LaTeX PDF Compiler

This skill enables Claude to create Overleaf-compatible LaTeX documents and compile them to PDF using the user's local pdflatex installation.

When to Use This Skill

Activate this skill when the user:

• Asks to "create a LaTeX [document] and compile it"

• Requests "make a PDF using LaTeX"

• Says "compile this LaTeX" or "compile to PDF"

• Asks to "generate and compile" any LaTeX document

• Requests updates to existing LaTeX with recompilation

Workflow

Single-Step Generation and Compilation

When user requests a LaTeX document with compilation:

Generate Overleaf-Compatible LaTeX

• Create clean, well-structured LaTeX using standard document classes

• Use common, widely-available packages

• Put LaTeX source in a code artifact with language="latex"

Compile Immediately

• Use the compile_latex.py script to compile the LaTeX

• Run pdflatex twice (for references and TOC)

• Provide the compiled PDF to the user

Present Both Artifacts

• Show the LaTeX source code artifact (editable)

• Provide the compiled PDF

Update and Recompile

When user requests changes to existing LaTeX:

• Update the LaTeX artifact with requested changes

• Recompile automatically using the compilation script

• Update the PDF artifact or provide new download

Compile-Only

When user says "compile this" with existing LaTeX artifact:

• Extract LaTeX from the artifact

• Compile using the script

• Provide the PDF

LaTeX Generation Guidelines

Standard Practices

• Use standard document classes: article , report , book , letter

• Include only common packages that work in Overleaf:

• amsmath , amssymb

• Math symbols

• graphicx

• Images

• hyperref

• Hyperlinks

• geometry

• Page layout

• fancyhdr

• Headers/footers

• enumitem

• List formatting

• xcolor

• Colors

• Use UTF-8 encoding

• Ensure proper document structure

Example LaTeX Structure

\documentclass[11pt,a4paper]{article}

\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{graphicx} \usepackage{hyperref} \usepackage[margin=1in]{geometry}

\title{Document Title} \author{Author Name} \date{\today}

\begin{document}

\maketitle

\section{Introduction} Content here...

\end{document}

Compilation Process

The skill uses the compile_latex.py script which:

• Writes LaTeX to temporary .tex file

• Runs pdflatex twice with flags:

• -interaction=nonstopmode (don't stop on errors)

• -output-directory (specified temp directory)

• Captures output and errors

• Returns:

• Success: PDF file path and base64-encoded PDF data

• Failure: Error messages and log excerpts

Error Handling

If compilation fails:

• Show relevant error messages from the LaTeX log

• Suggest common fixes (missing packages, syntax errors, etc.)

• Offer to update the LaTeX and retry

Output Format

After successful compilation:

• Provide download link or base64-encoded PDF

• Keep the LaTeX source artifact for future edits

• Mention file location if saved locally

Requirements

• pdflatex must be installed (TeX Live, MiKTeX, or MacTeX)

• pdflatex should be in system PATH

• Python 3.x available for the compilation script

Common Use Cases

• Academic Papers: \documentclass{article} with amsmath , sections, bibliography

• Resumes/CVs: Clean formatting with geometry , enumitem

• Reports: \documentclass{report} with chapters, TOC, figures

• Letters: \documentclass{letter} with proper formatting

• Math Homework: Heavy use of amsmath , align , equation environments

• Presentations: \documentclass{beamer} for slides

Script Location

The compilation script should be located at: scripts/compile_latex.py

This script is automatically invoked when compilation is needed.