I'm trying to have one common file containing all my preamble for a latex document up to \begin{document}, which will appear as - --8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8--- \documentclass[a4paper,12pt]{report} %% works \input{/home/boudiccas/research/masterlatex} \include{ob2014-title} \begin{document} --8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8--- Doing this will mean that I only have one file to keep current of all package changes but will be able to be used for all my latex projects. It works and loads it, 'it' being "masterlatex.tex", but when it reaches the end of "masterlatex" it stops at \documentclass just before "masterlatex" being loaded and goes no further. How can I get it to continue please, and load the rest of the project main file, and ultimately build a pdf? Or is there a existing package that will allow me to list all the packages I want to use, along with the required options? Thanks Sharon. -- A taste of linux = http://www.sharons.org.uk TGmeds = http://www.tgmeds.org.uk Debian 8.0, fluxbox 1.3.7, emacs 24.5.50.1