Tag Archives: lyx

Add shortcut for "Export -> PDF(pdflatex)" on LyX's toolbar

Recently I got annoyed by LyX's inconvenient "Export -> PDF(pdflatex)" command.  Thus, I decide to modify my toolbar in LyX. Particularly, since I don't need the Update function (not an Adobe Reader user...), so I just removed it as well.

Today's aim: add an export shortcut for the menu File -> Export -> PDF(pdflatex), both keyboard shortcut and a button on the toolbar.

To modify LyX's toolbar, you need to go to its installation folder and find "stdtoolbars.inc". Mine is under the default path: "C:\Program Files\LyX20\Resources\ui". Then please find

Toolbar "view/update" "View/Update"
Item "View" "buffer-view"
Item "Update" "buffer-update"

After this, if you want to keep the Update button, then add this line after it:

Item "Export" "buffer-export pdflatex"

The result is shown like below

Or you can do it like me, just put the Update line into comment, i.e.

Toolbar "view/update" "View/Update"
Item "View" "buffer-view"
#Item "Update" "buffer-update"
Item "Export" "buffer-export pdflatex"

Moreover, if you love keyboard shortcut better than buttons on the toolbar, then please follow a few steps:

  1. go to "Tools->Preferences->Editing->shorcuts"
  2. under the "function" column, there is "document and window", then find "buffer-update" and remove it.
  3. find "buffer-export-custom", modify it to "buffer-export pdflatex" and configure the keyboard shortcuts as "ctrl+shift+R". (If you want to keep the shortcut for update, please choose another keyboard combination as you like)

Now you are able to use the keyboard shortcut for " File -> Export -> PDF(pdflatex)" as well! Enjoy!

Note: in similar ways, you can modify all the toolbar and shortcut you like!

ctrl+shift+R

New experience with LyZ!

Today I find a wonderful plugin for Zotero and LyX. In fact, it integrate Zotero and LyX via LyXServer. Therefore we can cite the reference stored in Zotero more easily!

From the author's website, its main features are:

  • Inserting citations to LyX from Zotero.
  • BibTeX database automatically updated when citation is inserted.
  • BibTeX database can be updated when the references in Zotero are modified.Get Zotero
  • Custom BibTeX key format.
  • Unique BibTeX key check.
  • Synchronization of BibTex keys between LyX document, BibTeX database and LyZ.
  • Editing of master/child documents (the same BibTeX database) and multiple documents (different BibTeX database for each document).
  • Persistent association of LyX documents and BibTeX databases.
  • Support for group cooperation.

They are really cooooool, aren't they?

After an easy installation, I start my journal with LyZ.

How easy? See the screenshots!

Snap333

Snap334

Sorry these screenshots are noted in Chinese. In fact if you are looking for more details about it, you can either visit the author's webpage (in English) or see my Chinese blog:

  1. a brief introduction
  2. Chinese translation of its official explanations.

Complete guide to reference collection (with pictures): Latex+Lyx+Zotero

For every individual who is at university, the unavoidable question is, how to make a beautiful reference list at the end of their paper? Different journals have different requirements of the format. Copy the articles' name and paste, then repeat... the most boring process!

[Note: Chinese version of this post is available at http://www.loyhome.cn/787.html]

[注：本文中文版在此 http://www.loyhome.cn/787.html]

In this information era, intelligent software may solve all these problems. Some people recommend EndNote or NoteExpress, but they are commercial software and you must pay for them. Furthermore, the are not well combined with web browsers like Firefox or Chrome.

Fortunately, I found Zotero! From its official website,

Zotero [zoh-TAIR-oh] is a free, easy-to-use Firefox extension to help you collect, manage, and cite your research sources. It lives right where you do your work—in the web browser itself.

How powerful it is! Simple clicks and automatic save!

The video guide on its website is very clear, so there is no need for me to write something about supports. Please visit: http://www.zotero.org/

save reference via goole scholar

save reference via goole scholar

You may save the information of articles while browsing online. Several database are supported, like Google Scholar, Jstor etc.

select items and save

select items and save

Select items which you want to be saved.

open zotero (click the icon on the bottom bar)

open zotero (click the icon on the bottom bar)

Open Zotero ( click the icon on the bottom bar ) and you can see them now.

make notes if you like

make notes if you like

After the collection, you can add notes if you like.

attach some important files, like PDFs

attach some important files, like PDFs

Then attach the necessary files, like original paper (PDFs) and screenshots, Zotero will help you manage them.

mark them

mark them

Mark them with different tags and classify them into different folders. The "Filter" will help you find them quickly.

export items

export items

Select items and export to BibTex format.

select items or folders and then create bibliography

select items or folders and then create bibliography

Or you may select items or folders and then create bibliography, then paste it into Word etc. You can export different kinds of lists. There are already more than 100 journals' formats available.

Moreover, if you are using Latex ( Lyx ), you may simply export the BibTex file. I usually use the WYSIWYM editor software Lyx. It's more easy to import BibTex file by a simple click. Then insert the reference to where you need.

Open Lyx and import BibTex

Open Lyx and import BibTex

add database

add database

click on "insert citation" button

click on "insert citation" button

select reference and style

select reference and style

All done! Now you can see it in your paper!

All done! Now you can see it in your paper!

I have saved much time with Zotero and Lyx, so will you.