Greetings Guenter, On 13-12-01, Guenter Milde wrote: > On Thu, 13 Dec 2001 08:14:37 -0400 wrote cmasters <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > > I have sampled all the templates that are provided in my Lyx distribution. > > However, I seem to have problems with them. > > > > 1. Many of them -- aapaper, revtex, revtex4, aastex -- don't work as > > expected when viewing dvi output. They ~all~ have a number of errors dealing > > with Latex commands / variables imbedded in the initial style. > > I'm afraid, help can only be given for concrete problems here. > I realize this. I also found the LatexConfig generated file and confirmed that at least some of the templates to which I referred had not been installed.
> > As this is > > (once again) an issue of having to learn Latex (which I'm directly told > > should be unnecessay -- User's Guide), I can't even adust the bare content > > that is in them in order to preview the layout. A viscous cirle ensues. > > Well, the Users Guide migth be too enthusiastic. You will not need to know > LaTeX for the straightforward use of standard layouts. However, when you > want to create of modify the layout, I suppose you will not be able without > at least basic knowledge of it. Rather, changing/designing a layout is > advanced LaTeX stuff. (So, if you still want to make a buissnes out of using > LyX/LaTeX you might have to become an expert.) I'm beginning to realize that learning Latex is now a requirement in my case. I do wish the User's Guide would be a tad more honest about that possibility though. > > On the other hand, many universities have a LaTeX template/style/class file > that does the layout they require. If you could get such a thing, half the > work is done. The rest is getting LyX to work with it (which is advanced LyX > stuff, but not as difficult as the LaTeX part.) > --- begin dry humour --- Not sure about your locale, but here in Canada, we suffer from a top-heavy bureaucratic university system. In order for the university administration to provide these resources to the students (their sole purpose for existence), they would have to redistribute funds for themselves. It's been my experience that many universities here are more interested in "research" and associated government funding than actually educating and producing productive future leaders. Hence, the common response is "Use MSWord ... it's suitable.". Therefore no need to have readily available templates for the lowly student. --- end dry humour > Finally, once you have the styles for all your clients needs, working with > lyx will be a charme :-) > 'tis true. I'm already charmed by the recent changes I've made. > > > 3. As I am unable to preview any template (other than book and letter > > variations), I am also unable to determine whether any of the templates > > offered include my header requirement for APA and MLA papers. > > > > So, I ~am willing~ to make the necessary changes to templates and learn the > > Latex that is required to get the job done, BUT I would like to be able to > > use the templated ~already provided~ if that is all possible. > > Some of the templates are for rather special classes that don't come with > the standard TeX distributions. > > But, rather than checking the templates, you should check the "classes" (as > most of them dont have a special template). > Useful advice!!! I've found that manipulating the classes is ~much~ easier than trying to change the defaults within the templates. Thank you. > To check the available classes, open/create a "normal" document > and then change the document-class to one of the many choices under > >Layout>Document>Class. > > > > 2. Methods to modify (and save locally) templates as provided by Lyx. > > Tip: save to your home: ~/.lyx/layouts. > also: you can save any file as a template, so to have your > "helvetica-template", open a new file, set the font-family to helvet > (in the Layout>Document menu) and save as > ~/.lyx/layouts/article-helvetica.lyx, say. > I've copied both the "templates" and "examples" files to my home directory (with appropriate ownership changes) and am finding modifying to be much less painful now. Thank you for your sage advice. > > GM > > -- > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > C-Cose Masters
