Markdown In Latex: New Approaches To Streamlined Formatting
Integrating Markdown into LaTeX Workflows
LaTeX has long been the gold standard for academic and scientific publishing, providing robust tools for formatting complex documents with equations, figures, bibliographies and more. However, writing LaTeX source code can have a steep learning curve. Markdown has emerged as a popular lightweight markup language that allows authors to write using easy-to-read plain text formatting while still offering substantial formatting capabilities. The integration of Markdown into LaTeX workflows promises to combine the best of both worlds.
This article explores new approaches and tools to leverage Markdown for writing and content creation, while still harnessing the power and typographic control offered by LaTeX for building polished, print-ready PDF outputs. We discuss the benefits Markdown offers busy authors and ways it can assist LaTeX document preparation. We overview engines and packages for translating Markdown to LaTeX and techniques for mapping Markdown syntax to LaTeX equivalents.
Benefits of Markdown for Content Creation
Markdown provides a number of advantages for writing and content creation which lend it well as a precursor for LaTeX projects:
- Syntax is lightweight and simple, allowing authors to focus on content
- Plain text format means markup shows clearly in code files for version control and collaboration
- Files render directly in web browsers and apps allowing quick previews
- Easy export to HTML and PDF means content written in Markdown can flow to multiple publication formats
- Less coding overhead compared to LaTeX results in faster writing for increased productivity
The simplicity of the markdown syntax lowers the barrier to entry for content creation allowing authors to translate ideas into text without getting bogged down in code details. Since Markdown documents consist of human-readable plaintext with minimally obtrusive symbology, contents remain accessible and transparent for all involved, easing version control and edits during review and collaboration.
For academic authors less fond of coding requirements, Markdown permits concentration on the substance of one's work rather than formatting technicalities. Writing flows faster by reducing the yearning to plan document structure and design elements. A single Markdown file can readily be converted to HTML for web publishing or PDF for print materials. The ability to preview formatted text in real-time motivates progress through prompt gratification.
Markdown Engines for LaTeX
A variety of Markdown engines can translate Markdown documents into LaTeX equivalents to harness the typographic capabilities LaTeX packages offer:
- Pandoc - Open source Swiss army knife for document conversions, with customizable LaTeX templates
- MarkdownPP - Modular pre-processor targeting scientific publishing, can integrate LaTeX
- Text::Markdown::Discount - Perl based, one of the fastest parsers, good for blogs or websites
- Markdown.pl - Original Perl implementation by John Gruber with LaTeX support
- Python-Markdown - Full-featured in Python, works with optional LaTeX extensions
These engines handle parsing Markdown syntax and outputting valid LaTeX documents that can be compiled to PDF as usual. Most engines allow customization of LaTeX templates to handle document elements like title pages, tables of contents, bibliographies, and metadata formatting to specific journal or publisher specifications.
Pandoc excels at converting between many document formats, while Python-Markdown and MarkdownPP aim to provide robust feature-sets specifically targeting academic publisher needs. Each engine has pros and cons regarding factors like speed, extensibility, and development activity. Rarely used LaTeX syntax may or may not be supported depending on the engine chosen.
Basic Markdown Syntax Translation
The following overview covers common Markdown formatting and how engines typically translate to LaTeX equivalents:
- Headings - Prefix text with hash symbols: # H1, ## H2, ### H3 etc, becoming LaTeX sectioning commands:
\section{Heading 1}
\subsection{Heading 2}
> This text becomes an LaTeX quote environment
These standard Markdown features cover many basic formatting needs. Engines handle the conversion to proper LaTeX markup reliably. However, for specialized needs direct LaTeX may still be required within Markdown. For this Markdown provides an "escape hatch" to allow raw inclusion of any required LaTeX syntax.
Escaping LaTeX Commands
To leverage custom LaTeX code within Markdown documents, most engines allow embedding verbatim LaTeX using a backslash as an "escape character" before LaTeX opening and closing braces like:
\begin{equation}
E=mc^2
\end{equation}
Here the \\ signals to treat the braces literally rather than as Markdown syntax. This functions similarly to LaTeX's \verb command to pass LaTeX source code directly to the compiler uninterpreted preserving all spacing and special characters. Think of this as an "ejection seat" out of the Markdown world into the LaTeX underlayer when required for specific constructs.
For example, a custom multi-row table requiring special formatting unavailable in Markdown could be coded directly in LaTeX as follows:
\begin{escapehatch}
\begin{table}[htbp]
\centering
\caption{Custom LaTeX Table Example}
\begin{tabular}{lll}
\hline
Column 1 & Column 2 & Column 3\\
\hline
Row 1 col 1 & Row 1 Col 2 & Row 1 col 3\\
Row 2 col 1 & Row 2 Col 2 & Row 2 Col 3\\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{table}
\end{escapehatch}
The \\begin{escapehatch} and \\end{escapehatch} delimiters used here are customizable depending on Markdown engine employed. This allows bypassing limitations of Markdown's syntax when LaTeX offers added capabilities to accomplish document goals.
Adding Bibliographies and Citations
Academic articles require bibliographies and citations to credit sources. Markdown itself lacks native support for bibliographies, but engines integrate solutions to bridge this gap for LaTeX output:
- Pandoc maps citations like
[@smith04]to \citep{smith04} calls and bibliography data in external .bib files to LaTeX printable bibliography lists compiled correctly. - Python-Markdown citation extensions allows bibliography data in YAML metadata sections, with citekeys wrapped in custom markup like
{[pyth2005]}outputting to \cite{pyth2005}
These extensions shows mechanisms possible to augment base Markdown lacking critical academic publishing features. Preprocessors can run before LaTeX conversion to alter Markdown ASTs (abstract syntax trees) to inject sophisticated functionality missing from original Markdown specifications. In essence, LaTeX provides the typographic engine while Markdown offers efficient semantic content input leveraging automation for best-of-breed combination.
Creating Tables and Figures
In addition to text formatting, scholarly articles utilize complex data tables and informative figures. Markdown tabel syntax looks like:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | | -------- | -------- | -------- | | Cell 1 | Cell 2 | Cell 3 | | Cell 4 | Cell 5 | Cell 6 |
And translates to:
\begin{tabular}{lll}
\hline
Column 1 & Column 2 & Column 3\\
\hline
Cell 1 & Cell 2 & Cell 3\\
Cell 4 & Cell 5 & Cell 6\\
\hline
\end{tabular}
For graphics, Markdown images syntax like  can output to LaTeX equivalents:
\begin{figure}
\centering
\includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{files/figure1.png}
\caption{Figure 1}
\end{figure}
Table generation meets basic needs but alignment options remain limited compared to direct LaTeX tabular environments. For precision placement of complex graphics, LaTeX packages like {float} and {wrapfig} offer superior techniques to standard Markdown image insertion.
Building Complex Documents
The aforementioned capabilities begin linking Markdown into the LaTeX workflow for basic to intermediate document objectives. Yet LaTeX's extensive collection of packages target complex multi-hundred page documents like thesis, dissertations, and technical books requiring specialized constructs including:
- Index generation
- Glossary insertion
- Footnote and endnote handling
- Formatting adjustment by chapter
- Table of contents gathering
- References by page numbers
- Per chapter bibliographies
Here LaTeX's structural orientation manifests advantages over Markdown's simplified approach. However, tools are evolving to improve Markdown handling in these domains. Pre-processing scripts can insert custom LaTeX, and Pandoc features YAML metadata sections for chapter divisions. The texdoctor package diagnoses problematic LaTeX code generated from Markdown to uncover necessary adjustments.
In short, while genuine gaps exist between Markdown and LaTeX capabilities, active development efforts continue toward enriching Markdown engines to expand possibilities. Authors can fruitfully exploit hybrid workflows using Markdown for writing, transformation engines for pre-processing, LaTeX for production, and automation for linking stages.
Automating Markdown to PDF
To ease creation of print-ready PDF outputs, Makefile automation assists tying components together into one-touch generation from Markdown source text. Tools like latexmk handle code compilation allowing focus on content. Predefined processing sequences might work as:
- Run pre-processing on Markdown for extensions
- Transform Markdown to LaTeX using Pandoc with template
- Compile LaTeX input through latexmk build tool
- Generate PDF final output
Smooth workflows minimize disruptions adjusting software configurations and settings. Automation permits concentration on ideas whilst delegating format translation to programs and scripts. Template modification centralizes stylistic adjustments isolated from content creation. Eventually, iterative refinement attains efficiency improvements through incremental optimizations at each stage.
Best Practices and Limitations
Despite ongoing advancements in Markdown-to-LaTeX capabilities, well-known issues remain around output quality control. Generated LaTeX can demonstrate suboptimal coding compared to human outputs. Testing will always reveal corner cases of incomplete translation lacking from Markdown v LaTex parity.
Recommendations for practical efforts include:
- Start simple. Add complexity only as needed in document evolution.
- Learn which LaTeX features have shaky Markdown support for avoidance or isolated direct use.
- Check LaTeX code generated from Markdown to discover necessary tweaks.
- Factor out complex components into separate LaTeX files that Markdown can include by reference.
- Define LaTeX templates for Markdown pre-processing for consistent styling.
- Create Makefile database for compiling automation and iteration management.
With judicious use following modern best practices, Markdown can enhance LaTeX publishing from writing to finished output. Yet no panaceas exist - FORMAT integration requires mindfulness to garner maximal benefits while avoiding shortcomings. Custom solutions combining available tools specific to document goals and subject matter can amplify creation efficiency.
