New Members ⇒ Hi - me and my first fledgling lyx-book-latex steps

[Sören F]

So, I'm giving Lyx my go for compiling lots of stuff centered around the fields of science, physical geography, science communication and knowledge/social epistemology. I sit in Copenhagen, Denmark, and come from Uppsala, Sweden.

This was mostly out of frustration with Word. Then I use Opera as browser, installed Zotero too on my Windows-10 laptop - and integrated these, and both with Lyx.

As I looked for just a most versatile, probably book-like template, it seemed Koma/book would be it, but it was not among standard templates. Therefore TeX Live is right now installing - it seems like a lot; hope I'm not overdoing things.

[Sören F]

I'm afraid I'm then clueless on how to get Koma-script into LyX as an option among templates there.

Updating filename database in TeX Live Manager, then reconfiguring in LyX and restarting hasn't worked so far, also despite scrbook.cls (and much more) now showing under TeX Information, and rescanning there (and reconfiguring and restarting).

Ok, I followed the path to scrbook.cls, but, it's not a .lyx file so could not be selected using New from Template..., or just Open... (or opened if renamed .lyx).

[Johannes_B]

Welcome, you gotta read an introduction to LaTeX before starting with LyX.

A good one is LaTeX for complete novices. Once knowing the very basic stuff, you will be able to learn the extr stuff that LyX needs.

[Sören F]

Thanks Johannes!

I see. Somehow I had got an impression LyX was more user-friendly, now I'll revisit how that happened and see what I'll do.

[Sören F]

It seems to me now I probably did everything right installing TeX Live, updating and reconfiguring, then just didn't realise Koma-script is selected under Document > Settings after self having first created a New file (shouldn't have expected to find it among templates).

I also found there's a LyX list which is probably more suitable, and might for now go ahead trusting LyX-users aren't supposed to learn LaTeX really.

[Johannes_B]

I also found there's a LyX list which is probably more suitable, and might for now go ahead trusting LyX-users aren't supposed to learn LaTeX really.

The LyX list is a good place to ask questions, but trust me: You gotta learn a bit of LaTeX first.

What one of the developers thinks about it:

I always recommend that you learn the basics of LaTeX before you learn LyX. LyX will not save you from learning LaTeX so you might as well learn it well from the start. After you really understand what LyX is doing (through LaTeX), you might find you like it better than using LaTeX directly. This is the case for me. This is also why I don't think LyX is a software for newbies. I think it should be used by advanced LaTeX users who understand what they're delegating to LyX and how to step in to take control when they want to. But many people disagree with me on that.

My main point: I don't think you should try to learn LyX instead of learning LaTeX. That would be a mistake in my opinion.

[Sören F]

I'm getting the picture - thanks!

[Stefan Kottwitz]

Hi Sören,

welcome to the forum!

Using the KOMA class, you made a very good choice.
Btw. the LyX developer scottcosty is also active here in this forum.

Stefan

[Sören F]

Thanks Stefan, learning LaTeX - the way I might need to get around this not being my initial expectation, I guess would be to harbor it as being really some other hopefully fun exercise, with Zotero. After all, this bookish project will likely be long-term, so, there is hope.