lyx_mirror/lib/doc/FAQ.lyx
Uwe Stöhr 0ad53de085 English documentation files: update to recent file format as service for our translators
git-svn-id: svn://svn.lyx.org/lyx/lyx-devel/trunk@26977 a592a061-630c-0410-9148-cb99ea01b6c8
2008-10-19 13:43:30 +00:00

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#LyX 1.6.0svn created this file. For more info see http://www.lyx.org/
\lyxformat 344
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\begin_body
\begin_layout Title
LyX Frequently Asked Questions with Answers
\end_layout
\begin_layout Author
by the LyX Team
\begin_inset Foot
status collapsed
\begin_layout Plain Layout
\noindent
If you have comments or error corrections, please send them to the LyX Documenta
tion mailing list, <
\begin_inset CommandInset href
LatexCommand href
target "lyx-docs@lists.lyx.org"
type "mailto:"
\end_inset
>.
\end_layout
\end_inset
\end_layout
\begin_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
\begin_inset CommandInset href
LatexCommand href
target "lyx-users@lists.lyx.org"
type "mailto:"
\end_inset
\family default
\emph on
after
\emph default
you have read through the docs.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Abstract
\begin_inset CommandInset toc
LatexCommand tableofcontents
\end_inset
\end_layout
\begin_layout Section
Introduction and General Information
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
What is LyX?
\end_layout
\begin_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.
\end_layout
\begin_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.
\end_layout
\begin_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
).
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
That's fine, but is it useful?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
Absolutely.
The following type of documents have been produced with LyX:
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Memos
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Letters
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Dissertations (260 pages in a single document, longer using include files)
\end_layout
\begin_deeper
\begin_layout Itemize
for example,
\begin_inset Flex URL
status collapsed
\begin_layout Plain Layout
http://www.fee.uva.nl/scholar/mdw/leuven/thesis.pdf
\end_layout
\end_inset
\end_layout
\end_deeper
\begin_layout Itemize
Lecture notes (133 pages, 27 figures on a 33 MHz 486 machine!)
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Seminar notebooks (500+ pages)
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Conference proceedings (Proceedings of the Second Continental Workshop on
the Geoid in Europe, (Finnish Geodetic Institute Report 98:4), 292 pages)
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Software Documentation (the LyX User Guide is about 120 pages)
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Books
\end_layout
\begin_deeper
\begin_layout Itemize
see
\begin_inset Flex URL
status collapsed
\begin_layout Plain Layout
http://www.postgresql.org/docs/awbook.html
\end_layout
\end_inset
for an example on PostgreSQL
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Donnay, J-P., Barnsley, M.J., and Longley, P.A., eds., 2001, Remote Sensing and
Urban Analysis (Taylor and Francis: London).
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Herbert Voss: Praktische Kryptologie mit Java 286 pages, lots of equations,
tables, figures.
ISBN 3-8311-1458-7
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Yann Collette and Patrick Siarry, Optimisation multiobjectifs, 2002, Eyrolles
\end_layout
\end_deeper
\begin_layout Itemize
Papers published in the following refereed journals:
\end_layout
\begin_deeper
\begin_layout Itemize
Astronomy & Astrophysics (Suetterlin, P.
1998, A&A, 333, 305; Suetterlin, P.
& Wiehr, E.
1998, A&A, 336, 367)
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Astronomical Journal (Ressler, M.
E.
& Barsony, M.
2001, AJ, 121, 1098)
\end_layout
\end_deeper
\begin_layout Itemize
Novels (400+ page novel due out in September 2000; an 836 page novel is
currently with an agent)
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Scripts for plays and movies
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Business proposals for > $1 M (US)
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Where do I start?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
The website
\begin_inset Flex URL
status collapsed
\begin_layout Plain Layout
www.lyx.org
\end_layout
\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.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
Another basic introductory guide may be found at
\begin_inset Flex URL
status collapsed
\begin_layout Plain Layout
www.bilkent.edu.tr/~robin/lyxguide.pdf
\end_layout
\end_inset
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Does LyX run on my computer?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
LyX is known to run on the following platforms (and probably a zillion others):
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Linux distributions: Debian, RedHat, SUSE, Mandrake, Fedora, Ubuntu, Gentoo,
etc
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Microsoft Window NT, 2000, XP, Vista (Windows 95/98/Me editions are not
supported)
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
MacOSX (starting from 10.1)
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
SparcLinux: RedHat 6.0
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Sun Solaris 2.6, 2.7
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Tru64 Unix 4.0f
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
HP-UX
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
OSF1 flore V4.0 1091 alpha
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
How much hard disk space does LyX need?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
Binary size depends on the system, the LyX binary consumes 13 MB of disk
space on Windows, while the supporting files occupy another 25 MB (17 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!
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Is LyX really Open Source?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
Yes.
The freely available GUI toolkit that LyX uses, Qt, although a proprietary
product of Troll Tech, is used in its open source GPL variant.
The LyX source itself is also available under the GPL, so it qualifies.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Section
Internet Resources
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Where should I look on the World Wide Web for LyX stuff?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
\begin_inset Flex URL
status open
\begin_layout Plain Layout
www.lyx.org
\end_layout
\end_inset
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
\begin_inset Flex URL
status open
\begin_layout Plain Layout
bugzilla.lyx.org
\end_layout
\end_inset
, if you want to report a bug in LyX.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Where can I get LyX material by FTP?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
ftp.lyx.org in /pub/lyx (also known as ftp.via.ecp.fr)
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
What mailing lists are there?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
lyx-announce@lists.lyx.org (very low volume), for announcements related to
LyX
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
lyx-users@lists.lyx.org (medium volume), for general usage issues
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
lyx-devel@lists.lyx.org (high volume), for development and debugging issues
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
lyx-docs@lists.lyx.org (excruciatingly low volume), for documentation issues
\end_layout
\begin_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 Flex URL
status open
\begin_layout Plain Layout
http://www.lyx.org/MailingLists
\end_layout
\end_inset
for the full details.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Are the mailing lists archived anywhere?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
Yes.
:-)
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Okay, wise guy! Where are they archived?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Announce:
\begin_inset Flex URL
status open
\begin_layout Plain Layout
http://www.mail-archive.com/lyx-announce@lists.lyx.org/
\end_layout
\end_inset
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Users:
\begin_inset Flex URL
status open
\begin_layout Plain Layout
http://www.mail-archive.com/lyx-users@lists.lyx.org/
\end_layout
\end_inset
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Devel:
\begin_inset Flex URL
status open
\begin_layout Plain Layout
http://www.mail-archive.com/lyx-devel@lists.lyx.org/
\end_layout
\end_inset
\end_layout
\begin_layout Section
Compatibility with other word/document processors
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Can I read/write LaTeX files?
\end_layout
\begin_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.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Can I read/write Word files?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
Not trivially.
See these page:
\begin_inset Flex URL
status open
\begin_layout Plain Layout
http://wiki.lyx.org/LyX/ConvertingFromWord
\end_layout
\end_inset
and also the converters section which will give another possibilities of
conversion routes:
\begin_inset Flex URL
status open
\begin_layout Plain Layout
http://www.lyx.org/AdditionalSoftware#toc9
\end_layout
\end_inset
.
\end_layout
\begin_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.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Can I read/write HTML files?
\end_layout
\begin_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 is a HTML
\begin_inset Formula $\rightarrow$
\end_inset
LaTeX program available (html2latex) which allows you to convert the other
direction.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Section
Obtaining and Compiling LyX
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
What do I need?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
LyX source code: lyx-1.x.x.tar.gz
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Qt library: Qt-4.2.0 or higher (using the latest version available is recommended)
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
A LaTeX installation: we strongly recommend teTeX/TeXLive on Linux, MikTeX
on Window
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
A PostScript® interpreter: ghostscript 7.0 or higher
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
A modern C++ compiler.
If you are using gcc, LyX requires at least version 3.2.0.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
How do I compile it?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
./configure
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
make
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
make install (usually as root, though you don't have to be if you add flags
to the configure command)
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
See the INSTALL file for more details.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
I hate compiling.
Where are precompiled binaries?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
Most of the above packages are available as precompiled binaries in a variety
of Linux systems, perhaps others as well.
The LyX binaries are available as RPMS, Windows and Mac installers, plus
a few other formats and may be obtained from
\begin_inset Flex URL
status collapsed
\begin_layout Plain Layout
ftp://ftp.lyx.org/pub/lyx/bin/
\end_layout
\end_inset
.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Section
Questions about Evil Red Text (IMPORTANT!)
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
What is Evil Red Text (aka ERT)?
\end_layout
\begin_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.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
How do I enter Evil Red Text?
\end_layout
\begin_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
\end_layout
\begin_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
.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Enumerate
Type the command as it is written in the normal way
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Is there an alternative?
\end_layout
\begin_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.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Section
Questions Related to Using LyX
\end_layout
\begin_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 Flex URL
status collapsed
\begin_layout Plain Layout
http://tug.org/TeXnik/
\end_layout
\end_inset
.
You are doing yourself a large disservice if you don't check there before
sending a message to the mailing lists!
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
General questions
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsubsection
How do I get rid of the date under the title?
\end_layout
\begin_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
\end_layout
\begin_layout LyX-Code
\backslash
date{}
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
in the preamble window.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsubsection
How do I change the spacing in an Itemize/\SpecialChar \-
Enumerate/\SpecialChar \-
Description list environment
?
\end_layout
\begin_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:
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
\family typewriter
\backslash
setlength{
\backslash
itemsep}{0mm}
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsubsection
How do I number equations by section?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
Add the following two lines to your LaTeX preamble:
\end_layout
\begin_layout LyX-Code
\backslash
@addtoreset{equation}{section}
\end_layout
\begin_layout LyX-Code
\backslash
renewcommand{
\backslash
theequation}{
\backslash
thesection.
\backslash
arabic{equation}}
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsubsection
Is it possible to do this for figures and tables as well?
\end_layout
\begin_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.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsubsection
How do I change to footnote numbers to symbols (star, dagger, etc.)?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
Add
\family typewriter
\backslash
renewcommand{
\backslash
thefootnote}{
\backslash
fnsymbol{footnote}}
\family default
to your LaTeX preamble.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsubsection
How do I kill widows and orphans?
\end_layout
\begin_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:
\end_layout
\begin_layout LyX-Code
\backslash
widowpenalty=10000
\end_layout
\begin_layout LyX-Code
\backslash
clubpenalty=10000
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
and perhaps
\end_layout
\begin_layout LyX-Code
\backslash
raggedbottom
\end_layout
\begin_layout LyX-Code
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsubsection
How do I get a formatted list which starts with e.g.
1.
a)?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
If you want a list which looks like
\end_layout
\begin_layout LyX-Code
1.
a) First alternative
\end_layout
\begin_layout LyX-Code
b) Second alternative
\end_layout
\begin_layout LyX-Code
c) Third alternative
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
then try the following
\end_layout
\begin_layout LyX-Code
1.
{}
\end_layout
\begin_layout LyX-Code
a) First alternative
\end_layout
\begin_layout LyX-Code
b) Second alternative
\end_layout
\begin_layout LyX-Code
c) Third
\end_layout
\begin_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.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsubsection
How do I insert a fixed amount of horizontal space?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
Use Insert>Formatting>Horizontal Space.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsubsection
How can I make citations show up as [1,2,3,6] or [1-3,6] rather than [1][2][3][6
]?
\end_layout
\begin_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].
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Figure related questions
\end_layout
\begin_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
?
\end_layout
\begin_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 you might 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.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
Tables work in the same manner.
Put a table float in first, then insert the table within that.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsubsection
How do I get LyX to put the figure exactly where I want it?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
If you want to control how an individual figure behaves, right-click in
the figure float and you will get a dialog allowing to control the figure
behavior.
If you want to control how they all behave, look at
\family sans
Document\SpecialChar \menuseparator
Settings\SpecialChar \menuseparator
Float Placement
\family default
.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsubsection
What does
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
Too many unprocessed floats
\begin_inset Quotes erd
\end_inset
mean?
\end_layout
\begin_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 :-)
\end_layout
\begin_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.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Math related questions
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsubsection
How do I put normal text inside a mathematical equation?
\end_layout
\begin_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
.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsubsection
How do I make a cube root (or higher)?
\end_layout
\begin_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.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Section
Questions Related to Running LyX
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
How do I convert LyX files to LaTeX from the command line?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
Simply say
\end_layout
\begin_layout LyX-Code
lyx --export latex <yourfile>.lyx
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
and that is all you need to do.
Other formats can be exported in the same way.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Why do the fonts in my document look so bad in
\family typewriter
acroread
\family default
?
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
The problem and the solution are also discussed in Section 5.3.6 of the
\emph on
Extended Features
\emph default
manual.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Section
Questions Related to LyX on Windows
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Why do the menus and the toolbar flicker ?
\end_layout
\begin_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.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Section
How to get further assistance
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
You still haven't answered my question!
\end_layout
\begin_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
.
Don't forget we have Tips and Tricks database in LyX wiki.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
I want to mail someone about my problem.
\end_layout
\begin_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.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
What to put in a request for help.
\end_layout
\begin_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.
\end_layout
\begin_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.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Section
Administrative information and acknowledgments
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Feedback is invited.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
Send comments, suggested additions, world record document claims, etc.
to
\emph on
lyx-docs@lists.lyx.org.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Formats in which this FAQ is available.
\end_layout
\begin_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.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Authorship and acknowledgments.
\end_layout
\begin_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.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Disclaimer and Copyright.
\end_layout
\begin_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 © 2000 by Michael E.
Ressler on behalf of the LyX Documentation Team.
\end_layout
\end_body
\end_document