36

I am attempting to finish my LaTeX project, and I can't seem to get the PDF to compile to the right size no matter what I do. In my .cls file I have this set:

\paperheight 11in
\paperwidth 8.5in

But no matter what I change it to, it compiles to about 8.25x11.7".

I can post my .cls files or anything else for that matter if someone knows hat I am doing Here is my .cls file: usfmanus.cls - I am using BakomaTex Word for my editor. When I compile my PDF, I am still getting strange dimensions. I really appreciate this, thank you.

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  • 3
    use the geometry package for such issues. – phimuemue Oct 18 '11 at 21:51
  • 1
    It is always best to compose a MWE that illustrates the problem including the \documentclass so that those trying to help don't have to recreate it. – Peter Grill Oct 18 '11 at 22:11
55

The correct parameters to set are \pdfpageheight and \pdfpagewidth:

\pdfpageheight=11in
\pdfpagewidth=8.5in

However, this won't work in the "latex+dvips+ps2pdf" cycle. A code for both cases is

\usepackage{ifpdf}
\ifpdf
  \pdfpageheight=11in
  \pdfpagewidth=8.5in
\else
  \special{papersize=11in,8.5in}
\fi

The geometry way is better:

\usepackage[pass,letterpaper]{geometry}

or, if one wants a different paper size, (I'll use Letter paper sizes as example)

\usepackage[pass,paperwidth=8.5in,paperheight=11in]{geometry}

With the pass option, geometry won't change the class parameters for pagination, as it would do without it.

Note for BakomaTeX

As far as I know, BakomaTeX doesn't use pdflatex, so the

\usepackage[pass,letterpaper]{geometry}

should be the one to follow.

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  • Instead of 'paper' in \pdfpaperheight and \pdfpaperwidth, shouldn't it be 'page'? – cyberSingularity Jan 29 '18 at 7:23
  • @cyberSingularity They were changed in the meantime. Fixed. – egreg Jan 29 '18 at 7:32
21

The geometry package might be useful here

\usepackage[paperheight=11in,paperwidth=8.5in]{geometry}

MWE:

    \documentclass{article}
    \usepackage[paperheight=11in,paperwidth=8.5in]{geometry}

    \begin{document}

    hello world

    \end{document}
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  • When I compile, the finished pdf still looks like it's 8.5x11, even when I change the dimensions to paperheight=1in, paperwidth=8.5in. Why is this and how can I get a generated pdf that actually looks like it's 1 inch tall and 8.5 inches wide? – StatsSorceress Aug 20 at 17:56
11

you should probably use the geometry package:

\usepackage[letterpaper]{geometry}

and compile with pdflatex. If you compile with dvips and ps2pdf, pay attention to the driver settings

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  • How do I compile with pdflatex? I am new at this and have been using BakomaTex Word. – naspinski Oct 18 '11 at 22:14
  • I am not familiar with BakomaTex. Just open a command window in your working directory (where the mydocument.tex source is) and type at the prompt: C:\mydirectory>pdflatex mydocument.tex and the respective mydocument.pdf with proper size will be created. – pluton Oct 19 '11 at 1:07
7

Try the following:

\usepackage{geometry}
\geometry{letterpaper}

Here you'll find the documentation for the geometry package.

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2

Here is method without using a package:

\pdfpagewidth 8.5in
\pdfpageheight 11in
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