A LaTeX editor between TexShop and Texmaker for Mac OS?

Question

I was using TexShop for a while due to its simplicity. But recently discovered Texmaker which makes it so much easier to type common functions (auto completion) and double compile before exporting as PDF.

I realised that Texmaker scrolls in one-line intervals, as in it skips a whole line when scrolling. This provides a choppy experience while editing the code. And the buttons on the left tend to disappear when my mouse runs over them. However, TexShop provides a finer resolution when scrolling and hence a smoother experience when editing the code (plus the program is not as laggy as Texmaker due to less features).

Is there another editor that combines the simplicity + smoothness of TexShop and the efficiency + features of Texmaker in one program ? Maybe another editor that I may have missed ?

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Note: I do know there are comparisons available online etc, but I want something specific here; an editor that combines features from both TexShop and Texmaker.

Answer 1

If the two features you list are the only thing you are missing in TeXShop, you might actually be able to achieved just that in TeXShop:

Regarding "double compilation": I use latexmk in TeXShop, which is even better because it compiles as often as necessary, and also runs bibtex etc. for you. To get that, go to the "Misc" tab in the TeXShop prefs, then set the "Latex Program" to "latexmk -pdf". Then select "Personal Script" in the "Typeset" menu. From now on, using Cmd-T resp. clicking the "Typeset" button will invoke latexmk.

Moreover, TeXShop also provides autocompletion and even arbitrary macros. For example, I have configured mine so that Cmd-Space triggers the "Insert begin/end" macro. So now if I want to start an enumeration, I do this:

1. Type "enu"
2. Press ESC to trigger completion mode (can be changed to TAB in the preferences)
3. The first completion this suggests is "enumerate", so now type "Cmd-space" resp. select "Insert begin/end" from the "Macros" menu.

With 5 keystrokes, we now got

\begin{enumerate}

\end{enumerate}

and the cursor is at the right place, i.e. inside the environment.

That is just one way to do, it, though. There is also e.g. the command completion feature. For example, type "\ben" followed by ESC, and you'll get

\begin{enumerate}
\item
•
\end{enumerate}•

Here, the fat dots are command completion marks, between which you can quickly navigate using Cmd-Ctrl-F and Cmd-Ctrl-G. Oh, and personally, I prefer the completion variant "\b" followed by ESC (inserts "\begin{", followed by "en", followed by "ESC" (which produces the same result as when starting with "\ben").

For a list of all pre-defined completions (and to add your own or modify existing ones, see menu "Source -> Command Completion -> Edit Command Completion File...".

Answer 2

After years of trying lots of editors, I came to decide that vim equipped with vim-latex-suite is the ultimate way to edit LaTeX files. (It will be MacVim in this case of course)

This is not just about the idea that vim is an extremely powerful, if not the most powerful editor ever (no offense EMACS folks!). vim-latex-suite is a really brilliant macro set.

An example, you only have to write EFI and a complete figure environment will be created for you with placeholders to fill in.

\begin{figure}[<+htpb+>]
  \begin{center}
    \includegraphics{<+file+>}
  \end{center}
  \caption{<+caption text+>}
  \label{fig:<+label+>}
\end{figure}<++>

You can jump between this place holders by using Ctrl-j. And guess what, it is smart enough that it notices whether you are using graphicx or not and thus makes for you \includegraphics or \epsfig.

This is a minor example about the power of vim-latex-suite. I strongly recommend that you use as the most efficient way for editing LaTeX.

Answer 3

Main drawback of texshop in my opinion is lack of support for tabs. You cannot have multiple tabs for multiple files and switch easily between them. Also you cannot select portion of text and compile only the selected part.

I have heard some people running Winedt under parallels on Mac and been happy with it.

Answer 4

I have been using Texpad for a number of years now and find it convenient to use, while giving me enough control on how to compile my documents.