#LyX 1.5.0svn created this file. For more info see http://www.lyx.org/ \lyxformat 276 \begin_document \begin_header \textclass article \language english \inputencoding latin1 \font_roman default \font_sans default \font_typewriter default \font_default_family default \font_sc false \font_osf false \font_sf_scale 100 \font_tt_scale 100 \graphics default \paperfontsize default \spacing single \papersize default \use_geometry false \use_amsmath 0 \use_esint 0 \cite_engine basic \use_bibtopic false \paperorientation portrait \secnumdepth 3 \tocdepth 3 \paragraph_separation indent \defskip medskip \quotes_language english \papercolumns 1 \papersides 1 \paperpagestyle default \tracking_changes false \output_changes false \end_header \begin_body \begin_layout Title LyX Frequently Asked Questions with Answers \end_layout \begin_layout Author by the LyX Team \begin_inset Foot status open \begin_layout Standard \noindent If you have comments or error corrections, please send them to the LyX Documenta tion mailing list, . \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 default \family typewriter lyx-users@lists.lyx.org \family default \emph default \emph on after \emph default you have read through the docs. \emph default \emph on \end_layout \begin_layout Abstract \begin_inset 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 default \emph on kind \emph default of document you're editing and what \emph default \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 default \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 default \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 LatexCommand url target "http://www.fee.uva.nl/scholar/mdw/leuven/thesis.pdf" \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 LatexCommand url target "http://www.postgresql.org/docs/awbook.html" \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 LatexCommand url target "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. \end_layout \begin_layout Standard Another basic introductory guide may be found at \begin_inset LatexCommand url target "www.bilkent.edu.tr/~robin/lyxguide.pdf" \end_inset \end_layout \begin_layout Subsection Does LyX run on my computer? \end_layout \begin_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): \end_layout \begin_layout Itemize Linux: RedHat 4.2, 5.0, 5.1, 6.0, 6.1, SUSE 5.x, Mandrake 7.0, 7.2 \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 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! \end_layout \begin_layout Subsection Is LyX really Open Source? \end_layout \begin_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. \end_layout \begin_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 target "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. \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 LatexCommand url target "www.lyx.org" \end_inset \end_layout \begin_layout Itemize \begin_inset LatexCommand url target "bugzilla.lyx.org" \end_inset , if you want to report a bug in LyX. \end_layout \begin_layout Itemize \begin_inset LatexCommand url target "www.devel.lyx.org" \end_inset , if you are interested in the real blood and guts. \end_layout \begin_layout Itemize Known mirror sites include: \end_layout \begin_deeper \begin_layout Itemize \begin_inset LatexCommand url target "www.mx.lyx.org" \end_inset \end_layout \begin_layout Itemize \begin_inset LatexCommand url target "www.no.lyx.org" \end_inset \end_layout \begin_layout Itemize \begin_inset LatexCommand url target "www.it.lyx.org" \end_inset \end_layout \end_deeper \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 LatexCommand url target "http://www.lyx.org/internet/mailing.php3" \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 LatexCommand url target "http://www.mail-archive.com/lyx-announce@lists.lyx.org/" \end_inset \end_layout \begin_layout Itemize Users: \begin_inset LatexCommand url target "http://www.mail-archive.com/lyx-users@lists.lyx.org/" \end_inset \end_layout \begin_layout Itemize Devel: \begin_inset LatexCommand url target "http://www.mail-archive.com/lyx-devel@lists.lyx.org/" \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 default \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. 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. \end_layout \begin_layout Standard However, here are a few suggestions which were sent in: \end_layout \begin_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. \end_layout \begin_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 default \family typewriter wvLaTeX.xml \family default guides the translation process. Handles also the newest Office formats. \end_layout \begin_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). \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 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. \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 may be a HTML \begin_inset Formula $\rightarrow$ \end_inset LaTeX program available 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 XForms library: xforms-0.88 or higher (using the latest version available is recommended) \end_layout \begin_layout Itemize A LaTeX installation: we strongly recommend teTeX-1.0 or higher \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 2.95.2. \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 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 target "ftp://ftp.lyx.org/pub/lyx/bin/" \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 default \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 The new ERT inset is really inconvenient ! \end_layout \begin_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: \end_layout \begin_layout Itemize You can collapse the ERT like any other floats by using \family default \family sans \bar under E \bar default dit\SpecialChar \menuseparator Open/C \bar under l \bar default ose float \family default (bound to \family default \family sans C-i \family default by default) \end_layout \begin_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 \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 LatexCommand url target "http://tug.org/TeXnik/" \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 default \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 default \family typewriter \backslash theequation \family default with \family default \family typewriter \backslash thetable \family default or \family default \family typewriter \backslash thefigure \family default and then replace \family default \family typewriter equation \family default with \family default \family typewriter table \family default or \family default \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 default \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 count words in LyX? \end_layout \begin_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. \end_layout \begin_layout Subsubsection How do I insert a fixed amount of horizontal space? \end_layout \begin_layout Standard There are various ERT commands to use: \family default \family typewriter \backslash enspace \family default (1/2 em), \family default \family typewriter \backslash thinspace \family default (1/6 em), \family default \family typewriter \backslash negthinspace \family default (-1/6 em), \family default \family typewriter \backslash quad \family default (1 em), \family default \family typewriter \backslash qquad \family default (2 em), \family default \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 default \family typewriter \backslash hspace \family default command is any valid TeX length; units can be \family default \family typewriter mm \family default (millimeters), \family default \family typewriter cm \family default (centimeters), \family default \family typewriter in \family default (inches), \family default \family typewriter pt \family default (points = 1/72 inch), \family default \family typewriter em \family default (width of letter \begin_inset Quotes eld \end_inset m \begin_inset Quotes erd \end_inset ), or \family default \family typewriter ex \family default (height of letter \begin_inset Quotes eld \end_inset x \begin_inset Quotes erd \end_inset ). Examples: \family default \family typewriter \backslash hspace{1in} \family default , \family default \family typewriter \backslash hspace{2.5em} \family default , etc. \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 default \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 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. \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 Select \family default \family sans Layout\SpecialChar \menuseparator Document \family default . In the \family default \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. \end_layout \begin_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. \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 default \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 default \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 default \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 File export was vastly improved in version 1.1.6. Simply say \end_layout \begin_layout LyX-Code lyx --export latex .lyx \end_layout \begin_layout Standard and that is all you need to do. \end_layout \begin_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 default \family typewriter bash \family default ): \end_layout \begin_layout Standard \family typewriter (Xvfb :1 -once -terminate &); rm .tex; lyx -display :1 --export latex .lyx \end_layout \begin_layout Standard \noindent Under csh/tcsh it is simply \end_layout \begin_layout Standard \family typewriter Xvfb :1 -once -terminate &; rm .tex; lyx -display :1 --export latex .lyx \end_layout \begin_layout Standard \noindent This should work anywhere, whether or not X is actually running. \end_layout \begin_layout Subsection How do I create PDF files from my LyX document? \end_layout \begin_layout Standard Read Section 5.3.6 of the \emph default \emph on Extended Features \emph default manual. \end_layout \begin_layout Subsection Why do the fonts in my document look so bad in \family default \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 default \emph on Extended Features \emph default manual. \end_layout \begin_layout Subsection Why doesn't my latest and greatest version of Ghostscript render EPS inline figures properly? \end_layout \begin_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] \end_layout \begin_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: \end_layout \begin_layout Standard \begin_inset LatexCommand url target "http://sourceforge.net/bugs/?func=detailbug&bug_id=124957&group_id=1897" \end_inset \end_layout \begin_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. \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 default \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 default \family sans File\SpecialChar \menuseparator Open\SpecialChar \menuseparator Examples \family default . \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 default \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