5 ms·

I've started using org-mode to write my papers, then convert to LaTeX. Not perfect, but I find it's more natural to write in org-mode and helps me focus on the

I've started using org-mode to write my papers, then convert to LaTeX. Not perfect, but I find it's more natural to write in org-mode and helps me focus on the content instead of drifting off onto the internet to research macros. (Now I can drift off to read HN instead, a vast improvement in non-productivity.) I've started thinking of TeX as the assembly language of document formatting, LaTeX as C, and org-mode as... pick your favorite higher-level language here, I'll go with Python. Not a perfect metaphor, but in terms of paper productivity it feels that way.

sophacles 16y ago
This is interesting. How do you do your conversion?
- johngunderman 16y ago
  M-x org-export-as-latex
tome 16y ago
Can you automatically convert from org-mode to LaTeX?
- peterb 16y ago
  To export to LaTeX, see: http://orgmode.org/org.html#LaTeX-and-PDF-export http://orgmode.org/org.html#LaTeX-and-PDF-export
- drunkpotato 16y ago
  M-x org-export or C-c C-e brings up a menu of options for export, including HTML, LaTeX, and Docbook. The org-mode manual has good information: http://orgmode.org/manual/LaTeX_002fPDF-export-commands.html http://orgmode.org/manual/LaTeX_002fPDF-export-commands.html
surki 16y ago
> Not perfect, but I find it's more natural to write in org-mode Do you have any specifics on the problems you faced? I produced my master thesis entirely using orgmode without any problem. (defined custom latex class, with different kind of ToC etc, not that difficult)
- drunkpotato 16y ago
  I suppose it depends on what you mean by "problems". I don't think org-mode is coming up short in some fashion. Org-mode is great for structural editing and tables, and simplifies some aspects of LaTeX (images, for sure). I still find myself "dropping down" into LaTeX. I don't think it's an inherent weakness in org-mode, it's just that now I keep track of org-mode and LaTeX commands.
- corruption 16y ago
  Can you post your custom latex class/org file? There aren't many good example of how to do that on the web that I've found, and it's something I'd love to get started on.
rbonvall 16y ago
> I've started thinking of TeX as the assembly language of document formatting I remember having read a Knuth interview saying exactly that's what he intended TeX to be. He was also surprised that everyone settled for LaTeX instead of creating their own TeX dialect designed specifically for their own needs.
scott_s 16y ago
Could you post a sample source in org-mode, the Latex it produced, and then the final pdf? I've tried going through documentation to get a feel for it, but everything I've found focuses on features in isolation, and are not focused on using it to write full papers.
- ciniglio 16y ago
  Not my work, but something I found after having my curiosity piqued by this thread: http://www.mail-archive.com/emacs-orgmode@gnu.org/msg04582.html http://www.mail-archive.com/emacs-orgmode@gnu.org/msg04582.h... . And here's the blog post that led me to it: http://www.mfasold.net/blog/2009/02/using-emacs-org-mode-to-draft-papers/ http://www.mfasold.net/blog/2009/02/using-emacs-org-mode-to-... .
strlen 16y ago
I tried using LaTeX with org-mode as well, but I've found that writing a paper / permanent document in LaTeX feels more natural than doing so in org-mode (org-mode being more suited to taking notes). I did use LaTeX to take notes all through college and it has certainly helped ingrain it well into my muscle memory.
bigfudge 16y ago
I've not tried org-mode, but I've started using Markdown with pandoc (http://johnmacfarlane.net/pandoc/ http://johnmacfarlane.net/pandoc/) to do much the same thing. Markdown makes actually writing much quicker and more readable, but you can still insert raw LaTeX where you want to do something extra (e.g. \cite). Additionally, Markdown is far less threatening to technophobe collaborators. I've successfully written grant applications with clinicians using Markdown in an etherpad document (free hosted version at http://piratepad.net/ http://piratepad.net/), which I later converted to LaTeX/pdf for submission. They would never have put up with writing lists or headings in straight LaTeX. EDIT:I should have stated that pandoc is a nice tool for conversion between a bunch of formats including Markdown, Latex, Html, s5, reST, RTF, epub and a few others. In response to the comments below about conversion to word always sucking, pandoc provides the least sucky attempt I've found so far.

sophacles 16y ago

This is interesting. How do you do your conversion?

johngunderman 16y ago
M-x org-export-as-latex

tome 16y ago

Can you automatically convert from org-mode to LaTeX?

peterb 16y ago
To export to LaTeX, see: http://orgmode.org/org.html#LaTeX-and-PDF-export http://orgmode.org/org.html#LaTeX-and-PDF-export
drunkpotato 16y ago
M-x org-export or C-c C-e brings up a menu of options for export, including HTML, LaTeX, and Docbook. The org-mode manual has good information: http://orgmode.org/manual/LaTeX_002fPDF-export-commands.html http://orgmode.org/manual/LaTeX_002fPDF-export-commands.html

surki 16y ago

> Not perfect, but I find it's more natural to write in org-mode Do you have any specifics on the problems you faced? I produced my master thesis entirely using orgmode without any problem. (defined custom latex class, with different kind of ToC etc, not that difficult)

drunkpotato 16y ago
I suppose it depends on what you mean by "problems". I don't think org-mode is coming up short in some fashion. Org-mode is great for structural editing and tables, and simplifies some aspects of LaTeX (images, for sure). I still find myself "dropping down" into LaTeX. I don't think it's an inherent weakness in org-mode, it's just that now I keep track of org-mode and LaTeX commands.
corruption 16y ago
Can you post your custom latex class/org file? There aren't many good example of how to do that on the web that I've found, and it's something I'd love to get started on.

rbonvall 16y ago

> I've started thinking of TeX as the assembly language of document formatting I remember having read a Knuth interview saying exactly that's what he intended TeX to be. He was also surprised that everyone settled for LaTeX instead of creating their own TeX dialect designed specifically for their own needs.

scott_s 16y ago

Could you post a sample source in org-mode, the Latex it produced, and then the final pdf? I've tried going through documentation to get a feel for it, but everything I've found focuses on features in isolation, and are not focused on using it to write full papers.

ciniglio 16y ago
Not my work, but something I found after having my curiosity piqued by this thread: http://www.mail-archive.com/emacs-orgmode@gnu.org/msg04582.html http://www.mail-archive.com/emacs-orgmode@gnu.org/msg04582.h... . And here's the blog post that led me to it: http://www.mfasold.net/blog/2009/02/using-emacs-org-mode-to-draft-papers/ http://www.mfasold.net/blog/2009/02/using-emacs-org-mode-to-... .

strlen 16y ago

I tried using LaTeX with org-mode as well, but I've found that writing a paper / permanent document in LaTeX feels more natural than doing so in org-mode (org-mode being more suited to taking notes). I did use LaTeX to take notes all through college and it has certainly helped ingrain it well into my muscle memory.

bigfudge 16y ago

I've not tried org-mode, but I've started using Markdown with pandoc (http://johnmacfarlane.net/pandoc/ http://johnmacfarlane.net/pandoc/) to do much the same thing. Markdown makes actually writing much quicker and more readable, but you can still insert raw LaTeX where you want to do something extra (e.g. \cite). Additionally, Markdown is far less threatening to technophobe collaborators. I've successfully written grant applications with clinicians using Markdown in an etherpad document (free hosted version at http://piratepad.net/ http://piratepad.net/), which I later converted to LaTeX/pdf for submission. They would never have put up with writing lists or headings in straight LaTeX. EDIT:I should have stated that pandoc is a nice tool for conversion between a bunch of formats including Markdown, Latex, Html, s5, reST, RTF, epub and a few others. In response to the comments below about conversion to word always sucking, pandoc provides the least sucky attempt I've found so far.