7

I am creating SVG files from different stuff from my LaTeX document. For this, I am using the standalone package followed by pdf2svg.

This compiles:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{algorithmicx}
\usepackage{algpseudocode}

\begin{document}
    \begin{algorithmic}
        \Function {$foo$}{$id$}
        \EndFunction
    \end{algorithmic}
\end{document}

Using standalone instead of article crashes with:

! LaTeX Error: Something's wrong--perhaps a missing \item.

See the LaTeX manual or LaTeX Companion for explanation.
Type  H <return>  for immediate help.
 ...                                              

l.8             \Function
                 {$foo$}{$id$}

What can I do? I need to export my algorithms to PDF/SVG.

My versions:

  • standalone.cls 2012/05/20 v1.1a
  • algorithmicx.sty 2005/04/27 v1.2

UPDATE: 27.06.2012 The same is happening with align:

\begin{document}
    \begin{align*}
    a\\
    b
    \end{align*}
\end{document}

The v-box hack helps:

\begin{document}
\vbox{
    \begin{align*}
    a\\
    b
    \end{align*}
}
\end{document}
Improve this question
8
  • 1
    You can put your algorithm into a \vbox also with \setlength{\textwidth}{5cm} as a ugly hack.
    – percusse
    Jun 26, 2012 at 18:07
  • 1
    For reference, this does not happen with standalone on ScribTeX: 2010/03/27 v0.3a and the most current version of algorithmicx: 2005/04/27 v1.2.
    – Werner ♦
    Jun 26, 2012 at 18:15
  • On windows 7 and texlive 2011, i get the same error as Dennis with standalone. Yes on ScribTex its working normally. Its surprising why this difference.
    – texenthusiast
    Jun 26, 2012 at 18:29
  • Why does the \vbox-hack works? The setlength-hack does not work for me.
    – Dennis
    Jun 26, 2012 at 18:42
  • 1
    Put the setlength command in your preamble after the package declarations to shorten the width. The reason for the functionality is that we hide the linebreaks and other complications into a box such that standalone just sees a box to be shown. And setlength helps to reduce the width of the box.
    – percusse
    Jun 26, 2012 at 18:59

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
6

Use either the preview or the varwidth class option of standalone. As described in the manual the default is crop (not preview) since v1.0 and this does not support paragraphs or lists (and the mentioned environments are apparently based on lists).

Improve this answer
5
  • Fyi: the manual for v1.1a says in the Introduction: The class uses by default the preview package
    – Dennis
    Jun 28, 2012 at 15:08
  • @Dennis: Mmm, maybe there is some old sentence somewhere. The description of the options however clearly states that crop is the default.
    – Martin Scharrer
    Jun 28, 2012 at 18:59
  • you're right. Because of that sentence I'm using crop so far. So I can just skip it :)
    – Dennis
    Jun 28, 2012 at 21:09
  • Unfortunately, this fix doesn't work for me. Maybe because I'm also using a class class option? But when I use \documentclass[preview, class=myclass]{standalone}, I keep getting the error as above.
    – Czechnology
    May 25, 2017 at 20:58
  • @Czechnology: Please provide a minimal working example which causes this error for you. You can post a follow-up question for this.
    – Martin Scharrer
    May 27, 2017 at 13:01

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