Should I still define a main file as master document when using the subfiles package?

Question

This is pretty much very straightforward and probably a really naive question, but I need to know:

I'm using the subfiles package to manage my project files and I have all the paths set so every file compiles correctly. However, I noticed I still have my main document defined as master. If I undefine* it as master and try to compile any of the subordinate files, I get lots of errors regarding references, bibliography, graphics, etc., depending on what I'm using in the current file.

My understanding is that subordinate files should compile on their own without problems but I might be misunderstanding the whole thing. So, should I have a master file if I'm using subfiles? If this is not the case, then the errors I'm getting are very likely due to wrongly set paths, for which a nightmare of trial and error awaits me in order to solve the problems.

I don't feel this needs a MWE but I will gladly include one if necessary.

* Edit for clarification: I'm using TexMaker and one of the options allows to define the main tex file as a master document, which builds the file structure with all the \include or \input files. This is done so the quick compiling can be done while any of the files is open (thus not having to switch from file to main to file, etc., every time one needs to quick compile).

Answer 1

From the subfiles docs:

If the subfile is typeset by itself, it takes as preamble the one of the main file (including its \documentclass). The rest is typeset normally.

It depends what you mean by "undefine" (and I don't have enough rep to ask in a comment for you to clarify), but I read it as one of two things:

1. You removed \documentclass[master.tex]{subfiles} from the subfile
2. You renamed the master.tex document without changing the \documentclass parameter in the subfile

In either case, as per the quote above, this means that the preamble from the master document isn't included in the subfile (by the subfiles package) when you compile the subfile on it's own. Therefore all the basic package imports you mention (references, bibliography, graphics) aren't included in the file and thus the file won't compile on it's own.

It would only do so if you re-hooked up the master document through the subfile's \documentclass, or included the \usepackage commands needed in the preamble of the subfile itself.