Astrophysics and Space Sciences Transactions

An Open Access Journal of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Extraterrestrische Forschung e.V.

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Technical instructions for LaTeX 

Please download the Copernicus Publications LaTeX Package to prepare your manuscript. The package contains the LaTeX2e class file, the configuration file, all needed style files, as well as a template serving as the framework for your manuscript. Please download the Copernicus Publications LaTeX Package, version 4.3, 2 September 2016.

Authors are kindly requested to make use of the template.tex file embedded in the LaTeX Package since most of the definitions for the structure of manuscript elements are described there. Since we convert all typeset TeX files into XML, the expressions and markup have to be highly standardized. Therefore, please keep the following in mind:

  • Please provide only one figure file for figures with several panels, and please do not use \subfloat or similar commands.
  • Please use only commands in which words, numbers, etc. are within braces (e.g. \textrm{TEXT} instead of {\rm TEXT}).
  • For algorithms, please use the syntax given in template.tex or provide your algorithm as a figure.
  • Please do not define new commands.
  • The most commonly used packages (\usepackage{}) are integrated in the copernicus.cls. Some other packages often used by the community are defined in template.tex. Please do not insert additional ones in your *.tex file.
  • Spaces in labels (\label{}) are not allowed; please make sure that no label name is assigned more than once.
  • Please do not use \paragraph{}; only \subsubsection{} is allowed.
  • It is not possible to add tables in colour.

If you are familiar with BibTeX, you can use copernicus.bst from the package. It will sort your bibliography entries alphabetically and produce the proper layout of the reference list.

First Steps 

After installing a working LaTeX distribution, you will be able to run LaTeX by typing "pdflatex template.tex" in the appropriate directory from the prompt. This will produce a PDF file of your manuscript (template.pdf), which can be viewed using Adobe Acrobat Reader . template.tex is a template file provided by Copernicus Publications to introduce you to the journal style. If you want to make changes to template.tex, simply open it in your favourite text editor (WinEdt , Emacs, or Notepad, etc.). Now you can add extra text, formulas, etc. Afterwards, save the file, run "pdflatex template.tex" again and you will be able to look at the changes in the new file template.pdf. Authors who wish to use LaTeX but are not familiar with it should first read the "Getting started with LaTeX " or the "Not so Short Introduction to LaTeX2e ".


Hints for experienced LaTeX Users 

  • If you are familiar with BibTeX, you can use copernicus.bst from the package. It will sort your bibliography entries alphabetically and produce the correct layout of the list of references.
    Don't forget to submit your *.bbl file when you use BibTeX.
  • Copernicus Publications will use the programme pdfLaTeX (which is included in recent LaTeX distributions) to convert your manuscript into PDF. If your LaTeX code runs through "regular" LaTeX2e without any errors, you can assume that the production of the PDF file will not cause any problems.

Where do I get LaTeX? 

LaTeX for Unix/Linux

LaTeX is basically available on every Unix/Linux system. Ask your system administrator for the usage on your specific system.

LaTeX for the PC

There is a free version of LaTeX for PC called MiKTeX . MiKTeX is an up-to-date implementation of LaTeX for Windows (98/ME/2000/XP/Vista). To install MiKTeX, you need to download the MiKTeX Installer . After installing MiKTeX, you also need the Copernicus Publications LaTeX Macro Package (see above). MiKTeX and the Copernicus Publications LaTeX Macro Package will produce a PDF file of your manuscript (template.pdf), which can be viewed using Adobe Acrobat Reader.

LaTeX for Mac OS X

The Mac OS X Tex/LaTeX web site provides a complete overview of TeX on Mac OS X, including a list of TeX and LaTeX applications for OS X. A selection of free useful tools is provided below.

  • TexShop is a simple LaTeX front end, complete with editor, previewer, and more.
  • iTexMac is another LaTeX front end, similar to TeXShop.
  • BibDesk is a graphical bibliography manager for LaTeX.
  • MacTeX is an all-inclusive package that installs all the software needed to get started, including TeX, LaTeX, TexShop, Excalibur and BibDesk.

Auxiliary Programmes

  • Scientific Word is a commercial programme for producing LaTeX documents under Windows (98/ME/NT/2000/XP). Using Scientific Word, you will be able to prepare LaTeX documents without being familiar with LaTeX. You can use the LaTeX template files to prepare your manuscript with Scientific Word.
  • LyX is a free wysiwyg (what you see is what you get) programme to create LaTeX code. It is primarily designed for Unix/Linux systems but can also be run under MS Windows .

Editors

  • WinEdt is a shareware product. WinEdt is a very powerful Editor that is specifically designed to prepare LaTeX documents with MiKTeX. It enables you to create tables and special symbols from a simple menu. It also has buttons so that you can process the LaTeX document without having to go to the MS-DOS window. Download and installation (30-day free trial) is easy. To use WinEdt, you must already have a working LaTeX installation.
  • TeXaide is an equation editor for Windows that generates TeX on the clipboard, where it can be pasted into any TeX system.

Conversion Programme

  • word2tex is a shareware programme that converts MS WORD documents to LaTeX.
If you encounter a problem with the LaTeX Macro Package, please send an email to production@copernicus.org. However, please be aware that we can only reply to specific problems of the macro package and not to questions about LaTeX in general.