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I have made a paper on overleaf that can compile even though it has errors. Then I tryied to submit the Latex to arXiv but got many errors. I have also tried to upload a PDF, but got the error: “that file is generated in latex" .

Is there any way to just submit the PDF generated by Overleaf?

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  • 3
    Have you read the arXiv TeX submission and PDF submission guides?
    – DG'
    Nov 7, 2018 at 20:53
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    If you have errors you should not try to use the broken output which might or might not be a valid pdf file. After an error, Tex only tries to recover enough to syntax check more of the file, it does not try to make sensible output after an error. Better fix this errors instead of trying to upload this file to arxiv.
    – samcarter_is_at_topanswers.xyz
    Nov 7, 2018 at 21:15
  • arXiv is a good idea in principle but execution isn't great. arXiv uses an outdated distribution and even then doesn't take many perfectly valid LaTeX documents.
    – JPi
    Nov 12, 2018 at 13:59
  • In case, here is a working guide for submitting overleaf to arxiv: mateuszbuda.github.io/2018/10/20/arxiv.html
    – kostek
    Nov 22, 2020 at 20:51

1 Answer 1

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Yes, there are ways to just upload the pdf without the source, but you should not do that because your impression that Overleaf can compile your file even though you have errors is wrong.

Overleaf (and indeed TeX) cannot compile your document properly if it has errors, Overleaf just shows you some document which might or might not be a valid pdf file. After an error, TeX only tries to recover enough to syntax check more of the file, it does not try to produce sensible output.

You should definitely fix the errors instead of trying to distribute what you think might be an acceptable pdf. This is only in your own interests. For example people using other pdf viewer than you might not be able to open your paper - you don't want to prevent anybody from reading your paper just because they cannot open it, do you?

Never ignore error messages with the argument that the output seems to look fine - it probably does not.

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  • arXiv doesn't take pdf files anyway.
    – JPi
    Nov 12, 2018 at 14:09
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    @JPi It does with a few simple hacks.
    – samcarter_is_at_topanswers.xyz
    Nov 12, 2018 at 14:10
  • I always thought that the PDF produced by pdfTeX after an error (if one is produced at all) would be a valid PDF of course the contents might be a bit off or totally garbage, but I would have thought all PDF viewers could open it.
    – moewe
    Nov 12, 2018 at 14:20
  • @moewe I experienced it myself multiple times that the more fussy pdf readers like adobe reader won't show the resulting file (let's not call it a pdf) but other readers would still show something.
    – samcarter_is_at_topanswers.xyz
    Nov 12, 2018 at 14:25
  • Oh interesting. I never experienced that, but then I usually don't go around trying to open my files with all sorts of viewers when I get an error.
    – moewe
    Nov 12, 2018 at 14:31

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