgarden.net/Main_Page).
Personally, I’ve only used XeTeX so far and without having the time to try out all three systems, I’m having a surprisingly hard time setting them off from one each other.
As I understand it, these systems are actually *very* different in some regards. So I’m explicitly asking for strengths and weaknesses in every-day use (whatever that is), rather than very special scenarios.
(I’ve already asked a [similar question](https://superuser.com/questions/112818/difference-between-xetex-and-luatex) on Super User some time ago.)
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/42 | Differences between LuaTeX, ConTeXt and XeTeX | true | Both LuaTeX and XeTeX are UTF-8 engines for processing TeX documents. This means that the input (.tex files) can contain characters that with pdfTeX are difficult to use directly. Both can also use system fonts, again in contrast to pdfTeX. However, the two are very different in approach.
XeTeX uses system-specific libraries to work. This means that it is very easy to use 'out of the box' for loading system fonts and other UTF-8 tasks. Indeed, it was written for this purpose: supporting languages, *etc*., that traditional TeX struggles with. This makes for an easy to use engine for end users, particularly if you use the fontspec package on LaTeX. However, because things are 'farmed out' to the OS, there is a trade-off in flexibility terms.
In contrast, LuaTeX has bigger aims. The idea is to add a scripting language (Lua) to TeX, and to open up the internals of TeX to this language. The result is that a lot is possible, but it has to be programmed in. There is growing LaTeX support for LuaTeX: fontspec v2 supports it, and new packages are being written to use more of the new features.
At the moment, I'd use XeTeX for UTF-8 and font support, unless I was after particular effects that only LuaTeX does well (Arabic typography is a particular challenge). The choice btween XeTeX and LuaTeX is 'tight': both have advantages depending on your exact requirements. (I'm on the LaTeX kernel team, so as a programmer I'm very keen on exploiting LuaTeX.)
ConTeXt is not an engine, and so is in a slightly different place here. ConTeXt is a format for TeX, like LaTeX, but is newer and much larger. ConTeXt Mark IV is a LuaTeX-only implementation. The people behind ConTeXt are very active in developing LuaTeX, and are using the new features to extend TeX and what ConTeXt can do. I've already pointed out that I'm working on LaTeX, so of course I'd like to see new features in LaTeX do the same. This is something I and the other members of the LaTeX project are working on.
| 390 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/73 | 72 | 41 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/53 | 72 | As opposed to LaTeX, which is addressed in another question.
Most of the references I've seen get too complex too quickly. I'm looking for something that gives me a top-down view of the language - what the parts of a document are and how (and when) each is processed before proceeding to infinite detail like character classes (e.g.). Something heavily example-based, with real-world examples, would be helpful as well. I just find the language incredibly obscure and difficult to grok.
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/76 | What is the best way to learn TeX? | false | Victor Eijkhout's [Tex by Topic](http://eijkhout.net/texbytopic/texbytopic.html) provides for a good reference. It can complement more tutorial-style texts.
| 17 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/87 | 74 | 42 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/36 | 475 | I’m interested in the differences and commonalities between the “new” (La)TeX processors:
* [**LuaTeX**](http://www.luatex.org/),
* [**XeTeX**](http://tug.org/xetex/), and
* [**ConTeXt**](http://wiki.contextgarden.net/Main_Page).
Personally, I’ve only used XeTeX so far and without having the time to try out all three systems, I’m having a surprisingly hard time setting them off from one each other.
As I understand it, these systems are actually *very* different in some regards. So I’m explicitly asking for strengths and weaknesses in every-day use (whatever that is), rather than very special scenarios.
(I’ve already asked a [similar question](https://superuser.com/questions/112818/difference-between-xetex-and-luatex) on Super User some time ago.)
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/42 | Differences between LuaTeX, ConTeXt and XeTeX | false | **XeTeX** basically offers two improvements over the default LaTeX, and has one drawback.
The improvements are:
* XeTeX supports UTF-8 encoded input by default. In fact, this is the only supported encoding.
* XeTeX supports TrueType/OpenType fonts directly. This can be harnessed by the powerful [fontspec](http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/fontspec/) package which makes loading and using installed fonts really easy.
* Font support goes much further than what most (even professional) editors support. For example, it easily allows access to special font features such as rare ligatures, glyph variants and old style (text style) numbers.
The drawback is:
* XeTeX does not (yet) support the full feature set of the microtype package, as pdfTeX does. However, the main feature, protrusion, works well.
Furthermore, XeTeX has PDF ouput only; no DVI or PS. I’m not sure if this can be counted as a drawback but [YMMV](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=YMMV).
| 106 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/42 | 75 | 43 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/64 | 151 | A lot of people write makefiles that say something like
```
paper.pdf: paper.tex
pdflatex paper
bibtex paper
pdflatex paper
pdflatex paper
```
To handle re-running TeX to get new/changed references and so forth. Is there a better way to do this?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/60 | Tools for automating document compilation | false | I like [LatexMake](http://xpt.sourceforge.net/tools/latexmake/). It defines a big pile of pattern rules for make to automate the most common steps of compiling a LaTeX document. Using it is a simple matter of copying one makefile into your document's directory, or `include LaTeX.mk` (as named in Debian's `latex-make` package) in a makefile you already have, or symlink to it if your makefile wouldn't need to include anything else.
One really neat feature about it is that it detects dependencies on included files, and rebuilds as much of your document as needed to reflect those changes.
Another neat feature is that it knows about things like bibtex, and runs the appropriate commands.
| 10 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/60 | 76 | 44 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/53 | 72 | As opposed to LaTeX, which is addressed in another question.
Most of the references I've seen get too complex too quickly. I'm looking for something that gives me a top-down view of the language - what the parts of a document are and how (and when) each is processed before proceeding to infinite detail like character classes (e.g.). Something heavily example-based, with real-world examples, would be helpful as well. I just find the language incredibly obscure and difficult to grok.
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/76 | What is the best way to learn TeX? | true | The TeXBook (by [Knuth himself](http://www-cs-faculty.stanford.edu/~uno/abcde.html)) is actually great! It starts with examples and explains clearly all the things starting from the simplest things that you're most likely to need, and goes sufficiently deep. It is a strange book in that it needs to be read in multiple passes, but you can do it. It's worth reading, especially since it also gives you insights that can be later crucial — into typography, why Knuth made the choices he made, and other issues about the internals of TeX.
| 37 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/48 | 78 | 45 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/64 | 151 | A lot of people write makefiles that say something like
```
paper.pdf: paper.tex
pdflatex paper
bibtex paper
pdflatex paper
pdflatex paper
```
To handle re-running TeX to get new/changed references and so forth. Is there a better way to do this?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/60 | Tools for automating document compilation | false | I find GNU Make incredibly convenient for parsing. In vim I've mapped F2 to make, so when I've edited something I can just hit F2 and switch to evince to see it instantly.
Below is my `Makefile`, which also handles parsing graphviz files.
```
GRAPHS=overview_dot.pdf hello_dot.pdf
TARGET=something.pdf
TEXFILES=file1.tex file2.tex file3.tex
HELPFILES=
all: $(TARGET)
$(TARGET): out.pdf
mv out.pdf $(TARGET)
out.pdf: $(GRAPHS) $(TEXFILES) $(HELPFILES) Makefile
clean:
rm -rf *.aux *.log *.out *.toc *.eps *.data *~ $(GRAPHS) $(TARGET)
%.svg: %.dot
dot $*.dot -Tsvg -o $*.svg
%.png: %.dot
dot $*.dot -Tpng -o $*.png
%.ps: %.dot
dot $*.dot -Tps -o $*.ps
%_dot.pdf: %.dot
dot $*.dot -Tpdf -o $*_dot.pdf
%_neato.pdf: %.dot
neato $*.dot -Tpdf -o $*_neato.pdf
%_circo.pdf: %.dot
circo $*.dot -Tpdf -o $*_circo.pdf
%_dia.eps: %.dia
dia $*.dia -e $*_dia.eps
%_eps.pdf: %.eps
epstopdf $*.eps -o $*_eps.pdf
%.pdf: %.tex
pdflatex $*.tex
pdflatex $*.tex
pdflatex $*.tex
```
| 13 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/4 | 81 | 46 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/55 | 55 | For some complicated diagrams, I need to use something like Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape, and would like to include nicely typeset labels. (I'm aware of post-processing solutions, such as pinlabel.) One way to do this is to use a closely-matching font, and then convert fonts to outlines. Better, however, would be to use Computer Modern directly in Illustrator.
**Where can I find a Computer Modern font compatible with Adobe Illustrator?**
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/77 | Where can I find computer modern fonts for use in other programs, e.g. Adobe Illustrator? | false | They are available in [TrueType](http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/fonts/cm/ps-type1/bakoma/ttf/) and [OpenType](http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/fonts/cm/ps-type1/bakoma/otf/) formats through the BaKoMa distribution.
| 9 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/80 | 83 | 47 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/77 | 63 | I have a preamble that I copy and paste into nearly all of my documents. Is there a nice way to turn this into a package than I can use? I would prefer to do this in a way that doesn't depend on my Latex front end or compiler, so I can just `\usepackage{coolpreamble}`. This would also be useful for distributing to others to keep a standard LaTeX format amongst my research group.
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/84 | How to make a standard preamble into a package | false | The easiest way would be to put it into a `.sty` file, and then having the other people simply include it. Admittedly, this is a bit of a hack, and you can be more sophisticated with it.
I recommend you look at another style file to kind of see the layout, like how to declare the package, etc.
| 3 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/59 | 84 | 48 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/49 | 257 | I know LaTeX and I've heard that LaTeX is a set of macros in TeX.
But what does it exactly mean?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/69 | What is the difference between TeX and LaTeX? | true | TeX is both a program (which does the typesetting, [tex-core](/questions/tagged/tex-core "show questions tagged 'tex-core'")) and format (a set of macros that the engine uses, [plain-tex](/questions/tagged/plain-tex "show questions tagged 'plain-tex'")). Looked at in either way, TeX gives you the basics only. If you read the source for *The TeXBook*, you'll see that Knuth wrote more macros to be able to typeset the book, and made a format for that.
LaTeX is a generalised set of macros to let you do many things. Most people don't want to have to program TeX, especially to set up things like sections, title pages, bibliographies and so on. LaTeX provides all of that: these are the 'macros' that it is made up of.
| 197 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/73 | 85 | 49 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/45 | 105 | The slowest part is a dozen of diagrams in `TikZ.`
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/69 | How to speed up LaTeX compilation with several TikZ pictures? | true | Read section 52, "Externalizing Graphics", of the [PGF manual `v3.1.9a`](http://mirrors.ctan.org/graphics/pgf/base/doc/pgfmanual.pdf).
| 59 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/77 | 86 | 50 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/64 | 151 | A lot of people write makefiles that say something like
```
paper.pdf: paper.tex
pdflatex paper
bibtex paper
pdflatex paper
pdflatex paper
```
To handle re-running TeX to get new/changed references and so forth. Is there a better way to do this?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/60 | Tools for automating document compilation | false | There is a tool named [Rubber](https://launchpad.net/rubber/). It is for instance used by Gedit LaTeX plugin. It should recognize which tools to run (BibTeX, makeindex...) and run `(pdf)latex` and them in right order and how many times it is needed to converge to the ready file. It behaves like make, i.e. it does not recreate files that it thinks won't change recompiled (this can be omitted by adding `-f` option).
Compiling to dvi:
```
rubber filename.tex
```
Compiling to pdf:
```
rubber --pdf filename.tex
```
Cleaning compilation debris:
```
rubber --clean filename.tex
```
| 36 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/nan | 87 | 51 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/80 | 562 | If you have a TeX'ed resume, did you use a template or make your own? Are there any useful packages? What looks the most professional? How about special considerations for different areas of work (e.g. in academia)?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/8 | LaTeX template for resume/curriculum vitae | false | There are lots of resume examples here with source: <http://rpi.edu/dept/arc/training/latex/resumes/>.
Google can show a thousand other examples, but that's a good place to start.
| 71 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/59 | 88 | 52 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/80 | 562 | If you have a TeX'ed resume, did you use a template or make your own? Are there any useful packages? What looks the most professional? How about special considerations for different areas of work (e.g. in academia)?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/8 | LaTeX template for resume/curriculum vitae | false | For my current CV, I ended up using **[moderncv](http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/moderncv/)**. It doesn’t have many features but it is very easy to use and yields a very elegant output.
However, I also want to mention its drawbacks: customising it isn’t easy, especially since it doesn’t really use a clean, semantic markup. For example, to specify multi-column properties, you actually need to specify the items in an odd order (namely line by line instead of column wise).
| 224 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/42 | 89 | 53 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/82 | 2 |
>
> **Possible Duplicate:**
>
> [Tools for automating document compilation](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/64/tools-for-automating-document-compilation)
>
>
>
How do I handle building complicated and large LaTeX projects?
Is there a makefile system (like GNU Make) or should I just write my own shell scripts (what I'm doing now)?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/39 | Is there a makefile system for LaTeX, etc? | false | [LaTeXMk](http://tug.ctan.org/cgi-bin/ctanPackageInformation.py?id=latexmk) is a Pearl script that is very intelligent about different TeX systems, whether or not you need `bibtex` or `mkindex` run, how many times to run it, etc.
Give it a shot!
| 4 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/17 | 90 | 54 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/70 | 105 | I've heard that with LuaTeX, you can embed Lua code in your document that work directly with TeX internals, making it possible to do several things that are hard to do with macros. What is a good specific example of stuff that you can accomplish easily with LuaTeX?
(I see [here](http://www.danielstender.com/granthinam/506/) that LuaLaTeX is already available on Debian testing, and you can write documents like:
```
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{luacode}
\begin{document}
A random number:
\begin{luacode}
tex.print(math.random())
\end{luacode}
\end{document}
```
resulting in something like
```
A random number: 0.135494265234
```
so I expect that other useful nontrivial things are possible.)
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/48 | What is a simple example of something you can do with LuaTeX? | false | Programming in TeX is quite complicated as it was never meant to be a general programming language (despite being Turing complete). Adding Lua makes a lot of programming jobs much easier. At the same time, the LuaTeX people are exposing the internals of TeX so they can be altered by Lua. This makes lots of clever stuff possible. Some of the best examples at the moment can be seen on the [ConTeXt wiki](http://wiki.contextgarden.net/), as ConTeXt and LuaTeX are very closely linked.
| 28 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/73 | 91 | 55 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/55 | 55 | For some complicated diagrams, I need to use something like Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape, and would like to include nicely typeset labels. (I'm aware of post-processing solutions, such as pinlabel.) One way to do this is to use a closely-matching font, and then convert fonts to outlines. Better, however, would be to use Computer Modern directly in Illustrator.
**Where can I find a Computer Modern font compatible with Adobe Illustrator?**
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/77 | Where can I find computer modern fonts for use in other programs, e.g. Adobe Illustrator? | false | Also see these [type 1](http://www.ams.org/publications/type1-fonts) fonts by the AMS.
| 3 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/59 | 92 | 56 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/13 | 32 | My experience at the present moment is restricted to Microsoft Word and is likely to remain for most of my collaborative work. However, for my individual authored documents I would like to use LaTeX. I am familiar with some tex notation but have not used LaTeX extensively.
In light of the above I was wondering what is the best way to make the transition from Word to LaTeX?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/nan | What is the best way to make the transition from Microsoft Word to LaTeX? | false | I think that the other answers here are quite good. But, they left out one thing which I think can cause a real problem for those new to LaTeX.
If you've used Word for more than a few minutes, you've likely got into the habit of saving your document quite often. That's a good habit, no matter the program you use to edit with. But, with LaTeX, you also really ought to get into the habit of *compiling* your document fairly often, too. You can really cut down on frustration that way. It is much easier to locate an error introduced in the last 5 minutes than it is one introduced in the last 5 hours!
| 10 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/93 | 94 | 57 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/82 | 2 |
>
> **Possible Duplicate:**
>
> [Tools for automating document compilation](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/64/tools-for-automating-document-compilation)
>
>
>
How do I handle building complicated and large LaTeX projects?
Is there a makefile system (like GNU Make) or should I just write my own shell scripts (what I'm doing now)?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/39 | Is there a makefile system for LaTeX, etc? | false | [rubber](http://www.pps.jussieu.fr/~beffara/soft/rubber/) is basically the `make` of LaTeX.
| 2 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/59 | 95 | 58 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/73 | 94 | Is there a way to programmatically determine which document class is in effect?
I'd like to be able to write conditional macros that behave differently depending on which document class is currently being used.
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/77 | Which document class is being used? | true | You want the LaTeX kernel function `\@ifclassloaded`:
```
\makeatletter%
\@ifclassloaded{<someclass>}%
{<true code>}%
{<false coode>}%
\makeatother%
```
| 104 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/73 | 97 | 59 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/13 | 32 | My experience at the present moment is restricted to Microsoft Word and is likely to remain for most of my collaborative work. However, for my individual authored documents I would like to use LaTeX. I am familiar with some tex notation but have not used LaTeX extensively.
In light of the above I was wondering what is the best way to make the transition from Word to LaTeX?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/nan | What is the best way to make the transition from Microsoft Word to LaTeX? | false | On Windows XP, I really enjoy using [TeXworks 0.2.3 (r0.466)](http://code.google.com/p/texworks/downloads/list), which provides with an editor window and a document preview window. Clicking in the document preview locates the edit mark at that TeX source corresponding to the clicked location.
I find this to be convenient for documents containing diagrams and many pages, when I have been used to working in an environment like Word.
TeXworks is open source and the fruit of the TeX Users Groups.
I've enjoyed learning LaTeX from [A Guide to LaTeX 2e, by Helmut Kopka and Patrick W. Daly](http://tinyurl.com/AmazonKopkaDaly), pictured below:
When I need to write a new document, I usually look at the TeX source for similar documents. For example, when I first needed a business letter, I started from an example business letter. Eventually, I have developed a TeX source which I `include` as the preamble of a business letter. This source applies my choices of style and is stored in a directory as its own file. Thus, if I want to change something about my business letter style, I can do so and change all of my future business letters when I compile them or when I recompile the old letters.
Similarly, when I create diagrams and figures, I create them in a file of their own. I then `include` the diagrams from their source file.
This is very different from Word, where the diagram or figure is essentially part of the text document. In particular, I am able to have more than one document include the same figure. For example, my article can contain a figure which is also shown on my poster. Because the diagram is rendered from the same source file in both cases, a change made to the diagram is immediately available in both documents.
With very long documents, it becomes useful to "factor" the document into chapters incorporated into the document via `include`. Then, the `include-only` command may be used during revisions to avoid recompiling any unchanged chapters.
| 5 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/94 | 98 | 60 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/93 | 18 | What do I need in order to use TeX on Windows as an eventual replacement for Word?
What software is available for Windows for WYSIWYG editing of TeX files?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/91 | What do I need in order to use TeX on Windows as an eventual replacement for Word? | true | [MiKTeX](http://miktex.org/) is a good bundle on Windows. It includes the LaTeX environment as well as an editor. Should be enough to get you started.
For WYSIWYG there is [Lyx](http://www.lyx.org/) (though they call it "What You See Is What You Mean"/[WYSIWYM](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WYSIWYM), not WYSIWYG).
| 16 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/4 | 99 | 61 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/13 | 32 | My experience at the present moment is restricted to Microsoft Word and is likely to remain for most of my collaborative work. However, for my individual authored documents I would like to use LaTeX. I am familiar with some tex notation but have not used LaTeX extensively.
In light of the above I was wondering what is the best way to make the transition from Word to LaTeX?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/nan | What is the best way to make the transition from Microsoft Word to LaTeX? | false | This is a mental tip more than a "how to do it" tip.
With Word, you have a constant feeling (or most do) to change the way things look, the fonts, the size, alignment, bla bla bla. With LaTeX, *especially when beginning to learn*, I would avoid trying to "micromanage" your document. (La)TeX is intended to be written *semantically*: if you want emphasis, you should write `\emph{text}` and not `\CommandForItalicText{text}`. A lot of people also complain about how default LaTeX classes are not good enough looking (margins too big, etc.). Until you have a good grasp on how things work generally, and the basic constructs, then I would begin to play around with styling and all that.
| 8 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/59 | 103 | 62 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/47 | 31 | In what applications doesn't LaTeX give you much?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/69 | When does it make sense to use TeX only and skip LaTeX? | false | The great advantage of LaTeX(2e) over TeX is that content and formatting are well separated. This allows for logical markup, which improves the organisation of the document and allows you to make global changes to the "look" without affecting the content.
Hence if you want to exert total typographical control over the document, go for TeX, but if the document is in any way structurally complex, go for LaTeX.
| 17 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/18 | 104 | 63 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/11 | 383 | Which book (free or otherwise) was the most useful to you when you started learning LaTeX?
I am frequently asked this question by friends who want to learn LaTeX, and I recommend the book which got me started, [The Not So Short Introduction to LaTeX2ε](http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/info/lshort/english/lshort.pdf), but I feel that there might be better options around.
Also see [LaTeX Introductions in languages other than English](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/84384/latex-introductions-in-languages-other-than-english).
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/14 | What are good learning resources for a LaTeX beginner? | false | The Not So Short Introduction to LaTeX that the question references is good, but when first learning LaTeX, I found Peter Flynn's [Formatting information](http://latex.silmaril.ie/formattinginformation/) a very useful supplement.
| 20 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/93 | 105 | 64 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/66 | 89 | This is a community wiki since there is no "one true answer"- if you find an answer that contains a lot of your choices, but is missing something you feel is incredibly useful. Feel free to add it. A short description of what topics the reference covers would be nice as well.
Organize by subject please.
For example: I always keep the following PDFs at my fingertips.
### Document Layout
* [The Memoir manual](http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/memoir/): Covers, in exquisite detail, how to produce just about any document using the `memoir` LaTeX class. ([PDF](http://tug.ctan.org/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/memoir/memman.pdf) 4.5 MB)
### Mathematical Typesetting
* [Math Mode](http://tug.ctan.org/obsolete/info/math/voss/mathmode/): A document by Herbert Voß that explains how to typeset just about any mathematical expression in LaTeX. ([PDF](http://tug.ctan.org/obsolete/info/math/voss/mathmode/Mathmode.pdf) 2 MB)
### Graphics
* [The PGF Manual](https://ctan.org/pkg/pgf): Explains, with examples, how to draw just about any figure using PGF/TikZ. Also a good example of what awesome documentation should look like. ([PDF](http://mirror.macomnet.net/pub/CTAN/graphics/pgf/base/doc/pgfmanual.pdf) 9.5 MB)
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/17 | Which manuals are on your "TeX Reference" shelf? | false | I don't keep a local copy, but I usually find that [the LaTeX WikiBook](http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/LaTeX "the LaTeX WikiBook") has most of the answers for my everyday questions.
| 9 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/nan | 106 | 65 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/45 | 105 | The slowest part is a dozen of diagrams in `TikZ.`
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/69 | How to speed up LaTeX compilation with several TikZ pictures? | false | You can try creating a [Precompiled Preamble (Wayback machine snapshot)](https://web.archive.org/web/20150326041620/http://magic.aladdin.cs.cmu.edu/2007/11/02/precompiled-preamble-for-latex/) or "format" for your document. This technique basically caches all the computations that LaTeX does when processing the preamble which is the stuff before `\begin{document}`. If your packages, macro definitions, etc are not changing it can produce a noticeable savings in time.
### Update
Just noticed the reference to TikZ- in this case [Scott's suggestion](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/45/how-can-i-speed-up-latex-compilation/86#86) is the most pertinent.
### Update 2:
The [mylatexformat](http://www.ctan.org/pkg/mylatexformat) package can aid in creating and using format files.
---
See also [Speeding up compilation using precompiled preamble with LuaTeX](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/114742/speeding-up-compilation-using-precompiled-preamble-with-luatex)
| 22 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/17 | 107 | 66 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/77 | 63 | I have a preamble that I copy and paste into nearly all of my documents. Is there a nice way to turn this into a package than I can use? I would prefer to do this in a way that doesn't depend on my Latex front end or compiler, so I can just `\usepackage{coolpreamble}`. This would also be useful for distributing to others to keep a standard LaTeX format amongst my research group.
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/84 | How to make a standard preamble into a package | true | You can put your preamble code into a `.sty` file and then use `\usepackage{mystyle}` to load it. Your `.sty` file will look like this:
```
% Declare that this style file requires at least LaTeX version 2e.
\NeedsTeXFormat{LaTeX2e}
% Provide the name of your page, the date it was last updated, and a comment about what it's used for
\ProvidesPackage{mystyle}[2010/07/28 BBischof's custom LaTeX style]
% Now paste your code from the preamble here
% Finally, we'll use \endinput to indicate that LaTeX can stop reading this file. LaTeX will ignore anything after this line.
\endinput
```
Note that style files can get much more complicated (if you want to include options like `\usepackage[option]{mystyle}`, etc.), but this basic format should get you started.
Save your file as `mystyle.sty` and put it in the current directory with your `.tex` file.
You can also take a look at the [LaTeX2e for class and package writers](http://www.latex-project.org/guides/clsguide.pdf) guide which also available on [ctan](https://ctan.org/pkg/clsguide). It'll walk you through this in more detail.
| 62 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/80 | 108 | 67 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/48 | 44 | The preambles of my LaTeX documents often include many many lines of `\DeclareMathOperator` instructions, e.g.
```
\DeclareMathOperator{\Rep}{Rep}
\DeclareMathOperator{\Tet}{Tet}
\DeclareMathOperator{\Maps}{Maps}
\DeclareMathOperator{\Diff}{Diff}
```
Is there a nice way to *map* some macro over a list, so I could do this more concisely, and with less copying and pasting when I add a new math operator?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/77 | How can I specify a long list of math operators? | false | Not quite what you're looking for, but I'd probably write the quick hack:
```
\newcommand{\OP}[1]{\DeclareMathOperator{#1}}
\OP{Rep}
\OP{Tet}
```
and so forth. Moreover if I were to use these a lot, I'd just write them once and include them anywhere.
| 1 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/59 | 110 | 68 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/77 | 63 | I have a preamble that I copy and paste into nearly all of my documents. Is there a nice way to turn this into a package than I can use? I would prefer to do this in a way that doesn't depend on my Latex front end or compiler, so I can just `\usepackage{coolpreamble}`. This would also be useful for distributing to others to keep a standard LaTeX format amongst my research group.
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/84 | How to make a standard preamble into a package | false | I’d say: don’t. There’s a plethora of `thesis.sty` packages on the web and I think they all miss one important point:
This is what classes are there for, not packages. So if you find yourself reusing the same preamble, chances are it’s for the same kind of documents. In that case, don’t make a package out of it – make a class.
The differences are minimal:
* You need to call your file `<foo>.cls` instead of `<foo>.sty`
* You (most probably) need to load a base class inside your class using `\LoadClass`
* You load the class via `\documentclass` at the beginning of your documents, instead of using `\usepackage`.
| 47 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/42 | 111 | 69 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/66 | 89 | This is a community wiki since there is no "one true answer"- if you find an answer that contains a lot of your choices, but is missing something you feel is incredibly useful. Feel free to add it. A short description of what topics the reference covers would be nice as well.
Organize by subject please.
For example: I always keep the following PDFs at my fingertips.
### Document Layout
* [The Memoir manual](http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/memoir/): Covers, in exquisite detail, how to produce just about any document using the `memoir` LaTeX class. ([PDF](http://tug.ctan.org/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/memoir/memman.pdf) 4.5 MB)
### Mathematical Typesetting
* [Math Mode](http://tug.ctan.org/obsolete/info/math/voss/mathmode/): A document by Herbert Voß that explains how to typeset just about any mathematical expression in LaTeX. ([PDF](http://tug.ctan.org/obsolete/info/math/voss/mathmode/Mathmode.pdf) 2 MB)
### Graphics
* [The PGF Manual](https://ctan.org/pkg/pgf): Explains, with examples, how to draw just about any figure using PGF/TikZ. Also a good example of what awesome documentation should look like. ([PDF](http://mirror.macomnet.net/pub/CTAN/graphics/pgf/base/doc/pgfmanual.pdf) 9.5 MB)
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/17 | Which manuals are on your "TeX Reference" shelf? | false | I normally don't care much for actual physical references, but [The LaTeX Companion](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0201362996) is fantastic; it covers everything in LaTeX, and quite a few of the more popular packages
| 23 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/29 | 112 | 70 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/47 | 31 | In what applications doesn't LaTeX give you much?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/69 | When does it make sense to use TeX only and skip LaTeX? | false | TeX is also useful if you are generating code. To compile a piece of TeX, you don't need to have all these preamble stuff. You can simply have `$x^2$ \bye` and it will compile.
| 21 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/59 | 113 | 71 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/66 | 89 | This is a community wiki since there is no "one true answer"- if you find an answer that contains a lot of your choices, but is missing something you feel is incredibly useful. Feel free to add it. A short description of what topics the reference covers would be nice as well.
Organize by subject please.
For example: I always keep the following PDFs at my fingertips.
### Document Layout
* [The Memoir manual](http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/memoir/): Covers, in exquisite detail, how to produce just about any document using the `memoir` LaTeX class. ([PDF](http://tug.ctan.org/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/memoir/memman.pdf) 4.5 MB)
### Mathematical Typesetting
* [Math Mode](http://tug.ctan.org/obsolete/info/math/voss/mathmode/): A document by Herbert Voß that explains how to typeset just about any mathematical expression in LaTeX. ([PDF](http://tug.ctan.org/obsolete/info/math/voss/mathmode/Mathmode.pdf) 2 MB)
### Graphics
* [The PGF Manual](https://ctan.org/pkg/pgf): Explains, with examples, how to draw just about any figure using PGF/TikZ. Also a good example of what awesome documentation should look like. ([PDF](http://mirror.macomnet.net/pub/CTAN/graphics/pgf/base/doc/pgfmanual.pdf) 9.5 MB)
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/17 | Which manuals are on your "TeX Reference" shelf? | false | I have to say I tend to 'texdoc <package>' for most of my requirements. Tikz and beamer feature quite heavily, and as a programmer 'TeX by Topic' is hard to beat.
| 22 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/73 | 114 | 72 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/93 | 18 | What do I need in order to use TeX on Windows as an eventual replacement for Word?
What software is available for Windows for WYSIWYG editing of TeX files?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/91 | What do I need in order to use TeX on Windows as an eventual replacement for Word? | false | Once you have miktex installed, there are two different latex IDEs you can use. [TexNICcenter](http://www.texniccenter.org/) is a nice freeware package and [WinEdt](http://www.winedt.com/) is shareware but is also quite decent.
Both of these are more customizable than TeXWorks (the default editor that comes with miktex)
| 3 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/103 | 115 | 73 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/46 | 36 | I want to use a really cool open-source OpenType font with my LaTeX document.
I was told that either I could go through a long process of converting the OpenType font to one useable by LaTeX, or I should instead switch to using XeTeX.
**Is there a way for me to use an unmodified OpenType font with my LaTeX document (and existing LaTeX installation)?**
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/39 | How do I use an OpenType font with my LaTeX document? | false | You should definitely switch to XeTeX if you want to do that. Fonts are (and as far as I can see, will always be) a pain to use with LaTeX by itself.
| 3 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/59 | 116 | 74 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/47 | 31 | In what applications doesn't LaTeX give you much?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/69 | When does it make sense to use TeX only and skip LaTeX? | true | If you have a simple document, with precise layout requirements, then TeX can be a more direct solution, because there are fewer things to 'turn off'. The convenient features of LaTeX -- the ones that make it massively more useful than TeX in most cases -- are implemented via sometimes rather arcane logic, which can get in the way of your desire for a box to go *here, dammit!*
For example, I remember once producing a set of auto-numbered tickets, eight to a sheet, for some event. They had (if I do say so myself) a rather elegantly sparse design. Using TeX probably wasn't the wisest technology choice for that, but doing it in LaTeX would have resulted in rather more hair being torn out.
On another occasion, I wanted to produce a short booklet of simple texts (that is, no maths, tables, figures, and so on). I had a very clear idea of my intended layout, and it wasn't planned to be generalisable. I got exactly what I wanted, reasonably quickly and unhackily, using XeTeX, in combination with some nice platform fonts.
| 29 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/96 | 117 | 75 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/77 | 63 | I have a preamble that I copy and paste into nearly all of my documents. Is there a nice way to turn this into a package than I can use? I would prefer to do this in a way that doesn't depend on my Latex front end or compiler, so I can just `\usepackage{coolpreamble}`. This would also be useful for distributing to others to keep a standard LaTeX format amongst my research group.
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/84 | How to make a standard preamble into a package | false | Putting your preamble in a `.sty` file, and changing `\usepackage` statements to `RequirePackage`, and closing off the file with `\endinput` is the most straightforward way.
It is important to realize that in a style file `@` is a letter, meaning that it can be used in commands. So if you have code in your preamble between a `\makeatletter` and `\makeatother` pair, you can leave out these two commands in the `.sty` file.
Now, if you want to go a step further, you can specify what format is needed, a name and description of the package using `\NeedsTeXFormat` and `\ProvidesPackage`. Furthermore, you can define package options and process them using `\DeclareOption` and `\ProcessOptions`, but if you go that far, either learn from looking in well-made `.sty` files on CTAN or have a look at [LaTeX2e for class and package writers](http://www.latex-project.org/guides/clsguide.pdf).
| 12 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/87 | 118 | 76 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/93 | 18 | What do I need in order to use TeX on Windows as an eventual replacement for Word?
What software is available for Windows for WYSIWYG editing of TeX files?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/91 | What do I need in order to use TeX on Windows as an eventual replacement for Word? | false | You can install the [Texlive](http://tug.org/texlive/) distribution and an editor such as TeXniccenter or even Emacs+Auctex.
| 1 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/104 | 119 | 77 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/48 | 44 | The preambles of my LaTeX documents often include many many lines of `\DeclareMathOperator` instructions, e.g.
```
\DeclareMathOperator{\Rep}{Rep}
\DeclareMathOperator{\Tet}{Tet}
\DeclareMathOperator{\Maps}{Maps}
\DeclareMathOperator{\Diff}{Diff}
```
Is there a nice way to *map* some macro over a list, so I could do this more concisely, and with less copying and pasting when I add a new math operator?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/77 | How can I specify a long list of math operators? | false | Put the whole list of unabbreviated `\DeclareMathOperator` macros in a file `myoperators.sty`, somewhere in your latex path (I suggest `~/tex/`). Then add `\usepackage{myoperators}` at the top of any `.tex` file that uses those operators.
Do this for any macro you use more than once.
| 3 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/105 | 120 | 78 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/102 | 49 | Normally, I'm basically OK with BibTeX's choice of citation key (by which I mean, the short symbol it shows in the final document, like [2] or [Hil05], not the one one types in the tex file), but every once in a while there's a paper that cries out for a particular key (such as the paper of Freyd, Hoste, Lickorish, Millet, Ocneano and Yetter in which the HOMFLY polynomial is defined clearly should have the key [HOMFLY], not [FHL+95]), or BibTeX picks a particularly bad one.
*In these cases, is there a field one can insert into the bibtex entry to override the key choice, or something one can do other than editing the .bbl file?*
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/37 | Can one "manually override" BibTeX's choice of citation keys by adding a field to the entry? | false | There's actually a pretty good answer over at Stack Overflow: [Is there a way to override a bibtex style file for a particular entry?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1982075/is-there-a-way-to-override-a-bibtex-style-file-for-a-particular-entry).
The fact that the programming language BibTeX style files (.bst) are written in is called BAFLL may alert you to the fact that this sort of problem is a pain to deal with.
| 9 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/77 | 122 | 79 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/100 | 73 | Is there something like `indent` for LaTeX? I have a collaborator that is using Scientific Workplace and the code it produces is totally messed up; I know I shouldn't expect miracles, but any machine support would be useful.
EDIT: This question is quite undefined without my comment to KeithB's answer; the idea is to save VC-friendly one sentence/one paragraph per text file line structure which SWT "fixes" by wrapping everything into fixed column width format.
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/nan | Tool for cleaning LaTeX code | false | I use `M-q` in emacs. It does a good enough job of indenting and splitting long lines.
Be careful if you are using a source code repository to collaborate on your documents (you should be). If you reformat the document each time you edit it, and Scientific Workplace does the same, it will become impossible to see what has changed between versions, or to merge changes.
Edit: Also see the answers to this question: [How can you use latex to write a document with other people?](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/232/how-can-you-use-latex-to-write-a-document-with-other-people)
| 10 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/16 | 123 | 80 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/100 | 73 | Is there something like `indent` for LaTeX? I have a collaborator that is using Scientific Workplace and the code it produces is totally messed up; I know I shouldn't expect miracles, but any machine support would be useful.
EDIT: This question is quite undefined without my comment to KeithB's answer; the idea is to save VC-friendly one sentence/one paragraph per text file line structure which SWT "fixes" by wrapping everything into fixed column width format.
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/nan | Tool for cleaning LaTeX code | false | The wonderful [AUCTeX](http://www.gnu.org/software/auctex/) provides a command LaTeX-fill-environment that will (mostly) fix up the indentation of regions of or the entirety of a LaTeX source file. AUCTeX is an emacs package though. So, while a must have for the emacs using LaTeX'er, it isn't much help if you don't use emacs.
| 19 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/93 | 124 | 81 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/11 | 383 | Which book (free or otherwise) was the most useful to you when you started learning LaTeX?
I am frequently asked this question by friends who want to learn LaTeX, and I recommend the book which got me started, [The Not So Short Introduction to LaTeX2ε](http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/info/lshort/english/lshort.pdf), but I feel that there might be better options around.
Also see [LaTeX Introductions in languages other than English](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/84384/latex-introductions-in-languages-other-than-english).
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/14 | What are good learning resources for a LaTeX beginner? | false | I recommend Peter Flynn's [Formatting Information](http://latex.silmaril.ie/formattinginformation/) to people -- it seems to have the right pace and style for many, being well-written and reasonably brisk.
Another (unusual) advantage is that it's more sympathetic towards humanities users than many introductions.
| 13 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/96 | 125 | 82 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/102 | 49 | Normally, I'm basically OK with BibTeX's choice of citation key (by which I mean, the short symbol it shows in the final document, like [2] or [Hil05], not the one one types in the tex file), but every once in a while there's a paper that cries out for a particular key (such as the paper of Freyd, Hoste, Lickorish, Millet, Ocneano and Yetter in which the HOMFLY polynomial is defined clearly should have the key [HOMFLY], not [FHL+95]), or BibTeX picks a particularly bad one.
*In these cases, is there a field one can insert into the bibtex entry to override the key choice, or something one can do other than editing the .bbl file?*
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/37 | Can one "manually override" BibTeX's choice of citation keys by adding a field to the entry? | false | Alternatively, you can modify your `.bbl` file by hand. You could even use `sed` to automatically make the desired change after each time you regenerate the `.bbl` file using BibTeX --- I can show you the details if you like (ask a new question?).
| 5 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/77 | 126 | 83 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/121 | 8 | I've been toying with the idea of switching over from `Xy-pic` to `TikZ` for all of my diagramming needs, but one feature that's very important to me is the ability to create 2-categorical pasting diagrams (like the ones in Wikipedia's entry on [2-categories](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-category)), as I can with `Xy-pic`'s "twocell" commands (which, incidentally, I find to be a huge pain to deal with). How do I do these in `TikZ`? I'd be happy with just a reference to the relevant commands or an `arXiv` paper with good examples.
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/101 | How do I create pasting diagrams in TikZ? | false | Would commutative diagrams work equivalently well? If so, see [this](http://www.jmilne.org/not/CDGuide.pdf) and [this](http://www.felixl.de/commu.pdf). The TikZ `matrix` "environment" is a good place to look also.
| 2 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/59 | 127 | 84 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/11 | 383 | Which book (free or otherwise) was the most useful to you when you started learning LaTeX?
I am frequently asked this question by friends who want to learn LaTeX, and I recommend the book which got me started, [The Not So Short Introduction to LaTeX2ε](http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/info/lshort/english/lshort.pdf), but I feel that there might be better options around.
Also see [LaTeX Introductions in languages other than English](https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/84384/latex-introductions-in-languages-other-than-english).
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/14 | What are good learning resources for a LaTeX beginner? | false | I found Lamport's [Latex: a document preparation system](http://books.google.com/books?id=khVUAAAAMAAJ&q=inauthor%3a%22Leslie+Lamport%22&dq=inauthor%3a%22Leslie+Lamport%22&hl=en&ei=P55RTLfWC5SJnQf40_H1Ag&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAg) the best book for learning LaTeX
| 13 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/104 | 128 | 85 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/129 | 45 | I'd like to include some basic math equations into a webpage. Is there an easy way of either compiling the LaTeX into an image which I can upload, or else of having the browser parse the code?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/68 | Embedding LaTeX equations into a webpage | false | [jsMath](http://www.math.union.edu/~dpvc/jsMath/) and its successor [MathJax](http://www.mathjax.org/) are JavaScript libraries which provide client side rendering of LaTeX formulas. (jsMath is what MathOverflow uses to render LaTeX.)
| 32 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/52 | 130 | 86 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/129 | 45 | I'd like to include some basic math equations into a webpage. Is there an easy way of either compiling the LaTeX into an image which I can upload, or else of having the browser parse the code?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/68 | Embedding LaTeX equations into a webpage | false | [Google Charts](http://code.google.com/apis/chart/) has an output format for LaTeX:
If you prefer client-side rendering, [jsmath](http://www.math.union.edu/~dpvc/jsMath/) is popular (and the system used on [MathOverflow](https://mathoverflow.net/faq#latex))
| 11 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/29 | 131 | 87 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/129 | 45 | I'd like to include some basic math equations into a webpage. Is there an easy way of either compiling the LaTeX into an image which I can upload, or else of having the browser parse the code?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/68 | Embedding LaTeX equations into a webpage | true | [mathURL](http://mathurl.com/) is pretty cool. It's specifically for mathematics though.
| 14 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/4 | 132 | 88 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/133 | 73 | I've got data that I need to include in a table, but there's a lot if it. I've played with the font size and table formatting as much as I can, but the table still won't fit on the page. Is there anyway to make a table that spans multiple pages with LaTeX?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/93 | How can I make a table that takes up more than a single page? | true | Use the [`longtable`](http://ctan.org/pkg/longtable) package (see also the [documentation](http://texdoc.net/pkg/longtable)).
| 61 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/93 | 134 | 89 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/129 | 45 | I'd like to include some basic math equations into a webpage. Is there an easy way of either compiling the LaTeX into an image which I can upload, or else of having the browser parse the code?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/68 | Embedding LaTeX equations into a webpage | false | * [mimetex](http://www.forkosh.com/mimetex.html) is a very simple way to have equations automatically rendered from (La)TeX source, and even includes a rudimentary picture environment. It also is dynamic, so images are generated on the fly.
* [jsmath](http://www.math.union.edu/~dpvc/jsMath/) is a very good javascript option. The rendering is excellent but requires fonts (for good output) on the user's end.
There are other solutions but I think these are the easiest/best.
| 1 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/59 | 135 | 90 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/15 | 149 | What's the best strategy for spell checking LaTeX documents?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/55 | Spell checking LaTeX documents | false | There's a reasonable on-line spell-checker at [Micro Spell](http://www.microspell.com/fixmytypos.html).
| 6 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/106 | 136 | 91 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/129 | 45 | I'd like to include some basic math equations into a webpage. Is there an easy way of either compiling the LaTeX into an image which I can upload, or else of having the browser parse the code?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/68 | Embedding LaTeX equations into a webpage | false | If you are using a Mac, [LaTeXit](http://chachatelier.fr/programmation/latexit_en.php) is a great utility that lets you type in a bit of latex (intended for equations, but it will work with valid latex), runs latex of it and produces an image. It embeds the latex in the image, so of you open the image latter, you can edit the latex. This means you don't need a bunch of tiny .tex files laying around.
| 4 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/16 | 137 | 92 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/138 | 236 | Often, TeX outputs underfull hbox and vbox warnings when running and in the generated log file. What are these and how can I get rid of them?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/87 | What are underfull hboxes and vboxes and how can I get rid of them? | false | An underfull hbox means LaTeX couldn't space the line wide enough to fill the entire width of the page, without increasing word spacing beyond the allowed maximum; the opposite is an overfull hbox, where a line couldn't be broken and extends past the edge of the printable area. Usually it happens if you forced a linebreak yourself (with `\\`), so if you avoid doing that this should be pretty rare (other causes are weird tabular environments or forced blank lines)
| 51 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/29 | 139 | 93 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/138 | 236 | Often, TeX outputs underfull hbox and vbox warnings when running and in the generated log file. What are these and how can I get rid of them?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/87 | What are underfull hboxes and vboxes and how can I get rid of them? | false | Typically `\\` will cause this because you have a blank line with no content (where the TeX algorithm expects content). You could get rid of those and space correctly (if you want extra space between paragraphs, use, e.g., `\setlength{\parskip}{6pt}`). It also can occur when you have a really long object in a paragraph that is not enough to fill it completely (hence "underfull"). Lastly, in some cases, if you have really long words, the TeX algorithm has a difficult time finding a proper way to justify the paragraph without having underfull boxes (the text doesn't meet the very end of the line). You can avoid this by using some shorter words or rewriting some stuff to accommodate the algorithm.
| 23 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/59 | 140 | 94 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/141 | 38 | When I run my LaTeX document through `pdflatex`, some of the pages (the ones where figures appear) have all the text bolded. Why, and what can I do to make it stop?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/112 | Why are some pages in my PDF coming out bold? | false | This may just be your PDF viewer that acting strangely. Even though PDF files are supposedly seen as you would get them, there are some differences in how it looks on screen and on paper.
Back when I was using Windows with Adobe Reader, sometimes scrolling past a page and then back it again would get rid of this "boldness".
| 5 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/4 | 144 | 95 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/141 | 38 | When I run my LaTeX document through `pdflatex`, some of the pages (the ones where figures appear) have all the text bolded. Why, and what can I do to make it stop?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/112 | Why are some pages in my PDF coming out bold? | false | To prime the answer pump with something else I observed: It appears to be a bug in pdflatex stemming from the handling of images with transparency; converting the PNG images to PDFs seems to fix the problem whenever it crops up.
| 3 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/112 | 145 | 96 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/129 | 45 | I'd like to include some basic math equations into a webpage. Is there an easy way of either compiling the LaTeX into an image which I can upload, or else of having the browser parse the code?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/68 | Embedding LaTeX equations into a webpage | false | [CodeCogs](http://www.codecogs.com/latex/eqneditor.php) turns LaTeX into the picture format of your choice and hosts it. They do ask for money if you are going to be hitting them more than a few thousand times a day, though.
[This meta topic](https://tex.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/7/we-need-tex-markup) is essentially the same question.
| 1 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/70 | 146 | 97 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/143 | 152 | When working with **Bibtex**, manually transferring the **citation information** for articles, prooceedings, books, etc. can be a tedious work. Some web sites provide citations in Bibtex format. What are your favorite sites to get Bibtex citations of your used references?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/46 | What are good sites to find citations in BibTex format? | false | Many scientific journals have readily available bibtex references available on their websites.
Here is a random one I found on ACM for instance:
<http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1291536&jmp=cit&coll=ACM&dl=ACM&CFID=96100051&CFTOKEN=92185154#>
| 3 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/4 | 147 | 98 |
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/142 | 593 | Sometimes, I want to have enumerate lists in LaTeX start at other than the first value (1, a, i, etc.) How can I make an enumerate list start at an arbitrary value?
| https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/93 | How can I make an enumerate list start at something other than 1? | true | You can change the counter named `enumi`, like this:
```
\begin{enumerate}
\setcounter{enumi}{4}
\item fifth element
\end{enumerate}
```
(If you have lists at deeper levels of nesting, the relevant counters are `enumii`, `enumiii` and `enumiv`.)
| 709 | https://tex.stackexchange.com/users/48 | 149 | 99 |
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