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Technical Guide: How to Compile LaTeX Documents Completely and Efficiently

Aan Triono avatarAan Triono  included in  category LaTeX
     820 words   4 minutes 
This article explains how LaTeX compilation works, the available compilers, the step-by-step process, and how to handle errors efficiently.

Compilation is the process of translating LaTeX commands into a ready-to-print document.
This article discusses how LaTeX compilation works, types of compilers available, the compilation sequence, and how to resolve errors efficiently.

LaTeX is a document preparation system that produces high-quality output, especially for scientific and technical text.
Unlike conventional word processors, a LaTeX document must be compiled before a .tex file can be converted into the final format such as .pdf, .dvi, or .ps.

Note
Note: This article was generated with the help of AI technology and has been manually reviewed to ensure accuracy and clarity.

LaTeX compilation is the process performed by a compiler to read the source file (usually with the .tex extension), interpret the commands inside (\section{}, \usepackage{}, etc.), and produce an output file such as .pdf.

In short:

document.tex → [compiler] → document.pdf

This process differs from a typical word processor like Microsoft Word because LaTeX separates content writing from output rendering.

Here are some commonly used LaTeX compilers:

Compiler Main Output Advantages Disadvantages
pdfLaTeX PDF directly Fast, stable, compatible with most packages Limited to TeX fonts and ASCII input
XeLaTeX PDF Supports Unicode and system fonts (TTF/OTF) Slightly slower
LuaLaTeX PDF Supports Lua scripting, high performance Less stable with older packages
LaTeX → DVI → PS → PDF PDF/DVI Classic method, suitable for legacy projects Long process and rarely used today

💡 Recommendation: Use pdfLaTeX for standard documents, XeLaTeX for non-Latin languages (e.g., Indonesian, Japanese, Arabic), and LuaLaTeX for projects involving advanced graphics or scripting.

When compiling, LaTeX goes through several stages:

  1. Reads the .tex file — the compiler processes the preamble (\usepackage{}) and the main document body.
  2. Builds document structure — generates the table of contents, labels, references, and indexes.
  3. Processes math symbols, images, and tables.
  4. Creates auxiliary files such as:
    • .aux → for cross-references (\ref, \cite)
    • .toc → for the table of contents
    • .log → for error logs
  5. Produces the final output (.pdf or .dvi).

Because of these auxiliary files, LaTeX documents often need to be compiled more than once, especially when using cross-references, tables of contents, or bibliographies.

For local system users (Windows, macOS, Linux), compilation can be performed via the command line.

Example:

pdflatex document.tex
bibtex document
pdflatex document.tex
pdflatex document.tex

Steps:

  1. First compilation: generates .aux and .toc.
  2. Run bibtex (if a bibliography is used).
  3. Recompile to update references.
  4. Final compilation for the finished output.

⚙️ If you’re using biber (with biblatex), replace bibtex with biber document.

Besides the terminal, compilation can also be done directly from LaTeX editors. Common options include:

overleaf
Overleaf interface

  • Automatically compiles whenever you save.
  • Choose the compiler via Menu → Compiler → pdfLaTeX/XeLaTeX.
  • No local installation required.

6.2 TeXworks / TeXstudio (Offline)

  • Press Ctrl + T or click the “Typeset” icon.
  • Select the compiler from the dropdown list.
  • Suitable for Windows/macOS users.

overleaf
TeXstudio interface

6.3 Visual Studio Code + LaTeX Workshop

  • A popular extension among modern users.
  • Supports build chain automation (e.g., pdflatex → bibtex → pdflatex → pdflatex).
  • Configuration file: .vscode/settings.json

Example configuration:

"latex-workshop.latex.recipes": [
  {
    "name": "pdflatex -> bibtex -> pdflatex x2",
    "tools": ["pdflatex", "bibtex", "pdflatex", "pdflatex"]
  }
]

Here are common LaTeX compilation errors and how to fix them:

Error Message Cause Solution
! Undefined control sequence. Unknown command Ensure the required package is loaded (\usepackage{})
! LaTeX Error: File 'xxx.sty' not found. Missing package Install using a package manager (tlmgr install xxx)
! Missing $ inserted. Math mode error Wrap math expressions with $...$ or \[...\]
Package hyperref Warning: Token not allowed in a PDF string Invalid characters in hyperlink Use {} or replace special characters
Output incomplete / references missing Not enough compilation runs Compile 2–3 times

🧩 Tip: Check the document.log file for detailed error messages and line numbers.

For efficiency, many users rely on automated compilation tools, such as:

  • latexmk — automatically performs all compilation stages (LaTeX, BibTeX, index).
    Example: 
    latexmk -pdf document.tex
  • arara — build system based on commands in .tex file comments.
    Example preamble: 
    % arara: pdflatex
% arara: bibtex
% arara: pdflatex
% arara: pdflatex
  • Makefile — for large projects with multiple .tex files.

With an automated workflow, you only need one command to trigger the entire compilation sequence.

Compilation is the core of the LaTeX system — the process that transforms source code into a high-quality document.
Understanding how compilers work, the build sequence, and error handling will help you write scientific documents more efficiently and professionally.

Whether using Overleaf, VS Code, or the terminal, the principle remains the same: make sure all packages, references, and resources are ready before the final compilation.

Updated on 2025-11-11  2d1c486
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