{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.
10
votes
2answers
366 views
How to generate a TeX-file containing information of all installed packages of an actual TeXLive
Is it possible to generate a TeX-file with all information needed about the installed packages of a TeXLive distribution?
If you want only certain elements of the table, you can use this snippet. :-)
...
10
votes
2answers
498 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 ...
10
votes
4answers
439 views
Is there a package for warning about unbalanced delimiters?
I'm copy-editing a rather lengthy set theory book. One thing I'd like to check systematically is whether all left-right unambiguous delimiters (parentheses brackets curly, square and angle) are ...
10
votes
2answers
133 views
Is there a way to revert manually to earlier versions of a package?
Is there a way to revert manually to earlier versions of a package?
I know this is a bit weird but I need previous versions of some packages for some reason.
10
votes
2answers
654 views
What's the difference between a class and a style?
What are the actual differences between the two? I am new to LaTeX and I need to create a custom "look & feel" -- should I be looking into making a class or a style?
10
votes
3answers
264 views
Is there a solution to the lack of modularity in LaTeX libraries (as implemented in .sty files)?
I often get conflicts between distinct .sty files, due to things as simple as variable names.
The latest one was between proof.sty (which permits to more proofs automatically to the appendix) and ...
10
votes
1answer
350 views
A package to make stickers?
I would like to make stickers for envelopes. Each sticker would contain data about one recipient of the letter. I would like to be able to have this data in some text format (CSV) and that LaTeX would ...
10
votes
1answer
285 views
Auto Package download for TeXLive
I use MiKTeX on Windows and quite satisfied with it. Recently I started switching all my tasks toward open-source alternatives, and in the course I would love to use Linux. But the problem is in Linux ...
10
votes
1answer
107 views
Update a package after TeX live freeze?
I realized that I want/have to update a package (moderncv). The problem is that TeX Live went frozen – so there are no more updates. Is the only thing to do is wait till the release of the next TeX ...
10
votes
2answers
643 views
Problem/solution environment
I'm writing a textbook and an accompanying solution manual. In the book, I have a series of exercises at the end of each chapter. As the number of chapters and exercises grows, I'm getting to the ...
10
votes
1answer
488 views
How should one maintain and update a MiKTeX installation?
Every once in a while after updating MiKTeX, the installation gets into an inconsistent state. This might be a problem with the packages (an example is described in this question), but sometimes ...
10
votes
1answer
230 views
Using \BeforePackage to load a package before hyperref does not work
I am using the lipics document class, which includes hyperref. I want to load the float package, which should be loaded before hyperref, without changing the document class. As suggested in this ...
10
votes
1answer
3k views
Europass CV in (Xe)LaTeX
I was requested to re-write my CV in the Europass format, and I would like to do it using (preferably) XeLaTeX. I came across the europecv package, which seems to do the job just fine, but I would ...
9
votes
2answers
99 views
How to call a package added previously
I'm using the package mcode to show matlab code in my thesis. This package requires the xcolor package so it automatically loads it. My problem is that I have to call the table option in the xcolor ...
9
votes
3answers
541 views
Package switches within the document?
Many packages come with switches, to be defined in the preamble. Is it possible to hit such a switch also in the body of the document?
Example: Can I switch from the functionality of
...
9
votes
3answers
446 views
How to implement a command that checks for loaded packages?
I use the following code to check if a package is loaded:
\RequirePackage{ltxcmds}
\newcommand{\IfPackageLoaded}[2]{\ltx@ifpackageloaded{#1}{#2}{}}
However, sometimes I want to check if more than ...
9
votes
2answers
414 views
Using package locally
Is there a way to use a package locally?
Here is the case...
I NEED to use \phiup on my document, however it needs the using of package pxfonts or txfonts. However, when I use either of those ...
9
votes
3answers
233 views
Hyperref is loaded by the class, and I need to load packages that are supposed to be loaded before
I am using the lipics documentclass, which loads hyperref. Since I want my figures boxed, I added the following
\usepackage{float}
\floatstyle{boxed}
\restylefloat{figure}
The problem: I receive ...
9
votes
1answer
207 views
Why does url.sty appear in 3 different places in the TeX Directory Structure?
On my up-to-date MiKTeX system, there is a copy of url.sty in three different places in the TDS:
texmf\tex\xelatex\xetexurl (part of MiKTeX package xetexurl, packaged on 2007-Sep-05)
...
9
votes
1answer
227 views
Lipsum text generator for an index
Is there something like lipsum package but for generating an index?
9
votes
3answers
3k views
box around theorem statement
Is there an easy way to put a box around a theorem in LaTeX? For example to state an important theorem.
I tried using page 20 of the ntheorem documentation ...
9
votes
2answers
1k views
How do I declare an option that takes an input value?
I know I can declare and execute an option for my package using
\DeclareOption{myoption}{\typeout{I did it!}}
\ProcessOptions
but now I'd like to give the option a value:
...
9
votes
1answer
948 views
installing comicsans to TeX Live, Windows
I need help to install the comicsans package and the fonts. My system is TeX Live 2011, and Windows 7. Below is what I did:
Copied comic.ttf and comicbd.ttf in
C:\texlive\texmf-local\fonts\ttf. (I ...
9
votes
1answer
3k views
Why does amsmath print a warning about a foreign command?
I was wondering what was the cause of the following warning message with the specific \usepackage used below:
Using the following:
Preamble
\documentclass[amssymb,twocolumn,aps]{revtex4}
...
9
votes
2answers
742 views
Is there a tool/script available to simply install packages locally?
This question is not on how to manually install packages but how to install packages automatically via script. This question is not about MikTeX or the limited tex package management in certain linux ...
9
votes
1answer
181 views
How to use hyph-utf8 correctly?
I'm using MiKTeX and pdfLaTeX and the package manager tells me that hyph-utf8 is installed and auto-download of packages is activated, too.
But when I do \usepackage{hyph-utf8}, because I hope that ...
9
votes
1answer
121 views
Inserting document compiled from LaTex code inside a .tex file
Is there a way to insert a document within a document? The inserted code is fully .tex compliant and could be compiled as a document on its own.
I envision an article document, where inside the ...
9
votes
1answer
668 views
Where can I find which packages are available as tds.zip?
When I need to install a package manually I much prefer to use the ready-zipped TEX Directory Structure-compliant version rather than install it manually with .dtx or .ins files. Normally when I want ...
9
votes
2answers
5k views
Where is “texmf” on a Windows install?
On UNIX you have the texmf folder in your home directory where you store packages you've installed yourself, but where is that folder on a Windows install?
Yeah, I know that if you use MiKTeX then ...
9
votes
1answer
608 views
Installing the comicsans package to MiKTeX
Consider this question theoretical in nature; an exercise to understand the TDS tree structure better. Assume one were attempting to install the comicsans package, which is part of neither of the two ...
9
votes
1answer
1k views
Author(s) per chapter - short story collection
I'm trying to use LaTeX to typeset a collection of short stories. I need something that lets each chapter have its own author or authors, with the author name(s) listed along with the chapter title, ...
9
votes
1answer
1k views
Typesetting permutations with latex
I split the question into two parts and included some answers.
1. Alternatives to the permute-package
The permute-package is very old (version 0.2, 1999) and can lead to problems in connection with ...
9
votes
1answer
200 views
Automated placement of text and graphics within presentations
The beamer package creates very professional presentations. Are there any additional packages which can be used with beamer which allows users to focus on content, while leaving TeX to decide where to ...
8
votes
2answers
365 views
What are good packages / techniques for writing more readable LaTeX *code*?
A while ago I stumbled upon the semantic package --- its 'math ligatures' feature in particular --- and the whole way in which I write math-code in LaTeX changed.
Instead of
\[
\sem{\sigma}_s^x ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
Best practice for control flow charts
I wanted to plot a flow chart graph which looks similar to this diagram:
that comes from this source.
Which package would be best for that?
I don't want to use pstricks
8
votes
4answers
210 views
Is there a common set of packages that is available in every distribution?
Or at least in most distributions...
8
votes
2answers
380 views
ConTeXt using LaTeX style files
I've just discovered ConTeXt for the first time, and it looks pretty sweet. However, it is near-useless to me if I cannot use LaTeX style files for formatting (i.e. for journal/conference papers).
...
8
votes
4answers
2k views
Is there a simple way to use the gentium font in latex?
I'd like to use the gentium font in a LaTeX document, and the instructions I found
at this site make it look rather difficult.
Is there a simple package that is now available that would allow me to ...
8
votes
2answers
971 views
Drawing Lattice/Trellis Graphs using PGF/TikZ
I am trying to draw a graph containing lattice points and vectors. I wish it to look something like this:
I am not sure how to go about it, however, I would ideally like to be able to use ...
8
votes
2answers
339 views
I'm a cargo cult programmer …
... because I don't know why this works
\def\my@addextraoption#1{%
\xdef\my@extraoptions{%
\@ifundefined{my@extraoptions}\@empty\my@extraoptions,%
\zap@space#1 \@empty}}
...
8
votes
1answer
307 views
Availability of LaTeX packages' functionality in ConTeXt, XeTeX, and LuaTeX
I am considering trying out ConTeXt, XeTeX, and LuaTeX, but one concern of mine is the fact that I am using a large number of LaTeX packages.
There are a number of questions comparing these TeX ...
8
votes
2answers
95 views
Put all package options into one command
The title might not be perfect, but what I want to achieve is:
Inside my own package mypackage.sty, I would like to have a command, say \allpackageoptions, which should have stored the entire package ...
8
votes
2answers
137 views
Generating single random sentences
lipsum, blindtext and kantlipsum all seem to default to producing paragraphs, whereas I want them to generate individual sentences. From the documentation, it looks as if it should be possible to ...
8
votes
1answer
128 views
Loading a package more than once
What would happen when you load a package more than once, say via \usepackage{<package>} or \RequirePackage{<package>}.
For example:
\documentclass{book}
\usepackage{geometry}
...
8
votes
1answer
1k views
Package to indent and syntax highlight C++ code
I am looking for a package to have an environment for C++ source code, with options for syntax highlighting, automatic indentation, proper multipage behavior, etc.
I read something about the listings ...
8
votes
1answer
200 views
How to create conditionals in a document class for latex?
I am trying to write a document class highschool.cls for the high school research papers in our school based on the book.cls in order to make the format of the papers standardized. I am trying to ...
8
votes
1answer
307 views
How to “un-use” a package?
When using packages in LaTeX (or XeLaTeX, in my case), I load packages with \usepackage[options]{package}, but how can I "un-use" the package later in the document?
Is that even possible?
8
votes
1answer
441 views
Is there a package to secure rendered pdf with a password?
Is there a package and command that can secure rendered pdf with a password?
8
votes
3answers
1k views
Is there a way to use a document class/package from another folder?
I am building a document class and a set of packages to be used as templates for various documents. I'd like to aviod having to copy those over to another folder every time I use them, but I'd also ...
8
votes
3answers
163 views
Which package should I use for doing a connecting homomorphism diagram like this in latex
which package should I use for doing a diagram like this in latex:
