LyX

LyX is a WYSIWYM (What You See Is What You Mean) LaTeX editor. The homepage is at http://www.lyx.org.

Tips and Tricks

Compiling a Document With Multiple Files

As documents grow larger, it is much more convenient to split these documents up into multiple LyX files. These can be combined into a single document by creating a "master" LyX file, which includes each LyX file. This master file typically contains any macros along with the table of contents, includes each chapter or file, any appendices, and finally, the bibliography.

Each chapter can be edited individually, but if macros are defined in the master document, they will be broken if the LyX file for that chapter is opened alone. In order to fix this, open the master document - this should immediately fix the broken macros.

Customizing LyX

LyX Layouts

Steve Litt's Sure Fire, No Fail Way to Create Lyx Layouts

Additionally, brief instructions can be found here: ICSE Technical Reports: Author Guide

Bind File

The bind file, located at $HOME/.lyx/bind, can be used to define or re-define keyboard shortcuts. Some customizations that I have made in my LyX bind file are included here:

  # cmd + shift + M insert numbered formula
  \bind "C-S-M"       "command-sequence math-display; math-number-toggle"
  
  # cmd + shift + E = insert non-numbered formula
  \bind "C-S-E"       "command-sequence math-display;"
  
  # cmd + shift + n = nomenclature insert
  \bind "C-S-N"       "nomencl-insert"
  
  # cmd + shift + r = insert cross-reference
  \bind "C-S-R"       "dialog-show-new-inset ref"
  
  # cmd + shift + c = insert citation
  \bind "C-S-C"       "dialog-show-new-inset citation"
  
  # cmd + shift + L = insert label
  \bind "C-S-L"       "label-insert"
  
  # command-delete + r = delete row
  \bind "C-Delete R"  "tabular-feature delete-row"
  
  # command-delete + c = delete column
  \bind "C-Delete C"  "tabular-feature delete-column"
  
  # option-N = insert note
  \bind "M-N"         "note-insert"

  \bind "C-n"         "buffer-new"
  
  # reassigned... see above
  #\bind "C-S-N"          "buffer-new-template"

  
  \bind "C-M-b"           "font-boldsymbol"
  \bind "C-b"         "font-bold"
  \bind "C-e"         "font-emph"
  \bind "C-k"         "font-noun"     # 'k' for capitals
  \bind "C-u"         "font-underline"
  \bind "C-S-P"           "font-typewriter"       # 'P' for program *****
  \bind "C-m"         "math-mode"