From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Nick Dokos Subject: Re: Professional PDF LaTeX templates? Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:54:18 -0400 Message-ID: <14953.1300287258@alphaville.dokosmarshall.org> References: <20110316110429.19583tdvlcfb6y4g@webmail.tuffmail.net> Reply-To: nicholas.dokos@hp.com Return-path: Received: from [140.186.70.92] (port=56626 helo=eggs.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1Pzs7b-0007xi-C5 for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:54:48 -0400 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1Pzs7a-0003z4-1a for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:54:47 -0400 Received: from vms173005pub.verizon.net ([206.46.173.5]:42624) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1Pzs7Z-0003yh-UX for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:54:46 -0400 Received: from alphaville.dokosmarshall.org ([unknown] [173.76.32.106]) by vms173005.mailsrvcs.net (Sun Java(tm) System Messaging Server 7u2-7.02 32bit (built Apr 16 2009)) with ESMTPA id <0LI5008Z6O2IK230@vms173005.mailsrvcs.net> for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:54:24 -0500 (CDT) In-reply-to: Message from 'Mash of "Wed, 16 Mar 2011 11:04:29 -0000." <20110316110429.19583tdvlcfb6y4g@webmail.tuffmail.net> List-Id: "General discussions about Org-mode." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Errors-To: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org To: 'Mash Cc: nicholas.dokos@hp.com, Emacs Org mode mailing list 'Mash wrote: > > I suppose by "professional" I really meant "polished", and so it is > LaTeX styling I have having trouble with, it may also be laziness on > my part. I have tried searching for LaTeX styling which I can > translate into a few org-mode header declarations but still can't work > out what is or is not compatible with org-mode (LaTeX classes) or how > to implement styling correctly. > > I think what it is that I have been using CSS for so long that I am > getting frustrated in not being able to produce the level of results I > want in LaTeX. Also I feel like a complete numpty not being able to > clearly understand how to build and define external LaTeX classes I > can call to output my simple .org file to a "polished" .pdf. I.e. > margins, line-heights, different block element font styling, common > graphical page headers or footers. > > There are a huge amount of LaTeX examples on the web, but they are > full documents with inline elements, I wanted to know if anyone has > already setup classes that work, with notes on LaTeX dependencies (and > how and where to download them from) which they use day to day to > produce reports, articles, contracts or client proposals from simple > .org files? > > Is that any clearer? > > Not really. Both Eric Fraga and John Hendy have given valid answers to how one goes about it: you settle down to *one* kind of document that you want to produce (take the simplest one and leave the rest for later), then either learn enough LaTeX to be able to produce it or cajole/beg/hire somebody to do it for you, and *then* figure out how to use org to produce the LaTeX needed to produce that kind of document. The trouble is that neither org nor LaTeX are black boxes whose insides you can afford to ignore. With the approach outlined above, at the end of the process, you *will* have a (blackbox-like) almost automatic way of going from org to "professional" output, but it is fragile in the sense that if you want to change something, you will need to implement the change in LaTeX first, and once you are satisfied with the output, you will need to go back and tweak the org mechanisms to produce that. Then you can shut your eyes again and pretend that it's a black box. So learn some LaTeX: once you get past the initial hump (the mechanics of producing output), then it's not only fairly easy, it also starts making sense. Having a desired output (keep it simple!) is going to make that an enjoyable journey too. And once you touch down on LaTeX island, and become comfortable, you'll either never leave or you'll want to visit again and again! And as John pointed out, people here are fairly easy to cajole into helping you :-) Nick