{packages} is about packages in general, e.g. about choosing, installing or using packages. For questions about writing packages, choose {package-writing} instead. If your question concerns a specific package, choose its name as tag. For {document-classes} or {templates} use the respective tag.
54
votes
2answers
70k views
How can I manually install a package on MiKTeX (Windows)
I'm new to LaTeX, investigating using it for some work projects. I'm using MiKTeX on Windows. My employer's locked-down network blocks the application's automatic installation function. I can take ...
84
votes
8answers
37k views
Where do I place my own .sty files, to make them available to all my .tex files?
I know how to define a package - but how do I make it available (to myself) at all times?
Say I have the package file commonstuff.sty, that I want to be able to include in any .tex file I create on ...
72
votes
9answers
4k views
Which packages should be loaded after hyperref instead of before?
The hyperref documentation says: "Make sure it comes last of your loaded packages". The reason is that it redefines many LaTeX commands. It's a rule of thumb that helps to avoid errors.
However, ...
35
votes
1answer
2k views
How do I install an individual package on a Linux system?
I need to install a new TeX/LaTeX/ConTeXt package on my computer. I'm running Ubuntu/Fedora/Slackware/Some-Version-Of Linux. What are the possible ways to do this?
Note: We get a ...
77
votes
3answers
9k views
Frequently loaded packages: Differences between pdfLaTeX and XeLaTeX
Until now, I have been compiling my LaTeX documents with pdfLaTeX. My standard document preamble includes the "usual suspects" for non-English speakers (inputenc, fontenc, babel) and a bunch of other ...
228
votes
22answers
46k views
LaTeX template for resume/curriculum vitae
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 ...
187
votes
52answers
16k views
What packages do people load by default in LaTeX?
I'm getting the impression from reading the answers written by some of the real experts here that there are quite a few little packages that just tweak LaTeX2e's default behaviour a little to make it ...
137
votes
3answers
28k views
Why should I use \usepackage[T1]{fontenc}?
As a native English speaker, I've mostly been allowed the luxury of pretending that ASCII is enough, and have been able to treat font encodings as not my problem. I've seen lots of advice that I ought ...
52
votes
4answers
3k views
Is there an easy way to have my whole document with a space between paragraphs rather than indentation?
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 ...
13
votes
1answer
14k views
How do I add a .sty file to my MacTeX/TeXShop installation?
I've searched online, but I have not found any clear instructions how to permanently add .sty files to my TeXShop installation. I'm using a Mac with OSX (TeXShop is a mac only program).
What is the ...
102
votes
15answers
14k views
Is there any way to do a correct word count of a LaTeX document?
Often assignments (or even papers) have a word count limit. That is not a big deal when using Word, but I don't know how to do that using LaTeX. My solution has been so far to compile the document and ...
23
votes
5answers
4k views
A MiKTeX update removed amsmath as obsolete – can I use another package or get it back?
I have a problem with amsmath package. After an update this package was removed because it was obsolete. But what package can use instead of amsmath?
10
votes
3answers
1k views
What is the preferable setup for MiKTeX to keep all packages up-to-date easily?
By default, MiKTeX is set up for all users to the folder C:\Program Files\MiKTeX 2.9
However, packages added on-the-fly go to the folder
C:\Users\CurrentUser\AppData\Roaming\MiKTeX\2.9
(in case of ...
49
votes
3answers
3k views
Theorem packages: which to use, which conflict?
As far as I know, one can create theorem environments using any of amsthm, ntheorem, thmtools and probably more.
How should I define my theorem environments? Is one package clearly superior? Which ...
18
votes
2answers
2k views
What are the differences between using paralist vs. enumitem
I am looking for advice on which of these packages to use? Under what circumstances would paralist be preferred over enumitem?
49
votes
3answers
2k views
Cross-reference packages: which to use, which conflict?
Inspired by my earlier question Theorem packages: which to use, which conflict?, here is another similar question.
There are many different packages for making cross references. Among them hyperref, ...
50
votes
6answers
2k views
How to keep up with packages and know which ones are obsolete?
I'm an on and off user of LaTeX so I'm not familiar with every package out there. Having said that, whenever I use LaTeX and need to accomplish a certain goal (i.e. generate a list of appendices), I ...
24
votes
2answers
1k views
Frequently loaded packages: Differences between pdfLaTeX and LuaLaTeX
I'm in the process of switching my LaTeX document from pdflatex to lualatex. Similar to Frequently loaded packages: Differences between pdfLaTeX and XeLaTeX I would like to know, what are typical ...
82
votes
11answers
5k views
LaTeX packages for use with revision control
I use revision control (Subversion, to be exact) to keep track of the edits to my LaTeX documents. Is there a LaTeX package that interfaces with revision control? Specifically, it would be nice to see ...
18
votes
2answers
1k views
Should the fontenc package be loaded before or after font packages?
I seem to recall reading somewhere that fontenc should be loaded either before or after the packages loading fonts, but I cannot remember which. I don't see differences between loading it before and ...
28
votes
1answer
925 views
Packages that need to be included in a specific order
This isn't a real question, so I'm marking it community wiki.
When I was new to LaTeX, I thought that the \usepackage command worked much like the #include command of the C language: just put ...
29
votes
2answers
19k views
Best way to install packages for TeXLive in Ubuntu?
I want to install a package (specifically xlop). I'm using TeXLive on Ubuntu, and I don't really know my way around LaTeX.
Can apt-get install or something similar be used?
15
votes
2answers
2k views
How to customize headers and footers?
I'd like to modify the contents of my headers and footers - e.g., to display the current chapter and/or section title or to change the pagination alignment. How can I do that? I've noticed the ...
20
votes
5answers
516 views
How to find a package name by a command name?
Often I'm trying to use a command in my document and it doesn't compile, because I haven't included the package I need for it. Of course, I know, that I can try to google it, but Google often finds ...
17
votes
3answers
16k views
How can I manually install a LaTeX package (Debian/Ubuntu Linux)? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How do I install an individual package on a Linux system?
The Debian/Ubuntu archives typically include assemblies of many LaTeX packages for convenience of downloading ...
29
votes
2answers
2k views
Which package version am I using?
Is there a LaTeX command for printing the versions of the currently installed packages? I need to know the installed version of the pgfplots package.
21
votes
4answers
2k views
How to typeset special Apple Mac keyboard symbols?
Is there a standard way to typeset the special symbols of the Apple Mac keyboard? That is, the curly rectangle ⌘ and the others?
If there is none, what would you suggest as workarounds?
10
votes
2answers
477 views
Conditional “if a package is available”
I'd like to do something like the following (in pseudo-TeX)
\ifpackageavailable{packagefoo}
\usefoo
\else
\usefooreplacement
\fi
For example, I know that a template file I wrote is used by people ...
51
votes
5answers
3k views
Suggest a “nice” font family for my basic LaTeX template (text and math). [I am confused]
My goal is to choose a "nice" font family (serif, sans serif, monospace, and "math") for my basic LaTeX template.
I know the default setting (Computer Modern's family) is a very good choice.
However, ...
47
votes
3answers
16k views
What is a good package for displaying algorithms?
I found this page with some examples:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/LaTeX/Algorithms_and_Pseudocode
I'm wondering which one to use. Any suggestions? I'm using other packages too so whichever is less ...
46
votes
6answers
9k views
Package for certificates
Since LaTex can produce outstanding typesetting results and excellent graphics design, I began to wonder if it can recreate certificates. With so many packages and styles out there does anyone know if ...
27
votes
7answers
6k views
What graphics packages are there for creating graphics in LaTeX documents?
What packages do you use and recommend for creating graphics in your LaTeX documents?
As this is a community wiki post, please add your package to the accepted answer (or add a comment, and ...
24
votes
2answers
1k views
Is hyperref really the best way to add metadata to a TeX file?
So I know one of hyperref's features is that it can add metadata to you PDFs. This is a nice feature and if you're putting stuff online, it's good to include metadata.
But is the hyperref package ...
30
votes
3answers
3k views
What package allows Elvish in TeX?
Anyone who has read The Lord of the Rings will recognise the Elvish script at the top of the page. If this is meant to be an example of what is typesettable in TeX/related software, what package is ...
19
votes
9answers
2k views
Is there a way to get two pages in one with LaTeX?
I would like to have my document compiled with two pages in one using LaTeX, like what you see when you choose to print two pages in one. As my pages are "portrait", I need the page to be shown in ...
25
votes
5answers
712 views
Historical, stable version archive of packages
The author of marginfix / blockmargin is/was interested in a certain loss of functionality from one version of the marginfix package to the next. Out of interest and curiosity I wanted to see what ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
Including an itemized list within a tabular column using the paralist package
The paralist package offers the option of typesetting an itemized list with a \topsep length of zero, and this is especially useful in a tabular setting. However, the following minimal example does ...
7
votes
1answer
931 views
Decimal Long Division
Does anyone know of a package or macro that handles decimal long division? For example, I want to convert 3/8 to a decimal and show all of the steps. I found a macro for longdiv that works great for ...
47
votes
7answers
3k views
How to add some visual style and pizzazz to course notes?
LaTeX is wonderful for writing mathematical papers, but while the output is perfectly typeset it is not visually very exciting. And although it may just be "familiarity breeds contempt", I am ...
33
votes
3answers
6k views
Most useful additions in KOMA-Script?
(Background: I'm a beginner who will mostly use LaTeX for university articles and reports, but no math. Also, as I reside in Canada, the German typography conventions, which I understand KOMA-Script ...
25
votes
5answers
1k views
How to make a standard preamble into a package
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 ...
33
votes
5answers
5k views
What's the difference between \RequirePackage and \usepackage?
I understand that "the convention is to use \RequirePackage in a package or
class and \usepackage in a document", but apart from that, is there any practical difference between the two commands?
(I ...
16
votes
3answers
593 views
What are good packages for laying out a play?
I'm formatting a play as a LaTeX book. Is there any particular package the is best for laying out books like this (aside from the LaTeX-book class)?
I'm wondering if there are any examples of ...
11
votes
2answers
530 views
Two conflicting packages in one document — doable?
I have two packages I want to use in the same document. Specifically musixtex and tengwarscript.
However they do conflict. Both packages use some of the same commands, obviously for very different ...
5
votes
4answers
4k views
*.sty file not found
This question is very similar to a previous post:
Where do I place my own .sty files, to make them available to all my .tex files?
I am using MiKTeX 2.9 and TeXnicCenter to compose and execute my ...
24
votes
2answers
567 views
Classes and packages – what's the difference?
Could someone explain the difference between classes and packages? We call prosper a class and amsmath a package. I couldn't find out the difference.
3
votes
2answers
268 views
How can I ignore everything except a specified environment?
In other words, I'd like to have the comment environment of the verbatim package "inverted". I am pretty sure I read about some package allowing this some time ago, but I can't recall its name (nor ...
69
votes
4answers
2k views
Techniques and packages to keep up with good practices
Question
What techniques and packages are there to keep up with good practices?
What I already know
I already know of the following packages for this kind of purpose:
...
48
votes
9answers
2k views
Are there other “fun” packages like the “coffee stains” package?
I'm trying to convert some friends to LaTeX and have come up against a (to me) unexpected objection: there are too few packages that support "fun" (really), to which I responded:
I know there are ...
33
votes
1answer
930 views
Frequently loaded packages: Differences between XeLaTeX and LuaLaTeX
Adding the missing member to pdfLaTeX vs. XeLaTeX and pdfLaTeX vs. LuaLaTeX, here's the last of the big three: XeLaTeX vs. LuaLaTeX.
Where would a typical template for XeLaTeX differ from one for ...
