LaTeX - Love and Hate Continues
Friday, December 14, 2007 Permanent link to this post
As the title indicates - my love/hate relationship with LaTeX continues. For the uninitiated - LaTeX is a document preparation system that relies on explicit commands rather than the WYSIWYG interface of word-processors like MS-Word. More about LaTeX is available here. I have written many times about LaTeX - Click Here for my previous LaTeX related posts.
After really trying very hard to use LaTeX for all my writing needs, I had to give up because using LaTeX for day to day activities was getting too tedious - and many software I need for my writing (like EndNotes for reference management) are not compatible with LaTeX. Well - so I thought! Recently, I had to make a few documents for my job search - and I was just not satisfied with the quality of the output I got with MS-Word. I converted the document into LaTeX - and voila! the documents came out just so much better. Here is the proof: click here for the LaTeX document - and ask yourself if you could get the same look and feel in MS-Word! I could not.
So here is my compromise status - when I need to create documents where quality is most important - I am using LaTeX; and when I need to make documents quickly and use specialized software like EndNotes - I am going to use MS-Word. Now - the template you use has a tremendous impact on the quality of LaTeX documents - and I have had to spend a lot of time tweaking my LaTeX templates to get them just right for the Letter page size most commonly used in US. If you are looking for a decent LaTeX template - look not further - here is the LaTeX file for the document linked above. This file will create one inch margins on all sides for a Latter size paper. Note that this template is made for using "pdflatex" command that directly makes .pdf files.
I had once made a small button/icon for supporting LaTeX on my website. Please feel free to copy it and use it on your site if you find it useful:
On the subject of buttons - here is one for the statistical system R - again - feel free to use it on your website:
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After really trying very hard to use LaTeX for all my writing needs, I had to give up because using LaTeX for day to day activities was getting too tedious - and many software I need for my writing (like EndNotes for reference management) are not compatible with LaTeX. Well - so I thought! Recently, I had to make a few documents for my job search - and I was just not satisfied with the quality of the output I got with MS-Word. I converted the document into LaTeX - and voila! the documents came out just so much better. Here is the proof: click here for the LaTeX document - and ask yourself if you could get the same look and feel in MS-Word! I could not.
So here is my compromise status - when I need to create documents where quality is most important - I am using LaTeX; and when I need to make documents quickly and use specialized software like EndNotes - I am going to use MS-Word. Now - the template you use has a tremendous impact on the quality of LaTeX documents - and I have had to spend a lot of time tweaking my LaTeX templates to get them just right for the Letter page size most commonly used in US. If you are looking for a decent LaTeX template - look not further - here is the LaTeX file for the document linked above. This file will create one inch margins on all sides for a Latter size paper. Note that this template is made for using "pdflatex" command that directly makes .pdf files.
I had once made a small button/icon for supporting LaTeX on my website. Please feel free to copy it and use it on your site if you find it useful:
On the subject of buttons - here is one for the statistical system R - again - feel free to use it on your website:
Labels: LaTeX
Giving Up on LaTeX
Saturday, April 21, 2007 Permanent link to this post
I am a huge fan of LaTeX (especially on Emacs). I love the output generated by LaTeX and I would have been so happy continuing to write my research papers and dissertation in LaTeX - but alas - that is not to be. First of all, Information Systems research conferences ask for submission in MS-Word format - no exception. Secondly, now that I am handling large numbers of references and a huge pdf document library for my dissertation, I can not escape using EndNote for managing references - and EndNote does not support LaTeX.
So finally, I am giving up on LaTeX and shifting all my writing to MS-Word. I would continue to keep my LaTeX skills updated though - with the hope that once I graduate and (hopefully) become a faculty - I will perhaps be able to migrate back to LaTeX.
Sidenote: EndNote is amazing! I recommend EndNote to all researchers and especially doctoral students who are building their research paper library. It has helped my research productivity big time.
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So finally, I am giving up on LaTeX and shifting all my writing to MS-Word. I would continue to keep my LaTeX skills updated though - with the hope that once I graduate and (hopefully) become a faculty - I will perhaps be able to migrate back to LaTeX.
Sidenote: EndNote is amazing! I recommend EndNote to all researchers and especially doctoral students who are building their research paper library. It has helped my research productivity big time.
Labels: EndNote, LaTeX, Research
LaTeX is a high-quality typesetting system, specially designed for the production of technical and scientific documentation. It is the de facto standard for the communication and publication of scientific documents. LaTeX is used because of the quality of typesetting achievable by TeX.
LaTeX: Setspacing Package for single, double or one-half spacing
Sunday, July 09, 2006 Permanent link to this post
Most LaTeX authors face initial difficulty in adjusting spacing in their documents. Espacially when you need to shift between singlespacing, doublespacing and one-half spacing within a document, it can get really problematic. Here are two solutions to the spacing problem:
Redefine distance between text lines
This is the simplest solution - just redefine the spacing between text lines by a factor. If you make the factor 2.0, then you get double spacing. Similarly a factor of 1.5 will give you one-half spacing and if you do nothing you will get single spaced documents, which is the default.
The exact command (which you would need to keep in the preamble) is:
\renewcommand{\baselinestretch}{2.0}
Remember that the command above will make your entire document change spacing. You will have difficulties shifting spacing modes within the document.
Use "setspace" package
If you don't like the simple but crude method shown above - then you need the "setspace" package. This has very intuitive commands to set spacing as you need. First of all, you will need to load the package with the following simple command in the preamble:
\usepackage{setspace}
\singlespacing
The above will set the default spacing for your entire documen to single spacing. If you would rather than double spacing as default - then change the second line to \doublespacing. For one half spacing - you need to use \onehalfspacing. Intuitive right?
After setting the document default, if you want a particular part of the document to have different spacing (for example: I keep abstracts and references of my research papers as single spaced) then you can enclose them within the following commands:
\begin{singlespacing}
Your text here...
\end{singlespacing}
Instead of singlespacing, you can use doublespacing or onehalfspacing for corresponding results. If you need a specific spacing fraction - then you can use the following:
\begin{spacing}{2.0}
Your text here...
\end{spacing}{2.0}
Just change 2.0 to the exact spacing fraction desired.
Save Trees: Use "savetrees" package
If you have some flexibility in spacing and you want to do something good - then use the savetrees package. Include the following command in the preamble and let it do its thing:
\usepackage{savetrees}
You will be surprised to see how much paper this package can save!
I think this is enough on document spacing for most LaTeX users. If you have specific queries - then feel free to drop a comment.
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Redefine distance between text lines
This is the simplest solution - just redefine the spacing between text lines by a factor. If you make the factor 2.0, then you get double spacing. Similarly a factor of 1.5 will give you one-half spacing and if you do nothing you will get single spaced documents, which is the default.
The exact command (which you would need to keep in the preamble) is:
\renewcommand{\baselinestretch}{2.0}
Remember that the command above will make your entire document change spacing. You will have difficulties shifting spacing modes within the document.
Use "setspace" package
If you don't like the simple but crude method shown above - then you need the "setspace" package. This has very intuitive commands to set spacing as you need. First of all, you will need to load the package with the following simple command in the preamble:
\usepackage{setspace}
\singlespacing
The above will set the default spacing for your entire documen to single spacing. If you would rather than double spacing as default - then change the second line to \doublespacing. For one half spacing - you need to use \onehalfspacing. Intuitive right?
After setting the document default, if you want a particular part of the document to have different spacing (for example: I keep abstracts and references of my research papers as single spaced) then you can enclose them within the following commands:
\begin{singlespacing}
Your text here...
\end{singlespacing}
Instead of singlespacing, you can use doublespacing or onehalfspacing for corresponding results. If you need a specific spacing fraction - then you can use the following:
\begin{spacing}{2.0}
Your text here...
\end{spacing}{2.0}
Just change 2.0 to the exact spacing fraction desired.
Save Trees: Use "savetrees" package
If you have some flexibility in spacing and you want to do something good - then use the savetrees package. Include the following command in the preamble and let it do its thing:
\usepackage{savetrees}
You will be surprised to see how much paper this package can save!
I think this is enough on document spacing for most LaTeX users. If you have specific queries - then feel free to drop a comment.
Labels: LaTeX
LaTeX: Add .tex /.bib files to Google Desktop Search
Saturday, February 11, 2006 Permanent link to this post
I love the Google Desktop Search - and completely rely on it to find old e-mails and files. However, one trouble with Google Desktop Search is that it does not search LaTeX (.tex and .bib) files by default - and since much of my typing is in .tex and .bib files - I needed a way out.
Solution: Larry's Any Text File Indexer plug-in for Google Desktop. The installable is available here. You just install this plug-in, and then add the following line at the end of the configuration file it will show while installing:
AddNewExtension "tex"
AddNewExtension "bib"
That's it - Google starts indexing your .tex and .bib files straightaway and they will appear in your next desktop search. This is so amazingly useful for me.
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Solution: Larry's Any Text File Indexer plug-in for Google Desktop. The installable is available here. You just install this plug-in, and then add the following line at the end of the configuration file it will show while installing:
AddNewExtension "tex"
AddNewExtension "bib"
That's it - Google starts indexing your .tex and .bib files straightaway and they will appear in your next desktop search. This is so amazingly useful for me.
Labels: LaTeX
LaTeX: Resources to beat the hell out of MS-Word
LaTeX is a delight once you get to know it. It can be troubling to start with, consume boatloads of time and need significant programming expertise. However, once you can leverage LaTeX - its quick, efficient, amazingly versatile and produces super-good-looking documents. If you are just starting with LaTeX - you would need some help.
1. First thing - you need a good LaTeX template (mostly the preamble). I have been developing one that makes my documents look like I want them to. My template is here. This template is made for the following features
3. Now, if you like pdf files better than dvi files (I do) - then you can use the usual "dvipdfm" command to convert dvi files to pdf files. However - this procedure is awful in converting pictures - they tend to become smudgy. I have found it better to use "pdfflatex" or "pdftex" straight. But - if you use this then you will have to comment out the "\usepackage[dvips]{graphics}" line in the template - otherwise you will get errors. Also - when you make pdf straight - then you don't have to use .eps files for pictures - jpegs will work great without any problem. This is one more reason why I prefer this route.
4. You need a good text editor to write your .tex files in. I prefer, and absolutely love Emacs. Emacs is like LaTeX - if you are not familar with it - it will give you hell. Once you get to know it - you will love it for the power and flexibility it provides. You need a good .emacs file for customizing emacs - mine is attached here. (change the file name to .emacs. I have file uploaded as "dotemacs" as MS-Windows is dumb enough to create problems with file extensions otherwise).
I guess thats enough gyan for now. Write a comment if you want to ask something - or add something. I will be happy to respond.
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1. First thing - you need a good LaTeX template (mostly the preamble). I have been developing one that makes my documents look like I want them to. My template is here. This template is made for the following features
- Produce Author-Year citations - like ones needed for management journals. However, for that to work - you will need the right .bst file. I have created one for business management journals. Download it from here. You will need to keep this in the same directory as your tex file.
- You can control the spacing using the setspacing package. Currently the template is set to single spaceing (check the command "\singlespacing"). If you want one-half spacing - then change this to \onehalfspacing (how intuitive!!). Similarly \doublespacing will produce double spaced document.
3. Now, if you like pdf files better than dvi files (I do) - then you can use the usual "dvipdfm" command to convert dvi files to pdf files. However - this procedure is awful in converting pictures - they tend to become smudgy. I have found it better to use "pdfflatex" or "pdftex" straight. But - if you use this then you will have to comment out the "\usepackage[dvips]{graphics}" line in the template - otherwise you will get errors. Also - when you make pdf straight - then you don't have to use .eps files for pictures - jpegs will work great without any problem. This is one more reason why I prefer this route.
4. You need a good text editor to write your .tex files in. I prefer, and absolutely love Emacs. Emacs is like LaTeX - if you are not familar with it - it will give you hell. Once you get to know it - you will love it for the power and flexibility it provides. You need a good .emacs file for customizing emacs - mine is attached here. (change the file name to .emacs. I have file uploaded as "dotemacs" as MS-Windows is dumb enough to create problems with file extensions otherwise).
- In that file - look for configurations for AuxTeX (utilities for LaTeX), and ispell/aspell (spell checker for Emacs). You can look at this previous post for details of these.
I guess thats enough gyan for now. Write a comment if you want to ask something - or add something. I will be happy to respond.
Research, LaTeX: Conferences ignore LaTeX...
Tuesday, February 07, 2006 Permanent link to this post
As a researcher, I send my papers to different research conferences. Main conferences in the Information Systems research field are ICIS, AMCIS, WISE, WITS and HICSS and unfortunately, most of them now ask for MS Word .doc files. This is quite unfortunate considering that this is not only unfair to LaTeX and other word processing software users, but also damaging as new researchers get pushed towards MS Word - which is definitely not as good as LaTeX for authoring research papers and dissertations. Not to mention MS Word is proprietary! At least give the option to submit OpenOffice formats!!
What might be the reasons for this? Is there pressure from Microsoft - well possible and perhaps likely considering Microsoft might be part of sponsoring group in some of these conferences. Other reason may be that MS Word is a lot easier to edit. I suppose its time for a easy to use pdf editor (or even WYSIWYG LaTeX Editor). Third reason - organizers just don't know better. So - if you are a LaTeX/OpenOffice user - then next time to come across a conference accepting only MS Word submissons - ask them why don't they accept LaTeX/OpenOffice submissions. This will build pressure on them to keep the option open next time.
BTW: its ironic that the submission systems do convert the files to pdf after submission. Why not accept them as pdf to start with.
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What might be the reasons for this? Is there pressure from Microsoft - well possible and perhaps likely considering Microsoft might be part of sponsoring group in some of these conferences. Other reason may be that MS Word is a lot easier to edit. I suppose its time for a easy to use pdf editor (or even WYSIWYG LaTeX Editor). Third reason - organizers just don't know better. So - if you are a LaTeX/OpenOffice user - then next time to come across a conference accepting only MS Word submissons - ask them why don't they accept LaTeX/OpenOffice submissions. This will build pressure on them to keep the option open next time.
BTW: its ironic that the submission systems do convert the files to pdf after submission. Why not accept them as pdf to start with.
There is a WYSIWYG editor available under GPL. Its called WinTeXmacs.
Comment posted by 
: 08 February, 2006 19:23
: 08 February, 2006 19:23LaTeX: Word Counts in LaTeX
Monday, February 06, 2006 Permanent link to this post
I came across this little problem while writing research papers for submission to academic conferences. Most conferences have a set word limit for submissions. While it is exceedingly easy to do a word count in WYSIWYG editors like MS-Word, its not that simple in LaTeX. You need to take care that you are not including all the LaTeX commands and header declaration. After searching for a while, I came across this nice Perl script for counting words in .tex files.
The perl script is available here. My sincere thanks to the creaters of the script. Please download the script from the given link to be sure that you have the latest version. The site also has detailed instructions. In case you can not access the site for any reason, you can download the script from here as well.
Happy LaTeX'ing...
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The perl script is available here. My sincere thanks to the creaters of the script. Please download the script from the given link to be sure that you have the latest version. The site also has detailed instructions. In case you can not access the site for any reason, you can download the script from here as well.
Happy LaTeX'ing...
Labels: LaTeX
Emacs, LaTeX: EMACS and LaTeX: Revisited
Sunday, October 16, 2005 Permanent link to this post
I have written about EMACS and LaTeX before (link to post) and I am convinced that they are much better for creating professional looking documents than MS-Word or any other WYSIWYG editors. However, adjusting to th EMACS/LaTeX system can be difficult for the novice user. Here are some of my contributions to ease the pain:
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- .emacs: I have managed to build a pretty good ".emacs" file. This is the file the emacs uses for configuring itself and bringing you the cool features that make it so good. Having a decent emacs configuration file is the first step towards really leveraging emacs. You can download my .emacs file here. Play with the file to build your own emacs experience. You need to keep the following in mind though:
- I have named the above file "dotemacs" to avoid the stupidity of Windows OS that refuses to think of anything after the "." as file classification. You will have to rename the file back to ".emacs" before you can use it.
- My ".emacs" uses many optionals packages (like AucTeX). If you want to use those features then you will have to download and install these packages first - otherwise you will get an error.
- LaTeX Preamble: Like the .emacs file, the LaTeX preamble also requires a lot of customization. I have gone through many trial and error sequences to select the best elements to keep in the preamble. You do not need to go through the painful process - just download my preamble - its available as a LaTeX file here.
- As with the .emacs file, my LaTeX preamble uses many optional packages - make sure that your LaTeX implementation has those.
- Author-Year References in LaTeX: One big problem with LaTeX is to create Author-Year references (it defaults to numerical references). One way out is to use the "natbib" package. However, you still need to put the appropriate ".bst" file so that your references are styled right. I have created the ".bst" file appropriate for most business and information systems publications (Management Science,Information Systems Research, MIS Quarterly...). You can download it here. You just need to put this file in the same directory as your LaTeX source file - it is already linked in my LaTeX preamble.
- Imaged in LaTeX: Second big problem with LaTeX is that if you want to include images in your LaTeX file then it is best to include those images as an eps file. However, I have realized that the eps file created by most graphical applications (like PhotoShop) do not work with LaTex. The solution is that you save your images as jpg files and then convert them to eps using the "jpeg2ps" utility. Its a simple dos based utility and you can download it here.
- The syntax for jpeg2ps is quite simple. Keep the image to be converted (say filename.jpg) and the jpeg2ps utility in the same directory. Go to that directory in the dos prompt and then type the following command: "jpeg2ps filename.jpb -> filename.eps" Thats it - you will get a nicely converted eps file.
Emacs, LaTeX, AucTeX, Ispell: Life is good!
Thursday, August 18, 2005 Permanent link to this post
I have been a loyal user of LaTex and over the years have come to appreciate it even more. Now with LaTeX output commonly available as pdf files, I see no reason to use such WYSIWYG document editors as MS-Word. However, LaTeX remains more difficult to use (for the lay user) than MS-Word. For the brave at heart - here is my remedy - a system of emacs-latex-auctex-ispell-flyspell that is as easy to use as MS-Word and miles ahead in quality of documents and control over the document generation process.
The only difficult part in using this system is installing all this stuff. This system was essentially designed for Unix workstations - so it takes a bit of workaround to get these working fine on Windows. An excellent reference for installing the emacs-latex system on Windows is this site.
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The only difficult part in using this system is installing all this stuff. This system was essentially designed for Unix workstations - so it takes a bit of workaround to get these working fine on Windows. An excellent reference for installing the emacs-latex system on Windows is this site.
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