GeneralProblem with compiling properly latex file - compile error with Overleaf

LaTeX specific issues not fitting into one of the other forums of this category.
Post Reply
sun257
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed May 30, 2018 12:15 pm

Problem with compiling properly latex file - compile error with Overleaf

Post by sun257 »

Hello! I used overleaf (the online editor) to create a latex file. I used the option "download files for submission" as a zip. The problem is when I user texmaker to open it, it says that the log file is missing and doesn't complie under any option either pdflatex or the other ones. I tried to also download the "input and output files option" and it worked but it needs me to change it to xelatex or lualatex everytime. Problem is that if I don't get it to compile properly from the professor, he stated that if it can't compile easily or at all then he simply won't even lok at the project. Idk what to do or how to fix it? Any idea? It's important the professor gets to open it easily.

Recommended reading 2024:

LaTeXguide.org • LaTeX-Cookbook.net • TikZ.org

NEW: TikZ book now 40% off at Amazon.com for a short time.

Johannes_B
Site Moderator
Posts: 4182
Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2012 4:08 pm

Problem with compiling properly latex file - compile error with Overleaf

Post by Johannes_B »

The professor can look at the final PDF.
A professor that cannot find the cause of a problem? Wow.

Installing Texmaker isn't enough, you have to install TeX Live as well.
The smart way: Calm down and take a deep breath, read posts and provided links attentively, try to understand and ask if necessary.
sun257
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed May 30, 2018 12:15 pm

Problem with compiling properly latex file - compile error with Overleaf

Post by sun257 »

Johannes_B wrote:The professor can look at the final PDF.
A professor that cannot find the cause of a problem? Wow.

Installing Texmaker isn't enough, you have to install TeX Live as well.
I guess he just want to make us make it perfect. If I don't find a solution is it alright to send the input and output files created in overleaf and just tell him if he uses texmaker to use the xelatex option which works perfect and shows the file or still it is not acceptable? I really have no idea what else to do.
User avatar
Stefan Kottwitz
Site Admin
Posts: 10344
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:44 pm

Problem with compiling properly latex file - compile error with Overleaf

Post by Stefan Kottwitz »

Welcome to the forum!

You could permanently change the Quick Build options to use XeLaTeX, such as here:
xelatex.png
xelatex.png (188.57 KiB) Viewed 22906 times
Stefan
LaTeX.org admin
sun257
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed May 30, 2018 12:15 pm

Problem with compiling properly latex file - compile error with Overleaf

Post by sun257 »

Stefan Kottwitz wrote:Welcome to the forum!

You could permanently change the Quick Build options to use XeLaTeX, such as here:

xelatex.png

Stefan
Thank you! Though if I give the file to someone else then he will have to manually choose the "xelatex" option?
User avatar
Stefan Kottwitz
Site Admin
Posts: 10344
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:44 pm

Problem with compiling properly latex file - compile error with Overleaf

Post by Stefan Kottwitz »

He can either choose it manually or set the default option to XeLaTeX, the same way as with Texmaker that I wrote above. You mentioned that you used Texmaker, that's why I assumed you're professor uses Texmaker too or you even installed it for him. In any case it depends on the editor. An editor can be configured to always use XeLaTeX. Some editors (such as TeXworks) choose the correct TeX automatically, just based on a code line (comment) in the main LaTeX file that specifies which kind of TeX to run.

Does your professor really have TeX installed and would compile the TeX?

It could be way easier to give him only the PDF and he can add comments with the PDF reader. Or are you sure he wants to edit the source code? In that case he should be familiar with LaTeX. Even then, Overleaf is designed for such a collaboration.

Sometimes I would even hand over a print on paper for corrections, so a professor or supervisor can easily hand-write on in, and I would make the desired changes in the document myself. It may not be practical to do this several times for a huge document, but can be ok if done chapter by chapter, or once a full correction run, than just comments in the PDF for remaining minor comments.

Stefan
LaTeX.org admin
vaman
Posts: 17
Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2019 5:51 am

Problem with compiling properly latex file - compile error with Overleaf

Post by vaman »

Please check the preamble. That will state input packages. Check whether any package is missing. If you want compile a paper, all the research journals will have certain packages. Those are needed for compilation.
Post Reply