LyXQuickly add a command, with keyboard

Information and discussion about LyX, a WYSIWYM editor, available for Linux, Windows and Mac OS X systems.
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porton
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2015 12:24 am

Quickly add a command, with keyboard

Post by porton »

In math mode shortcuts like \oplus<space> work.

Can I quickly add a command/environment knowing its LaTeX name in text mode, too?

I'd prefer to enter some commands (such as \emph) this way instead of navigating through menu and dialogs. Is it possible in Lyx?

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scottkosty
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Posts: 542
Joined: Sat Sep 01, 2012 6:38 am

Re: Quickly add a command, with keyboard

Post by scottkosty »

I do not think this is possible. The only thing I can think of that might be of use to you is Edit > Paste Special > Paste from LaTeX. But I understand that you want to type the \emph directly into LyX.
ezorg
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Dec 12, 2017 10:41 am

Quickly add a command, with keyboard

Post by ezorg »

Hello
Lyx is in fact very nice and easy to use. But I think also it would be very handfull to be able to type latex command instead of going into the menus or remembering a shortcut. It would be very handfull to type for instance directly :

Code: Select all

\section{My title}
directly for a section title, instead using the mouse to go into the menu.
Of course we can always add a box with latex command (Ctrl+L), and even a box with a preview for latex command (very nice with pgfplot for instance). But the idea here would be to insert a latex command, which is directly replaced by its result in lyx, as it is made in math-mode.
The fact to go deep within the menus is for me the main (an only !?!) drawback of lyx.
I guess this could be added to the missing feature list ? what do you think ?

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

Quickly add a command, with keyboard

Post by Johannes_B »

Welcome,
what you describe as a drawback is one of the most famous advantages of LyX.

I am not a LyX user, for exactly that reason. It hides stuff from my view.

Have you thought about using a normal LaTeX editor? Or a multipurpose text editor like Vim or Emacs?

If you are open to it, you should check out the two last mentioned. It is a bit like religion, one of them will change your life.
The smart way: Calm down and take a deep breath, read posts and provided links attentively, try to understand and ask if necessary.
ezorg
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Dec 12, 2017 10:41 am

Quickly add a command, with keyboard

Post by ezorg »

Johannes_B wrote:Welcome,
what you describe as a drawback is one of the most famous advantages of LyX.
I am not a LyX user, for exactly that reason. It hides stuff from my view.
Thanks for your answer. I partially agree : I switched from LateX to Lyx because it's really much more pratical, easy, and nice, to work with a WYSIWYM ("what you see is what you mean") environment. And for that I will definitely, without a doubt, stick to LyX! I should say also that I have converted at work some people to use LyX and thus to gain access to the benefit of LaTeX, but without the "drawbacks".
I just mean that sometimes it would be easier for someone who knows LaTeX and use Lyx to type a command and have it directly interpreted, than to go in the menu. It would be the "advanced mighty tool" for LaTeX users... Off course I can replace this by learning the shortcuts.
But anyway despite the lack of this option, long live Lyx!

Thanks
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