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#LyX 1.3 created this file. For more info see http://www.lyx.org/
\lyxformat 221
\textclass book
\language english
\inputencoding default
\fontscheme default
\graphics default
\paperfontsize default
\spacing single
\papersize Default
\paperpackage a4
\use_geometry 0
\use_amsmath 0
\use_natbib 0
\use_numerical_citations 0
\paperorientation portrait
\secnumdepth 2
\tocdepth 2
\paragraph_separation indent
\defskip medskip
\quotes_language english
\quotes_times 2
\papercolumns 1
\papersides 2
\paperpagestyle default
\layout Title
Introduction to LyX
\layout Author
by the LyX Team
\begin_inset Foot
collapsed true
\layout Standard
Principal maintainer of this file is
\noun on
John Weiss
\noun default
.
If you have comments or error corrections, please send them to the LyX
Documentation mailing list, <lyx-docs@lists.lyx.org>.
\end_inset
\layout Standard
\begin_inset LatexCommand \tableofcontents{}
\end_inset
\layout Chapter
The Philosophy of LyX
\layout Quote
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
Uncle Cosmo, why do they call this a word processor?
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
\layout Quote
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
It's simple, Skyler.
You've seen what food processors do to food, right?
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
\layout Quote
\hfill
--- Jeff MacNelly in
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
Shoe
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
\layout Section
What is LyX?
\layout Standard
LyX is a document preparation system.
It excels at letting you create complex technical and scientific articles
with mathematics, cross-references, bibliographies, indices, etc.
It is very good at documents of any length in which the usual processing
abilities are required: automatic sectioning and pagination, spellchecking,
and so forth.
It can also be used to write a letter to your mom, though granted, there
are probably simpler programs available for that.
It is definitely not the best tool for creating banners, flyers, or advertiseme
nts (we'll explain why later), though with some effort all these can be
done, too.
Some examples of what it is used for: memos, letters, dissertations and
theses, lecture notes, seminar notebooks, conference proceedings, software
documentation, books (on PostgreSQL, remote sensing, cryptology, fictional
novels, poetry, and even a children's book or two), articles in refereed
scientific journals, scripts for plays and movies, business proposals \SpecialChar \ldots{}
you get the idea.
\layout Standard
LyX is a program that provides a modern approach to writing documents with
a computer by using a markup language paradigm, 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
Part of the initial challenge of using LyX comes from the change in thinking
that you, the user, must make.
At one time, all we had for creating documents were typewriters, so we
all learned certain tricks to get around their limitations.
Underlining, which is little more than overstriking with the
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
_
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
character, became a way to emphasize text.
You were forced to figure out column sizes and tab stops, and set them,
before creating a table.
The same applied for letters and other right justified text.
Hyphenation at the end of a line required a careful eye and a lot of foresight.
\layout Standard
In other words, we've all been trained to worry about the little details
of which character goes where.
Consequently, almost all word processors have this mentality.
They still use tab stops for adding whitespace.
You still need to worry about exactly where on the page something will
appear.
Emphasizing text means changing a font, similar to changing the typewriter
wheel.
This is the underlying philosophy of a WYSIWYG word processor:
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
What You See Is What You Get
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
.
Unfortunately, that paradigm often results in
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
What You See Is All You Get
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
.
\layout Standard
This is where LyX differs from an ordinary word processor.
You don't concern yourself with what character goes where.
You tell LyX
\emph on
what you're doing
\emph default
and LyX takes care of the rest, following a set of rules called a
\emph on
style.
\emph default
\begin_inset Foot
collapsed true
\layout Standard
To be fair, most recent versions of the most popular office suites now have
some sort of style sheets which follow a similar markup method.
However, our experience is that they are still rarely used in practice.
\end_inset
Let's look at a little example:
\layout Standard
Suppose you are writing a report.
To begin your report, you want a section called
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
Introduction\SpecialChar \@.
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
So, you go into whatever menu it is in your word processor that changes
font sizes and decide on a new font size.
Then you turn on bold face.
Then you type,
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
1.\SpecialChar ~
\SpecialChar ~
Introduction
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
.
Of course, if you later decide that this section belongs someplace else
in the document, or if you insert a new section before it, you need to
change the numbering for this and all following sections, as well as any
entry in the table of contents.
\layout Standard
In LyX, you go to the pull-down on the far left of the button bar and select
\family sans
Section
\family default
, and type
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
Introduction\SpecialChar \@.
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
\layout Standard
Yes, that's all.
If you cut and paste the section, it will automatically be renumbered ---
everywhere.
And if you enter references to that section correctly (by inserting cross-refer
ence tags), LyX will automatically update them all throughout the file so
that you never, ever type a section number.
\layout Standard
Now let's look at the problem of consistency.
Five days later, you reopen your report and start Section\SpecialChar ~
4.
However, you forget that you were using 18pt bold instead of 16pt, so you
type in the heading for Section\SpecialChar ~
4 in a different font that what you used
for Section\SpecialChar ~
1.
That problem doesn't even exist in LyX.
The computer takes care of all that silly bookkeeping about which thing
has what size font, not you.
After all, that's what a computer is good at.
\layout Standard
Here's another example.
Suppose you're making a list.
In other word processors, a list is just a bunch of tab stops and newlines.
You need to figure out where to put the label for each list item, what
that label should be, how many blank lines to put between each item, and
so on.
Under LyX, you have only two concerns: what kind of list is this, and what
do I want to put in it.
That's it.
\layout Standard
So, the basic idea behind LyX is: specify
\emph on
what
\emph default
you're doing, not
\emph on
how
\emph default
to do it.
Instead of
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
What You See Is What You Get,
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
the LyX model is
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
What You See Is What You
\emph on
Mean
\emph default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
or
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
WYSIWYM.
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
It's a powerful idea that greatly simplifies the mechanics of writing documents.
This is also why LyX isn't so good for creating posters and flyers---in
this case, you
\emph on
do
\emph default
want to specify exactly where everything goes, because there are no functional
units like paragraphs, sections, etc.
This doesn't mean LyX is missing some cool function.
It simply means that it isn't the right tool for the job --- you don't
use a screwdriver to drive in nails (unless your screwdriver comes with
a lifetime warranty).
\layout Section
Differences between LyX and Other Word
\newline
Processors
\begin_inset OptArg
collapsed true
\layout Standard
LyX and Other Word Processors
\end_inset
\begin_inset Foot
collapsed true
\layout Standard
No, we're not trying to start (or win) a word processor holy war here.
But we do think it's important to describe LyX's features.
And one of LyX's main features, WYSIWYM, is a fundamentally different concept
than the one that most of people have about word processing.
\end_inset
\layout Standard
Here's a list of things you won't find in LyX:
\layout Itemize
The document ruler
\layout Itemize
Tab stops
\layout Itemize
Extra whitespace (i.e.
hitting
\family sans
Enter
\family default
or
\family sans
Space
\family default
two or more times)
\layout Standard
Tab stops, along with a ruler showing you the position of things on the
page, are useless in LyX.
The program worries about where things go on the page, not you.
Extra whitespace is similar; LyX adds them where necessary, depending on
context.
Not being able to type two blank lines in a row will be annoying at first,
but it makes more sense once you're thinking in WYSIWYM terms.
\layout Standard
Here are some things that exist in LyX, but aren't used as you might think:
\layout Itemize
Indenting controls
\layout Itemize
Page breaks
\layout Itemize
Line spacing (i.e.
single spaced, double spaced, etc.)
\layout Itemize
Whitespace, horizontal and vertical
\layout Itemize
Fonts and font sizes
\layout Itemize
Typefaces (bold, italic, underline, etc.)
\layout Standard
Although they exist in LyX, you generally don't need them.
LyX will take care of these things for you, depending on what you're doing.
Different parts of the document are automatically set in a different typeface
and font size.
Paragraph indenting is context dependent; different types of paragraphs
get indented differently.
Page breaks get handled automatically, as well.
In general, the space between lines, between words, and between paragraphs
is variable, set by LyX.
\begin_inset Foot
collapsed true
\layout Standard
There are ways to adjust all of these (only some of which require knowledge
of LaTeX), either for a whole document or for a specific location in a
document.
See the
\emph on
User's Guide
\emph default
and/or the
\emph on
Extended Features
\emph default
manual for details.
\end_inset
\layout Standard
Lastly, there are a few areas where we believe LyX (and LaTeX) surpasses
many word processors:
\layout Itemize
Hyphenation
\layout Itemize
Lists of any type
\layout Itemize
Mathematics
\layout Itemize
Tables
\layout Itemize
Cross-referencing
\layout Standard
Granted, many modern word processors can handle mathematical symbols, tables,
and hyphenation, and many have moved towards style definitions and the
WYSIWYM concept.
However, they've only recently been able to do so, whereas LyX is built
upon the LaTeX document preparation system.
LaTeX has been around for over 15 years, and
\emph on
works
\emph default
.
\layout Section
What the heck
\emph on
is
\emph default
LaTeX (and why do I care)?
\layout Standard
LaTeX is a document preparation system designed by Leslie Lamport in 1985.
\begin_inset Foot
collapsed true
\layout Standard
The source for the info in this section is
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\emph on
A Guide to LaTeX2e
\emph default
,
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
by Helmut Kopka and Patrick Daly, which has an entry in the bibliography
of the
\emph on
User's Guide
\emph default
\SpecialChar \@.
\end_inset
It, in turn, was built up from a typesetting language called TeX, created
by Donald Knuth in 1984.
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
TeX
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
is pronounced like
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
blech!
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
which is how many people feel about it.
However, most folks don't understand just what TeX is.
TeX takes a sequence of typesetting commands, written in a script in an
ASCII file, and executes them.
It's a bit more complicated than a typewriter, but not nearly as involved
as an actual printing press; however, many of the
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
tricks
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
of the printing trade were modeled by Knuth as computer algorithms and
incorporated into TeX, thus its excellent printed appearance.
In any case, what comes directly out of TeX is the so-called
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
device independent
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
format file, or
\family typewriter
dvi
\family default
for short.
You can then feed the
\family typewriter
dvi
\family default
file to anything that understands
\family typewriter
dvi
\family default
, or converts
\family typewriter
dvi
\family default
to other formats like PostScript<70>, PDF, etc.
\layout Standard
If it weren't for one other feature, all TeX would be is a typesetting engine.
However, TeX also allows you to define macros.
This is where the action begins.
\layout Standard
Most people who use TeX are actually using a macro package which Knuth created
to hide a lot of the typesetting details.
This is what most people think of when they think of TeX\SpecialChar \@.
Ordinary users
don't work with raw TeX, which are the bare-bones typesetting commands.
People creating new macro-packages do that.
This is where Leslie Lamport enters our story.
He wanted a macro package that was more user-oriented and less typesetter-orien
ted, a set of commands that consistently typeset things like sections or
tables or math formulae in a uniform, consistent fashion with as little
fuss as possible.
This is how LaTeX was born.
\layout Standard
Now, in parallel with the development and growth of LaTeX, other folks were
creating their own custom macro packages for TeX, ones to make slides or
articles for math journals and so on.
Some used the raw TeX facilities to do this, others began modifying LaTeX.
To try and unify this mess, a team of LaTeX-nicians (including Lamport,
of course) began to work on LaTeX2e, the current version of LaTeX, during
the late 1980's.
This new version of LaTeX has commands which provide an easier-to-use interface
to TeX's macro-creating commands (remember TeX?), aid in the use of new
fonts, and so on.
In fact, LaTeX is quite an extensive language in its own right! Users around
the world have been creating their own add-ons for LaTeX beyond the standard
ones.
\layout Standard
There are two ways to extend LaTeX: classes and styles.
A
\emph on
class
\emph default
is a set of LaTeX (and TeX) macros describing a new type of document, like
a book, or an article.
There are classes for slides, for physics and math journals\SpecialChar \ldots{}
many universities
even have a class for their thesis format! A
\emph on
style
\emph default
differs from a class in that it doesn't define a new type of document,
but a different type of
\emph on
behavior
\emph default
that any document can use.
For example, LyX controls page margins and line spacing using two different
LaTeX style-files designed for these purposes.
There are style-files for a whole slew of things: printing labels or envelopes,
changing indentation behavior, adding new fonts, manipulating graphics,
designing fancy page headings, customizing bibliographies, altering the
location and appearance of footnotes, tables, and figures, customizing
lists, et cetera.
\layout Standard
Here's a summary:
\layout List
\labelwidthstring 00.00.0000
TeX: Typesetting language with macro capability.
\layout List
\labelwidthstring 00.00.0000
LaTeX: Macro package built upon TeX\SpecialChar \@.
\layout List
\labelwidthstring 00.00.0000
classes: Descriptions of a type of document, using LaTeX\SpecialChar \@.
\layout List
\labelwidthstring 00.00.0000
styles: Alters the default behavior of LaTeX in some way.
\layout List
\labelwidthstring 00.00.0000
LyX: Visual, WYSIWYM word-processor that uses LaTeX in all its glory to
do its printing.
\layout Standard
The idea of this section was to try and explain
\emph on
why
\emph default
LyX works somewhat differently from other word processors.
The reason is simple: LyX uses LaTeX as its printing backend.
Just like LaTeX, LyX focuses on the context of your writing ---
\emph on
what
\emph default
you are typing.
The computer then handles how it should look.
\layout Standard
Oh --- one last thing.
LaTeX is pronounced like TeX is.
It rhymes with
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
hey blech.
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
\begin_inset Foot
collapsed true
\layout Standard
or
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
ha blech
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
, depending on how you pronounce your
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
a
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
s\SpecialChar \ldots{}
\end_inset
Usually.
Lamport says in his book, though, that
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\emph on
lay
\emph default
-tecks is also possible
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
.
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
LyX,
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
on the other hand, is pronounced
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
licks.
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
Or
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
lucks,
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
or
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
looks,
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
depending on what country you're from \SpecialChar \ldots{}
but numerous holy wars and flame
fests have been started over this issue on the LyX mailing lists, so please
just pronounce it however you please.
Just don't pronounce it
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
word
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
.
\family typewriter
:-)
\layout Chapter
Navigating the Documentation
\layout Standard
To make it easier to answer your questions and describe all of the features
of LyX, the documentation has been split up into several different files.
Each one has its own purpose, as described below.
Before you go plowing into any of those files, however, you should read
this chapter thoroughly first, since it contains a lot of useful information
and commentary that can save you some time.
\layout Standard
Although LyX is now well past the
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
version 1.0
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
mark, some of the documentation may be incomplete or a bit out of date,
though we try to keep up.
Like the rest of LyX, the manuals are the work of a group of volunteers
who have
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
Real Jobs
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
, families, dishes to clean, kitty litter to dispose of, et cetera.
If you want to help out, be sure to read Section\SpecialChar ~
\begin_inset LatexCommand \ref{sec:Contrib}
\end_inset
in addition to the rest of this document.)
\layout Standard
Also, please do us a favor---if anything in these manuals confuses you,
is unclear, or wrong, don't hesitate to let us know! You can reach the
current document maintainers by mailing to
\family typewriter
lyx-docs@lists.lyx.org
\family default
.
If you have questions which are not obviously answered in the documentation,
and need help fast, there is an active users' mailing list which you can
reach at
\family typewriter
lyx-users@lists.lyx.org
\family default
.
\layout Section
The Format of the Manuals
\layout Standard
Some of you may have printed out the manual(s).
Others may be reading it online, within LyX as a file.
For those reading online, there are some differences from the printed version.
First, the title is simply at the top of the document, not formatted on
a separate page as in some of the printed versions.
Nor are any of the footnotes or the Table of Contents visible.
To open a footnote, which looks like this,
\begin_inset Foot
collapsed true
\layout Standard
Hi!
\layout Standard
To close me, click on the grey box on the top left of this box, the one
with the word
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
foot
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
in it.
\end_inset
click on it with the left mouse button.
For the Table of Contents, either click on the grey box, or click on the
\family sans
\bar under
N
\bar default
avigate
\family default
menu, where the contents are displayed automatically\SpecialChar \@.
(Try it!)
\layout Standard
In the printed manuals, all cross-references appear as the actual numbers
for a chapter, section, subsection, and so on.
Online, however, all cross-references appear as a grey box like the following:
\begin_inset LatexCommand \ref{sec:Contrib}
\end_inset
.
(The printed manuals show a number instead.) If you click on that box with
the left mouse button, a dialog box will appear containing a list of all
the cross-references in the document.
This introduction has only one named
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
sec:Contrib
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
.
You can go to the section the referred to by clicking the button labeled
"Go to reference".
Going back to where you came from is just as easy.
Clicking on
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
Go back
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
or typing
\family sans
C-<
\family default
will take you back to your earlier location.
(What does
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
C-<
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
mean? See below.)
\layout Standard
Now that we've cleared up some of the differences between the printed and
online versions of this file, we can start looking at the format of this
document.
You'll occasionally notice things in different fonts:
\layout Itemize
\emph on
Emphasized Style
\emph default
is used for general emphasis, generic arguments, book titles, names of
sections of other manuals, and notes from the authors.
\layout Itemize
\family typewriter
Typewriter
\family default
is used for program and file names, LaTeX code, and LyX code and functions.
\layout Itemize
\family sans
Sans Serif
\family default
is used for menu, button, or dialog box names, and the names of keyboard
keys.
\layout Itemize
\noun on
Noun Style
\noun default
is used for people's names.
\layout Standard
For menu accelerator keys and other more obscure keybindings, you'll probably
get referred to the
\emph on
Key Bindings
\emph default
section of the
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\emph on
Extended Features Manual
\emph default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
(the file
\family typewriter
Extended.lyx
\family default
).
When we do need to reference keys, we'll use the following prefixing convention
:
\layout Itemize
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
C-
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
indicates the
\family sans
Control-
\family default
key.
\layout Itemize
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
S-
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
indicates the
\family sans
Shift-
\family default
key.
\layout Itemize
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
M-
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
indicates the
\family sans
Meta-
\family default
key, which on some keyboards will be the
\family sans
Alt-
\family default
key.
\layout Itemize
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
F1
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
\SpecialChar \ldots{}
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
F12
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
are the function keys.
\layout Itemize
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
Esc
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
is the escape key.
\layout Itemize
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
Left
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
Right
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
Up
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
Down
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
: self-explanatory.
\layout Itemize
\family sans
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
Insert
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
Delete
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
Home
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
End
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
PageUp
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
PageDown
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
: these are the 6 keys that appear above the cursor keys on many PC keyboards.
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
PageUp
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
and
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
PageDown
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
are called
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
Prior
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
and
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family sans
Next
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
on some keyboards.
\layout Itemize
\family sans
Return
\family default
and
\family sans
Enter
\family default
both refer to the same key.
Some keyboards label the
\family sans
Return
\family default
key as
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
Return,
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
others as
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
Enter,
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
still others have two keys.
LyX treats all of them as the same key, so we'll use
\family sans
Return
\family default
and
\family sans
Enter
\family default
interchangeably.
\layout Standard
You'll also see something like
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
(See
\emph on
\begin_inset Quotes els
\end_inset
Extended
\emph default
\begin_inset Quotes ers
\end_inset
)
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
from time to time.
We've listed the possible default keybindings for a function in its entry
in the
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\emph on
Extended Features Manual
\emph default
,
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
so check there, too.
Note that there are two different keybinding maps in common use in the
LyX community: the
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
CUA
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
style which is the default and familiar to those coming from the PC world,
and the
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
emacs
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
style, which is common with those who
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
grew up
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
on Unix systems and use the Emacs editor.
Unless specifically noted, the keybindings in the documentation are from
the default CUA map.
If you like Emacs, you should be smart enough to read the documentation
and figure out the bindings on your own.
\layout Section
The Manuals
\layout Standard
The following list describes the contents of each of the files in the documentat
ion:
\layout Description
\emph on
Introduction
\begin_deeper
\layout Standard
This file.
\end_deeper
\layout Description
\emph on
Tutorial
\begin_deeper
\layout Standard
If you are new to LyX, and have never used LaTeX before, you should start
here.
If you think LaTeX is the stuff they make condoms out of, then you definitely
need to reread Chapter 1, then read the
\emph on
Tutorial
\emph default
.
Note that after you read the
\emph on
Tutorial
\emph default
, you'll probably still think LaTeX is some stretchy substance --- but you
\emph on
will
\emph default
know how to use LyX.
\layout Standard
If you
\emph on
have
\emph default
used LaTeX before, you should still read the
\emph on
Tutorial
\emph default
, starting with the section on
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
LyX for LaTeX users.
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
(Skimming the rest of the document wouldn't hurt, either.)
\layout Standard
If, at any time, you find yourself feeling a bit clueless with respect to
LyX, try perusing the
\emph on
Tutorial
\emph default
before diving into any of the other manuals.
It's a good springboard.
\end_deeper
\layout Description
\emph on
User's\SpecialChar ~
Guide
\begin_deeper
\layout Standard
The primary documentation.
We'll cover
\emph on
most
\emph default
of the basic operation and available features of LyX here.
The main manual assumes that you've read the
\emph on
Tutorial
\emph default
.
\end_deeper
\layout Description
\emph on
Extended\SpecialChar ~
Features
\begin_deeper
\layout Standard
Extension of the
\emph on
User's Guide
\emph default
.
Documents how to use raw LaTeX commands, additional layouts, and special-purpos
e editing features, and includes some of the (rather bizarre, but nifty)
tricks of the LaTeX masters.
\end_deeper
\layout Description
\emph on
Customization
\begin_deeper
\layout Standard
A description of advanced LyX features, including how to customize the overall
behavior of LyX\SpecialChar \@.
This includes such things as keybindings, internationalization,
and configuration files.
Don't even think of going in here until you read the
\emph on
Tutorial
\emph default
.
\end_deeper
\layout Description
\emph on
LaTeX\SpecialChar ~
configuration
\begin_deeper
\layout Standard
LyX investigates your system upon installation.
This file contains info on what LyX learned about your installation.
Check it to see if you're missing something you might like to have.
\end_deeper
\layout Standard
These files will reference one another as necessary.
For example, the
\emph on
User's Guide
\emph default
contains
\emph on
some
\emph default
information on installation and customization, but refers the reader to
the
\emph on
Customization Manual
\emph default
for more information.
\layout Standard
We'll state again an important point:
\layout Standard
\added_space_top bigskip \added_space_bottom bigskip \align center
If you are new to LyX, read the
\emph on
Tutorial
\emph default
.
Now\SpecialChar \@.
\layout Standard
Otherwise, you could needlessly frustrate yourself.
LyX does all that you need a word processor to do, but using a different
approach.
\layout Chapter
\begin_inset LatexCommand \label{sec:Contrib}
\end_inset
Contributing to the LyX Project
\layout Section
Contributing to LyX
\layout Standard
LyX is mostly written in C++ (the LaTeX importer is written in Perl).
It is a large project, and as a result it is not free from bugs, or the
need for improvements in the source code.
\layout Subsection
Reporting a bug
\layout Standard
While using LyX, you may find behaviour which you consider a bug.
Crashes, though rare, can happen.
User interface problems are considered major bugs by the LyX team: especially
helpful are indications of parts of the LyX interface you find confusing,
or unclear.
\layout Standard
LyX has a bug tracking system, which you can find at
\family typewriter
\begin_inset LatexCommand \htmlurl[LyX bug tracker]{http://bugzilla.lyx.org/}
\end_inset
\family default
.
You should check the bug tracker before reporting any bugs, in case it
has already been reported.
If you have a comment on an existing bug, or wish to report a new bug,
you may either use the bug tracker, or send an e-mail to the development
mailing list,
\family typewriter
lyx-devel@lists.lyx.org
\family default
.
Archives of this list are linked from the main LyX website,
\family typewriter
\begin_inset LatexCommand \htmlurl[LyX website]{http://www.lyx.org/}
\end_inset
\family default
.
\layout Standard
A good (useful) bug report will at a minimum include the version of LyX
you are having the problem with.
Accurate, detailed descriptions are preferred - the more time developers
have to spend to pinpoint the source of a bug, the less time they have
for other improvements.
Mention the system and system version you are running LyX with.
Give the versions of the libraries you have installed on your system, and,
if relevant, the versions of external programs that LyX uses.
If it's a compilation or configuration problem, include the file
\family typewriter
config.log
\family default
, and mention which compiler you are using.
\layout Standard
If you can make LyX crash, please take the time to produce a backtrace with
a non-stripped lyx executable.
The one built in the source directory is per default not stripped, while
the installed binary is stripped.
So, run LyX from gdb by typing, for example,
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family typewriter
\size small
gdb /users/steve/lyx-1.0.x/src/lyx
\family default
\size default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
and then
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family typewriter
\size small
run
\family default
\size default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
.
Make LyX crash and you'll return to gdb.
Use
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family typewriter
\size small
bt
\family default
\size default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
to produce a backtrace and include the output in the bug report
\begin_inset Foot
collapsed true
\layout Standard
if you want to be thorough, use the
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family typewriter
info locals
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
and
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
\family typewriter
up
\family default
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
commands to print out the values of local variables at a few stack levels.
\end_inset
.
If possible, then a description of a way to reproduce the bug is more important
than a backtrace, because then we have the possibility to roll our own
backtrace.
If the bug is not easily reproducible, a backtrace is essential, because
then that might be all we've got.
\layout Subsection
Contributing fixes and new features
\layout Standard
If you have made changes to LyX's source that you think should become part
of LyX, send your changes as a diff file (in unified format) to the development
list referenced above, along with a change log, and a description of what
your patch does.
\layout Section
Contributing to the Documentation
\layout Standard
LyX's documentation is extensive; however LyX is under constant development,
and each new release adds new features.
You may find some documentation needs improvement.
This section describes what to do if you find an error, or have some suggestion
s for improving the documentation.
\layout Subsection
Reporting Errors in the Manuals
\layout Standard
If you find a problem with the documentation, send a message to the mailing
list
\family typewriter
lyx-docs@lists.lyx.org
\family default
.
The documentation team will make any necessary fixes.
\layout Subsection
Joining the Documentation Team.
\layout Standard
The LyX Documentation Project, like anything else in the LyX project, can
always use assistance! If you're interested in contributing to the Documentatio
n Project, you need to do the following assignment
\emph on
first
\emph default
:
\layout Enumerate
Get the latest LyX source code.
Untar it.
\begin_inset Foot
collapsed true
\layout Standard
The more adventurous can grab the latest documentation anonymously from
the LyX CVS repository - it is contained in the
\family typewriter
lyxdoc
\family default
module.
\end_inset
You will find a directory inside the main tree called
\family typewriter
lib/doc/
\family default
.
Inside that directory is a file called
\family typewriter
DocStyle.lyx
\family default
.
Read it; it's the style sheet for the documentation.
\layout Enumerate
Next, read the
\emph on
User's Guide
\emph default
and the
\emph on
Tutorial
\emph default
.
\begin_deeper
\layout Standard
The point of this exercise is to give you ideas.
The
\emph on
Tutorial
\emph default
and
\emph on
User's Guide
\emph default
is likely to be the most up-to-date of all of the documentation.
You should be able to glean some insights into how we want the manuals
to read and to look.
\end_deeper
\layout Enumerate
Contact the team at:
\begin_deeper
\layout Standard
\family typewriter
lyx-docs@lists.lyx.org
\layout Standard
to discuss your intended changes, and get some feedback on them.
\end_deeper
\layout Standard
The changes you wish to make may range from improving clarity of the text,
to doing major re-structuring of the documentation.
Any and all improvements are gladly received.
\the_end
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