lyx_mirror/lib/doc/FAQ.lyx

#LyX 1.3 created this file. For more info see http://www.lyx.org/
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\layout Title

LyX Frequently Asked Questions with Answers 
\layout Author

by the LyX Team
\begin_inset Foot
collapsed false

\layout Standard
\noindent 
If you have comments or error corrections, please send them to the LyX Documenta
tion mailing list, <lyx-docs@lists.lyx.org>.
\end_inset 

 
\layout Abstract

This is the list of Frequently Asked Questions for LyX, the Open Source
 document processor that provides a What-You-See-Is-What-You-Mean environment
 for producing high quality documents.
 For further help, you may wish to contact the LyX User Group mailing list
 at 
\family typewriter 
lyx-users@lists.lyx.org
\family default 
 
\emph on 
after
\emph default 
 you have read through the docs.

\emph on 
 
\layout Abstract


\begin_inset LatexCommand \tableofcontents{}

\end_inset 


\layout Section

Introduction and General Information 
\layout Subsection

What is LyX? 
\layout Standard

LyX is a program that provides a more modern approach to writing documents
 with a computer, an approach that breaks with the obsolete tradition of
 the 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

typewriter concept.
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

 It is designed for authors who want professional output quickly with a
 minimum of effort without becoming specialists in typesetting.
 The job of typesetting is done mostly by the computer, not the author;
 with LyX, the author can concentrate on the contents of her writing.
\layout Standard

LyX provides an 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

almost-WYSIWYG
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

 view of the document.
 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

Almost
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

 means that the line- and page-breaks are not displayed exactly as they
 will appear in the printed document.
 However, that's not really necessary, since LyX uses a separate typesetter
 program (called LaTeX) to perform the final formatting of your text.
 While LyX contains everything it needs to be a comfortable user interface,
 the typesetting program contains everything necessary to format text, and
 do so very, very well.
 
\layout Standard

So, line- and page-breaks aren't your problem anymore.
 Remembering which number to use for the next subsection isn't your problem
 anymore.
 Recalling what font you used for all of your section headings isn't your
 problem anymore.
 You tell LyX (and LaTeX) what 
\emph on 
kind
\emph default 
 of document you're editing and what 
\emph on 
type
\emph default 
 of paragraph this-or-that text is, the computer can typeset it accordingly.
 Of course you can also still do some low-level formatting for fine-tuning.
 However, the proper way with LyX is to tell the computer what the text
 
\emph on 
is
\emph default 
, not what it should look like.
 So, we like to say that LyX gives you WYSIWYM editing (What You See Is
 What You 
\emph on 
Mean
\emph default 
).
\layout Subsection

That's fine, but is it useful?
\layout Standard

Absolutely.
 The following type of documents have been produced with LyX:
\layout Itemize

Memos
\layout Itemize

Letters
\layout Itemize

Dissertations (260 pages in a single document, longer using include files)
\begin_deeper 
\layout Itemize

for example, 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \url{http://www.fee.uva.nl/scholar/mdw/leuven/thesis.pdf}

\end_inset 


\end_deeper 
\layout Itemize

Lecture notes (133 pages, 27 figures on a 33 MHz 486 machine!) 
\layout Itemize

Seminar notebooks (500+ pages)
\layout Itemize

Conference proceedings (Proceedings of the Second Continental Workshop on
 the Geoid in Europe, (Finnish Geodetic Institute Report 98:4), 292 pages)
\layout Itemize

Software Documentation (the LyX User Guide is about 120 pages) 
\layout Itemize

Books 
\begin_deeper 
\layout Itemize

see 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \url{http://www.postgresql.org/docs/awbook.html}

\end_inset 

 for an example on PostgreSQL
\layout Itemize

Donnay, J-P., Barnsley, M.J., and Longley, P.A., eds., 2001, Remote Sensing and
 Urban Analysis (Taylor and Francis: London).
\layout Itemize

Herbert Voss: Praktische Kryptologie mit Java 286 pages, lots of equations,
 tables, figures.
 ISBN 3-8311-1458-7
\layout Itemize

Yann Collette and Patrick Siarry, Optimisation multiobjectifs, 2002, Eyrolles
\end_deeper 
\layout Itemize

Papers published in the following refereed journals:
\begin_deeper 
\layout Itemize

Astronomy & Astrophysics (Suetterlin, P.
 1998, A&A, 333, 305; Suetterlin, P.
 & Wiehr, E.
 1998, A&A, 336, 367)
\layout Itemize

Astronomical Journal (Ressler, M.
 E.
 & Barsony, M.
 2001, AJ, 121, 1098)
\end_deeper 
\layout Itemize

Novels (400+ page novel due out in September 2000; an 836 page novel is
 currently with an agent)
\layout Itemize

Scripts for plays and movies
\layout Itemize

Business proposals for > $1 M (US)
\layout Subsection

Where do I start? 
\layout Standard

The website 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \url{www.lyx.org}

\end_inset 

 is the first place to go for anything related to LyX.
 News, examples, downloads, and lots of other stuff is available there.
 After you have installed LyX and started it the first time, read the Tutorial
 (
\family sans 
Help\SpecialChar \menuseparator
Tutorial
\family default 
).
 Yes, I really mean that.
\layout Standard

Another basic introductory guide may be found at 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \url{www.bilkent.edu.tr/~robin/lyxguide.pdf}

\end_inset 


\layout Subsection

Does LyX run on my computer?
\layout Standard

At this time, you need to have the X Window system to run LyX.
 OS/2 and Win32 ports exist, but you need to have an Xserver
\emph on 
 
\emph default 
installed
\emph on 
 
\emph default 
and running on these systems.
 LyX is known to run on the following platforms (and probably a zillion
 others):
\layout Itemize

Linux: RedHat 4.2, 5.0, 5.1, 6.0, 6.1, SUSE 5.x, Mandrake 7.0, 7.2
\layout Itemize

SparcLinux: RedHat 6.0
\layout Itemize

Sun Solaris 2.6, 2.7
\layout Itemize

Tru64 Unix 4.0f
\layout Itemize

HP-UX
\layout Itemize

OSF1 flore V4.0 1091 alpha
\layout Subsection

How much hard disk space does LyX need? 
\layout Standard

On my system, the LyX binary consumes 2.0 MB of disk space, while the supporting
 files occupy another 12.6 MB (9.1 MB of which is consumed by the docs! You
 can delete the languages you don't care about to save some space).
 Of course, you do need to have something like teTeX installed which consumes
 a mere 115 MB, as well as ghostscript, which is another 10 MB!
\layout Subsection

Is LyX really Open Source? 
\layout Standard

Yes.
 The freely available X toolkit that LyX uses, xforms, was until recently
 closed source.
 Also the other toolkit that LyX uses, Qt, although a proprietary product
 of Troll Tech, is used in its open source variant.
 The LyX source itself is available under the GPL, so it qualifies.
 
\layout Standard

Version 1.0 of xforms is available under the LGPL and its sources (and binaries)
 can be found from 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \url{http://savannah.nongnu.org/download/xforms/xforms-1.0.tar.gz}

\end_inset 

, which however requires some tinkering to get running.
 Qt tends to come with your distribution.
\layout Section

Internet Resources
\layout Subsection

Where should I look on the World Wide Web for LyX stuff? 
\layout Itemize


\begin_inset LatexCommand \url{www.lyx.org}

\end_inset 


\layout Itemize


\begin_inset LatexCommand \url{bugzilla.lyx.org}

\end_inset 

, if you want to report a bug in LyX.
\layout Itemize


\begin_inset LatexCommand \url{www.devel.lyx.org}

\end_inset 

, if you are interested in the real blood and guts.
\layout Itemize

Known mirror sites include:
\begin_deeper 
\layout Itemize


\begin_inset LatexCommand \url{www.mx.lyx.org}

\end_inset 


\layout Itemize


\begin_inset LatexCommand \url{www.no.lyx.org}

\end_inset 


\layout Itemize


\begin_inset LatexCommand \url{www.it.lyx.org}

\end_inset 


\end_deeper 
\layout Subsection

Where can I get LyX material by FTP? 
\layout Itemize

ftp.lyx.org in /pub/lyx (also known as ftp.via.ecp.fr)
\layout Subsection

What mailing lists are there? 
\layout Itemize

lyx-announce@lists.lyx.org (very low volume), for announcements related to
 LyX
\layout Itemize

lyx-users@lists.lyx.org (medium volume), for general usage issues
\layout Itemize

lyx-devel@lists.lyx.org (high volume), for development and debugging issues
\layout Itemize

lyx-docs@lists.lyx.org (excruciatingly low volume), for documentation issues
 
\layout Standard

Generally, you would send email to lyx-foo-subscribe@lists.lyx.org to subscribe
 to these lists or to lyx-foo-unsubscribe@lists.lyx.org to unsubscribe, where
 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

foo
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

 is one of 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

announce
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

, 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

users
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

, 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

devel
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

, or 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

docs
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

; definitely see 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \url{http://www.lyx.org/internet/mailing.php3}

\end_inset 

 for the full details.
\layout Subsection

Are the mailing lists archived anywhere? 
\layout Standard

Yes.
 :-)
\layout Subsection

Okay, wise guy! Where are they archived?
\layout Itemize

Announce: 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \url{http://www.mail-archive.com/lyx-announce@lists.lyx.org/}

\end_inset 


\layout Itemize

Users: 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \url{http://www.mail-archive.com/lyx-users@lists.lyx.org/}

\end_inset 


\layout Itemize

Devel: 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \url{http://www.mail-archive.com/lyx-devel@lists.lyx.org/}

\end_inset 


\layout Section

Compatibility with other word/document processors
\layout Subsection

Can I read/write LaTeX files?
\layout Standard

Yes.
 LyX outputs LaTeX files that are either machine or human friendly.
 The 
\family typewriter 
tex2lyx
\family default 
 program that comes with LyX does a decent job of converting LaTeX into
 LyX.
 It's not perfect, but it will usually get at least 95% of the job done
 for you.
\layout Subsection

Can I read/write Word files?
\layout Standard

Not trivially.
 People have had some level of success with the following sequence: LyX
\begin_inset Formula $\rightarrow$
\end_inset 

LaTeX
\begin_inset Formula $\rightarrow$
\end_inset 

RTF
\begin_inset Formula $\rightarrow$
\end_inset 

Word, and vice versa.
 However, Word is inherently not a markup language like LyX and LaTeX are,
 so conversions are usually difficult and almost meaningless.
\layout Standard

However, here are a few suggestions which were sent in:
\layout Description

word2x produces LaTeX, HTML and plain text output.
 The LaTeX is importable in principle (and is rather clean) but I often
 prefer plain text and add the formatting back in.
 (This requires that you have knowledge on the original formatting).
 On last writing did not yet handle Office 2000 Word.
\layout Description

wvware (found at www.wvware.com, or the abisource CVS repository for the latest).
 This was previously called msWordView.
 Very good, only tends to produce visually formatted LaTeX/HTML.
 Is however highly configurable: a config file 
\family typewriter 
wvLaTeX.xml
\family default 
 guides the translation process.
 Handles also the newest Office formats.
\layout Description

Ted This is the editor to use when someone sends you an RTF file created
 by Word.
 Fine product.
 Mail yourself the converted version (plain text or HTML).
\layout Standard

Finally, when all else fails, use any word processor (WordPerfect, StarOffice/Op
enOffice, ...) which understands Word.
 Then export as the file as plain text and add the formatting by hand in
 LyX.
 
\layout Standard

For me personally, at least, it's faster doing this than cleaning up attempts
 at a conversion, though it is certainly unsatisfactory if you need to go
 back and forth a lot.
\layout Subsection

Can I read/write HTML files?
\layout Standard

You can output HTML files using the 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

tth
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

 converter program, amongst others.
 There may be a HTML
\begin_inset Formula $\rightarrow$
\end_inset 

LaTeX program available which allows you to convert the other direction.
\layout Section

Obtaining and Compiling LyX 
\layout Subsection

What do I need?
\layout Itemize

LyX source code: lyx-1.x.x.tar.gz
\layout Itemize

XForms library: xforms-0.88 or higher (using the latest version available
 is recommended)
\layout Itemize

A LaTeX installation: we strongly recommend teTeX-1.0 or higher
\layout Itemize

A PostScript<70> interpreter: ghostscript 7.0 or higher
\layout Itemize

A modern C++ compiler.
 If you are using gcc, LyX requires at least version 2.95.2.
\layout Subsection

How do I compile it?
\layout Itemize

./configure
\layout Itemize

make
\layout Itemize

make install (usually as root, though you don't have to be if you add flags
 to the configure command)
\layout Standard

See the INSTALL file for more details.
\layout Subsection

I hate compiling.
 Where are precompiled binaries?
\layout Standard

Most of the above packages are available as precompiled binaries for a variety
 of Linux systems, perhaps others as well.
 The LyX binaries are available as RPMS and a few other formats and may
 be obtained from 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \url{ftp://ftp.lyx.org/pub/lyx/bin/}

\end_inset 

.
\layout Standard

The Windows port is available at 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \url{http://www.fh-hannover.de/mbau/tim/hentschel/lyx/index.html}

\end_inset 


\layout Section

Questions about Evil Red Text (IMPORTANT!)
\layout Subsection

What is Evil Red Text (aka ERT)?
\layout Standard

ERT (Evil Red Text) refers to raw LaTeX commands which are inserted into
 your LyX document.
 Certain troglodytes in the development group coined this term when they
 complained about the unsightly appearance it leads to in LyX documents.
 The more enlightened among us know that it is extremely useful, even though
 it does qualify as URT (Ugly Red Text), but ERT seems to have stuck.
 
\layout Subsection

How do I enter Evil Red Text?
\layout Standard

Aesthetic arguments aside, many of the answers in this FAQ require that
 you use ERT, so whenever we say 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

insert the following LaTeX code
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

, do the following
\layout Enumerate

Click the TeX toolbar button or select 
\family sans 
\bar under 
I
\bar default 
nsert\SpecialChar \menuseparator

\bar under 
T
\bar default 
eX
\family default 
.
\layout Enumerate

Type the command as it is written in the normal way
\layout Subsection

The new ERT inset is really inconvenient !
\layout Standard

A lot of people have been complaining about the ERT inset introduced in
 version 1.2.0.
 However, since there is little hope of to see the old LaTeX font return
 from the grave (it was really a hack), here are a couple of things to ponder:
\layout Itemize

You can collapse the ERT like any other floats by using 
\family sans 
\bar under 
E
\bar default 
dit\SpecialChar \menuseparator
Open/C
\bar under 
l
\bar default 
ose float
\family default 
 (bound to 
\family sans 
C-i 
\family default 
by default)
\layout Itemize

You can also set it to 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

inlined
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

 by using the properties dialog obtained by right-clicking anywhere in the
 inset
\layout Subsection

Is there an alternative?
\layout Standard

LaTeX commands can also be inserted in the 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

LaTeX Preamble
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

, a form in LyX that is inserted verbatim into the LaTeX file which is generated
 during processing.
 This is especially useful for including nonstandard LaTeX packages, defining
 global shortcuts to be used within the document, etc.
\layout Section

Questions Related to Using LyX
\layout Standard

In this section, we attempt to address the truly most frequently asked questions.
 For a broader range of not-so-frequently asked questions and many 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

how do I?
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

 topics, see Herbert Voss' spectacular collection at 
\begin_inset LatexCommand \url{http://www.educat.hu-berlin.de/~voss/lyx}

\end_inset 

.
 You are doing yourself a large disservice if you don't check there before
 sending a message to the mailing lists!
\layout Subsection

General questions
\layout Subsubsection

How do I get rid of the date under the title?
\layout Standard

The simplest solution is to open the menu 
\family sans 
\bar under 
L
\bar default 
ayout\SpecialChar \menuseparator
P
\bar under 
r
\bar default 
eamble
\family default 
 and add the line
\layout LyX-Code


\backslash 
date{}
\layout Standard

in the preamble window.
\layout Subsubsection

How do I change the spacing in an Itemize/\SpecialChar \-
Enumerate/\SpecialChar \-
Description list environment
?
\layout Standard

You'll have to do this by hand: for example, for one particular list, you
 can add the following LaTeX code at the beginning of the list: 
\layout Standard


\family typewriter 

\backslash 
setlength{
\backslash 
itemsep}{0mm}
\layout Subsubsection

How do I number equations by section?
\layout Standard

Add the following two lines to your LaTeX preamble:
\layout LyX-Code


\backslash 
@addtoreset{equation}{section} 
\layout LyX-Code


\backslash 
renewcommand{
\backslash 
theequation}{
\backslash 
thesection.
\backslash 
arabic{equation}}
\layout Subsubsection

Is it possible to do this for figures and tables as well?
\layout Standard

Replace the phrase 
\family typewriter 

\backslash 
theequation
\family default 
 with 
\family typewriter 

\backslash 
thetable
\family default 
 or 
\family typewriter 

\backslash 
thefigure
\family default 
 and then replace 
\family typewriter 
equation
\family default 
 with 
\family typewriter 
table
\family default 
 or 
\family typewriter 
figure
\family default 
.
 Don't forget to adapt the 
\backslash 
@addtoreset command, too.
\layout Subsubsection

How do I change to footnote numbers to symbols (star, dagger, etc.)?
\layout Standard

Add 
\family typewriter 

\backslash 
renewcommand{
\backslash 
thefootnote}{
\backslash 
fnsymbol{footnote}}
\family default 
 to your LaTeX preamble.
\layout Subsubsection

How do I kill widows and orphans?
\layout Standard

Okay, we are not playing Duke Nukem here! To eliminate widows and orphans
 (first line from a paragraph at the bottom of the page and the last line
 from a paragraph at the top of the page), add the following to the LaTeX
 preamble:
\layout LyX-Code


\backslash 
widowpenalty=10000 
\layout LyX-Code


\backslash 
clubpenalty=10000 
\layout Standard

and perhaps
\layout LyX-Code


\backslash 
raggedbottom
\layout LyX-Code

\layout Subsubsection

How do I get a formatted list which starts with e.g.
 1.
 a)?
\layout Standard

If you want a list which looks like
\layout LyX-Code

1.
 a) First alternative 
\layout LyX-Code

   b) Second alternative 
\layout LyX-Code

   c) Third alternative
\layout Standard

then try the following
\layout LyX-Code

1.
 {} 
\layout LyX-Code

   a) First alternative 
\layout LyX-Code

   b) Second alternative 
\layout LyX-Code

   c) Third
\layout Standard

where {} is in ERT (i.e.
 a placeholder not generating output.
 Specifically, set the style to 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

enumerate
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

, enter the brackets in ERT, change the environment depth, and add the three
 elements.
 LyX will auto-label the entries.
\layout Subsubsection

How do I count words in LyX?
\layout Standard

Run a spellcheck; it will display the total number of words checked.
 Make sure the cursor is at the top of the document when you start the spellchec
ker so that everything is counted.
\layout Subsubsection

How do I insert a fixed amount of horizontal space?
\layout Standard

There are various ERT commands to use: 
\family typewriter 

\backslash 
enspace
\family default 
 (1/2 em), 
\family typewriter 

\backslash 
thinspace
\family default 
 (1/6 em), 
\family typewriter 

\backslash 
negthinspace
\family default 
 (-1/6 em), 
\family typewriter 

\backslash 
quad
\family default 
 (1 em), 
\family typewriter 

\backslash 
qquad
\family default 
 (2 em), 
\family typewriter 

\backslash 
hspace{
\emph on 
length
\emph default 
}
\family default 
, etc.
 An 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

em
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

 is roughly the width of the letter 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

m
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

 in the current font.
 The length argument of the 
\family typewriter 

\backslash 
hspace
\family default 
 command is any valid TeX length; units can be 
\family typewriter 
mm
\family default 
 (millimeters), 
\family typewriter 
cm
\family default 
 (centimeters), 
\family typewriter 
in
\family default 
 (inches), 
\family typewriter 
pt
\family default 
 (points = 1/72 inch), 
\family typewriter 
em
\family default 
 (width of letter 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

m
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

), or 
\family typewriter 
ex
\family default 
 (height of letter 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

x
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

).
 Examples: 
\family typewriter 

\backslash 
hspace{1in}
\family default 
, 
\family typewriter 

\backslash 
hspace{2.5em}
\family default 
, etc.
\layout Subsubsection

How can I make citations show up as [1,2,3,6] or [1-3,6] rather than [1][2][3][6
]?
\layout Standard

Insert 
\family typewriter 

\backslash 
usepackage{cite}
\family default 
 into the LaTeX preamble.
 Most LaTeX distributions should have this package included.
 LyX supports this package, if you insert multiple citations separated by
 commas into the citation dialog, e.
 g.
 [Smalley_JCP,Jarrold_Sci], instead of just one citation after the other:
 [Smalley_JCP] [Jarrold_Sci].
\layout Subsection

Figure related questions
\layout Subsubsection

What is the difference between a 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

figure
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

 and a 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

figure float
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

?
\layout Standard

This is an example of less-than-ideal terminology.
 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

Figure
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

 is what I would really call a 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

graphic
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

; it basically means insert a picture file.
 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

Figure float
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

 is more what one means by a figure in a paper: it includes the graphic,
 the caption, the figure label, etc.
 You should almost always insert a figure float first, then put a figure
 inside that.
\layout Standard

Tables work in the same manner.
 Put a table float in first, then insert the table within that.
\layout Subsubsection

How do I get LyX to put the figure exactly where I want it?
\layout Standard

Select 
\family sans 
Layout\SpecialChar \menuseparator
Document
\family default 
.
 In the 
\family sans 
Float Placement
\family default 
 box, type 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 


\family typewriter 
!htp
\family default 

\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

.
 This tells LaTeX to try really hard to put the figure here first, then
 the top of a page, then on a page by itself.
 This is a global setting: all figure will then obey this rule set.
\layout Standard

If you want to control how each figure behaves, right-click in the figure
 float and you will get a dialog allowing to control the figure behavior.
\layout Subsubsection

What does 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

Too many unprocessed floats
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

 mean?
\layout Standard

LaTeX can handle only a limited number of floating elements floating at
 a given time.
 For example, if Figure 4 can't be fit in a good location (using the default
 rules of top of the page, then bottom, then a page of its own) and Figure
 5 comes along, they will both continue to float toward the end of the document
 until a good location can be found.
 If nothing good turns up, they will just be placed at the end of the document.
 If there are too many of these, LaTeX overruns a counter and emits the
 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

too many unprocessed floats
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

 error.
 This is not a bug in LaTeX, this is simply too many figures with too little
 text :-)
\layout Standard

The easiest way to work around this is to insert a 
\family typewriter 

\backslash 
clearpage
\family default 
 command somewhere in the document where a pagebreak would be appropriate.
 While a pagebreak would simply start a new page, 
\family typewriter 

\backslash 
clearpage
\family default 
 processes all remaining floats, then begins a new page.
 This may lead to an unsightly stack of figures in the middle of your document;
 you may need to use several 
\family typewriter 

\backslash 
clearpages
\family default 
 to make things balance nicely.
\layout Subsection

Math related questions
\layout Subsubsection

How do I put normal text inside a mathematical equation?
\layout Standard

Type 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 


\family typewriter 
M-m m
\family default 

\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

 while inside the equation to enter 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

math text mode
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

.
\layout Subsubsection

How do I make a cube root (or higher)?
\layout Standard

Type 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 


\family typewriter 
M-m r
\family default 

\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

 to insert a nifty 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

root box
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

.
 Use the cursor keys to navigate the entry boxes.
\layout Section

Questions Related to Running LyX
\layout Subsection

How do I convert LyX files to LaTeX from the command line?
\layout Standard

File export was vastly improved in version 1.1.6.
 Simply say
\layout LyX-Code

lyx --export latex <yourfile>.lyx
\layout Standard

and that is all you need to do.
\layout Standard

If you have an older version of LyX, you can use the same syntax if you
 are running X, because it will cause LyX windows to pop up onto your screen.
 If you have the Xvfb command available, you can resort to a deeper level
 of subterfuge (under 
\family typewriter 
bash
\family default 
):
\layout Standard


\family typewriter 
(Xvfb :1 -once -terminate &); rm <file>.tex; lyx -display :1 --export latex
 <file>.lyx
\layout Standard
\noindent 
Under csh/tcsh it is simply
\layout Standard


\family typewriter 
Xvfb :1 -once -terminate &; rm <file>.tex; lyx -display :1 --export latex
 <file>.lyx
\layout Standard
\noindent 
This should work anywhere, whether or not X is actually running.
\layout Subsection

How do I create PDF files from my LyX document?
\layout Standard

Read Section 5.3.6 of the 
\emph on 
Extended Features
\emph default 
 manual.
\layout Subsection

Why do the fonts in my document look so bad in 
\family typewriter 
acroread
\family default 
 ?
\layout Standard

The problem and the solution are also discussed in Section 5.3.6 of the 
\emph on 
Extended Features
\emph default 
 manual.
\layout Subsection

Why doesn't my latest and greatest version of Ghostscript render EPS inline
 figures properly?
\layout Standard

[Note: this only applies to versions of LyX older than 1.2.0, since the graphics
 rendering code has been rewritten in this version]
\layout Standard

A couple of users reported that they couldn't get recent Ghostscript versions
 to display inline figures in LyX.
 It transpires that this is a Ghostscript bug:
\layout Standard


\begin_inset LatexCommand \url{http://sourceforge.net/bugs/?func=detailbug&bug_id=124957&group_id=1897}

\end_inset 


\layout Standard
\noindent 
This bug appears to affect Ghostscript 6.22 and upwards.
 After applying the above mentioned patch, rendering in Lyx works fine again.
 GNU Ghostscript 6.53 and above include this fix.
\layout Section

Questions Related to LyX on Windows
\layout Subsection

Why do the menus and the toolbar flicker ?
\layout Standard

You are probably using the XWin32 X server.
 This is a bug in XWin32: you can work around the problem by disabling the
 
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset 

Use Reserved Colors
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset 

 option of XWin32, and using a color mode other than PseudoColor.
\layout Section

How to get further assistance
\layout Subsection

You still haven't answered my question! 
\layout Standard

Then RTFM, especially the Tutorial.
 The documentation really is quite good.
 (Besides, I helped write parts of it :-) If you think your problem may
 be LaTeX related, then look in 
\emph on 
LaTeX, A Document Preparation System, 2nd Ed.

\emph default 
 by Leslie Lamport (1994).
 There are also numerous example files included with LyX.
 Try 
\family sans 
File\SpecialChar \menuseparator
Open\SpecialChar \menuseparator
Examples
\family default 
.
\layout Subsection

I want to mail someone about my problem.
 
\layout Standard

Send email to the LyX Users list lyx-users@lists.lyx.org.
 If LyX is actually crashing or otherwise non-functional, then try the developer
s' list at lyx-devel@lists.lyx.org.
\layout Subsection

What to put in a request for help.
\layout Standard

Include your version of LyX and a description of what you are trying to
 do, along with evidence that you've actually read the docs.
\layout Standard

If LyX has crashed, include the version of LyX, the operating system, the
 version of xforms (if it seems to be a screen drawing problem), and a precise
 description of the events that lead to the crash.
 The easier it is for the developers to reproduce your crash, the more likely
 it will get fixed.
 If you're brave and like to hack, use gdb to generate a backtrace and include
 the results with your mail.
 If you have no clue what I'm talking about, just describe what you did
 as completely as you can.
\layout Section

Administrative information and acknowledgments
\layout Subsection

Feedback is invited.
 
\layout Standard

Send comments, suggested additions, world record document claims, etc.
 to 
\emph on 
lyx-docs@lists.lyx.org.
\layout Subsection

Formats in which this FAQ is available.
 
\layout Standard

The LyX file original is included in the LyX source distribution, converted
 versions in HTML and ASCII should soon be available at the website.
 A German version is also available with the distribution.
\layout Subsection

Authorship and acknowledgments.
\layout Standard

Bernhard Iselborn, David Johnson, and Paul Evans were responsible for the
 FAQ through version 0.2.2 which covered LyX-0.10.7.
 The FAQ as of version 0.3.0 was written from scratch and covers LyX-1.0 and
 higher.
 Many people contributed pieces to the current version; Mike Ressler of
 the Doc Team collected them into this file.
\layout Subsection

Disclaimer and Copyright.
 
\layout Standard

I don't claim anything in this document is accurate to within a factor of
 
\begin_inset Formula $\pi$
\end_inset 

; after all, I'm just an astronomer, and we like to set 
\begin_inset Formula $c=h=k=\pi=1$
\end_inset 

.
 When the answer is wrong, we just redefine the units.
 This file is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
 ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS
 FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
 See the GNU General Public License for more details.
 In other words, it's not my fault if you lose your dissertation the night
 before your doctoral defense because you forgot to save it before the power
 failed while wondering how a fundamental physical constant expressed in
 units of 
\begin_inset Formula $\textrm{m s}^{-1}$
\end_inset 

 could possibly be equal to one expressed as 
\begin_inset Formula $\textrm{kg m s}^{-2}\textrm{ K}^{-1}$
\end_inset 

.
 This file is Copyright <20> 2000 by Michael E.
 Ressler on behalf of the LyX Documentation Team.
\the_end