Tips & Tricks

Workflow

My work-flow has the following steps:

1. Reading. Use Zotero to easily: a) download pdf and bibliographic information from journal web sites with a single click in your browser, b) organize your references, where the same reference can be in multiple folders, c) easily produce BibTex files, and d) use their iOS app to automatically sync with you iPad transferering highlighting and notes. Zotero can also be shared and collaborated on with co-authors.

2. Programming: I mostly use Python (but also some STATA, MATLAB and C++ when needed). See my guides to use JupyterLab, VSCode and git here. These guides are part of this programming course.

3. Writing: Use LyX. My paper and slide templates can be downloaded here. [Se various LyX tricks below.]

More tips&trick? I recommend Claes Bäckman's.

Some LyX tricks

Notice: Lot of interesting stuff in "Document/Settings", including "LaTex Preamble".

Useful short cuts

• 1. Crtl+M: Go to "inline" math mode (notice math symbols in bottom panel)

  2. Crtl+Shift+M: Go to "full line" math mode (notice math symbols in bottom panel)

  3. Crtl+L: Go to raw LaTex mode

  4. Alt+I + L: Add label

  5. Alt+I + C: Add citation

  6. Alt+I + R: Add reference (notice "reference format")

  7. Alt+I + F: Add footnote

  8. Alt+I + N: Add note

  9. Alt+P + B: Create bullet list.

  10. Alt+P + N: Create numbered list.

  11. Alt+P + {1,2,...}: Create numbered heading with level 1, 2, 3 etc..

  12. Alt+P + Shift+* + {1,2,...}: Create unnumbered heading with level 1, 2, 3 etc..

Useful short cuts in math mode:

• 1. Ctrl+Enter: Go into "align" mode, or add new line

  2. Shift+_: Subscript

  3. Shift+^+space: Superscript

  4. Alt+M + G + ?: Greek letters ("b" for "beta" etc.)

  5. Alt+M + F: Add fraction

  6. Ctrl+M: Go back and forth between "math" and "text" mode

  7. Alt+M +(, Alt+M +[, Alt+M +{: Add parentheses which automatically resize

Furthermore: 

• • 1. You can also write raw latex + tab to complete

    2. If you select something and write e.g. "\underline" or "\hat" the selection is underlined or given a hat  

In "Tools/Preferences":

• 1. Use Sumatra PDF (download here ): Choose "Paths". Add the install location to the end of "PATH prefix" starting with a ";". In "File handling/File formats" select "PDF (pdflatex)" and change "Viewer" to "SumatraPDF".

  2. Better full-screen experience: Choose "Editing". Unclick all "hide *" and set "Limit text width" (e.g. to 1000).

  3. Spellcheck continuously: Choose "Language settings/Spellchecker". Click "Spellcheck continuously".

  4. Setup short-cut to compile master document: Choose "Editing/Shortcuts". Search for "master buffer update". I use Crtl+Q.