Hi,
Ok, I am probably going to come across as a complete idiot but.....
I have never used latex, or lyx before. I really have no clue what I'm doing, I've read user guide and the tutorial and can do all the typing and formulas etc that I want, but I'm trying to do my final year dissertation on knot theory and I need to include some knot diagrams and I'm stumped.
I have found that I can draw them using a tikz package but I have no clue what that means or how I would go about it. Someone has used the package to draw these http://nforum.mathforge.org/discussion/ ... not-pages/ and it's exactly what I need.... but how would I do this in lyx please?!
Also.. I'm using a mac!
Thank you for any replies!!!
LyX ⇒ Please don't laugh... How do I use tikz?
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brandnewtolyx
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Johannes_B
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Please don't laugh... How do I use tikz?
Hi and welcome.
There are tools supporting some kind of WYSIWYG approach; InkScape can export TikZ code.
The TikZ/pgf manual has a great tutorial, please have a look at it. You can use texworks (was installed with your distribution) along with the standalone class to produce the graphics and later include them in your document.
btw: One of the developers of LyX stated a few weeks back, that LyX is software for experienced LaTeX users.
In Lyx? Don't. This time you need actual coding, you can't behind the LyX-interface.but how would I do this in lyx please?!
There are tools supporting some kind of WYSIWYG approach; InkScape can export TikZ code.
The TikZ/pgf manual has a great tutorial, please have a look at it. You can use texworks (was installed with your distribution) along with the standalone class to produce the graphics and later include them in your document.
btw: One of the developers of LyX stated a few weeks back, that LyX is software for experienced LaTeX users.
The smart way: Calm down and take a deep breath, read posts and provided links attentively, try to understand and ask if necessary.
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StarValkyrie
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Fri Jan 24, 2014 12:42 am
Re: Please don't laugh... How do I use tikz?
You can do it inside ERT (that's hotkey ctrl+L or Insert>TeX Code) if you put the usual stuff in your preamble. Googling tikz+lyx+ert should turn up other resources. This won't let you see the diagram in LyX - you'll have to View the document and Update as you work if you need to see if it's working as you go.
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Stefan Kottwitz
- Site Admin
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- Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:44 pm
Please don't laugh... How do I use tikz?
Welcome to the forum!
TikZ is great. Its programming approach is very different to the GUI way of LyX. Well, it's possible to learn TikZ and the minimum of required LaTeX and embed it in LyX as ERT like written in the previous post.
You are writing a dissertation, so you are a very intelligent person. So learning LaTeX and LyX should be a small challenge for you. You can come here at any time and ask questions you have during learning. We can also help with specific TikZ pictures, many of us are experienced with TikZ.
I understand the wish to save time using LyX. Just with TikZ, I would use a quick editor such as TeXworks and developing TikZ drawings with a small LaTeX frame around. You can find a lot of complete examples on TeXample.net with a compilable LaTeX document for each one.
Stefan
TikZ is great. Its programming approach is very different to the GUI way of LyX. Well, it's possible to learn TikZ and the minimum of required LaTeX and embed it in LyX as ERT like written in the previous post.
You are writing a dissertation, so you are a very intelligent person. So learning LaTeX and LyX should be a small challenge for you. You can come here at any time and ask questions you have during learning. We can also help with specific TikZ pictures, many of us are experienced with TikZ.
I understand the wish to save time using LyX. Just with TikZ, I would use a quick editor such as TeXworks and developing TikZ drawings with a small LaTeX frame around. You can find a lot of complete examples on TeXample.net with a compilable LaTeX document for each one.
Stefan
LaTeX.org admin