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LaTeX for Publications: Overleaf

Overleaf

Overleaf is a collaborative, cloud-based LaTeX editor. Overleaf is a great way to get started in LaTeX document creation. No special software is needed—just a Web browser. The basic version of Overleaf is free. With no software to download or install, Overleaf is probably the easiest first step into document creation with LaTeX.

Create an Overleaf Account

  1. Go to Overleaf.com.
     
  2. Overleaf login page screenshot, showing Register link.
    On the login page, scroll down to the bottom. Select the Register link,not the "Log in through your institution".


     
  3. Register with your email.
    On the Register page, scroll down to:
    : : :(1) Type in your Email.
    : : :(2) Type in a new Password.
    : : :(3) Click Register using your email.
     
  4. Create First Project button
    You're registered. Click the Create First Project button to get started!

Compiling and Downloading in Overleaf

Compiling
In creating documents in LaTeX, we work in TeX files that must be compiled for us to see what the actual document will look like. You can recompile your document at any time, to view the results of all your latest edits.
  1. Recompile button
    From the menu immediately above the document, click the green Recompile button.
     
  2. Click the Recompile button again, as often as you wish, to see your latest changes take effect.
Compile Settings
Recompile drop-down menu

Just to the right of the Recompile button, click the delta to open the drop-down menu of compile settings.
  1. Auto Compile - Default is Off. Turn On if you want to have Overleaf automatically compile every few seconds.
     
  2. Compile Mode - Default is Normal. Recommend leaving mode set to Normal, as Fast [draft] mode may not render the document accurately.
     
  3. Syntax Checks - Default is Check syntax before compile. Recommend leaving this set to Check syntax before compile. If errors are found, it will alert the user, so that the errors can be corrected.
     
  4. Compile Error Handling - Default is Try to compile despite errors. Recommend allowing the system to try compiling. There's no downside to seeing what the document looks like, in spite of errors.
Downloading Your Document
Overleaf offers easy downloading of couments in PDF format.
  1. From the menu immediately above the document, click the Download button.
     
  2. Look for the PDF copy of your document in your Downloads folder..

Create a New LaTeX Document in Overleaf

  1. New Project button
    From the Overleaf Home screen, at the top left, click the New Project button.
     
  2. New Project drop-down menu
    From the drop-down, select the type of project. If not sure, you may want to try a Blank Project. You can modify any document later, to make it what you want.



     
  3. Type a name for the project in the box that appears. This is not the document title. Only prople who work on the project will see the project name.
     
  4. Click the Create button to finish the process.

Overleaf for Collaboration

Overleaf allows the addition of just one collaborator with a free account. There is still a way to share a LaTeX document among the members of a team, however!

Adding collaborators may be limited in the free account, but link sharing is still a free service. You can collaborate in real-time on a LaTeX document via link sharing:
  1. Open a LaTeX document you wish to share with collaborators.
     
  2. Share button
    From the top menu, click the Share button.
     
  3. Turn on link sharing
    In the Share Project window, select Turn On Link Sharing.


     
  4. Copy the link to share with collaborators
    In the Share Project window, copy the link below the text: Anyone with this link can edit this project, either by highlighting the link and pressing [Ctrl] and [C] keys, or by clicking Copy icon to the right of the link.
     
  5. Anyone who follows that link and logs into their Overleaf account should be able to edit the LaTeX document, and you should all be able to edit it in real time!
Staff LADR