LyX for AAAI articles

[Mehrdad Oveisi]

Hello,

I am trying to use LyX to create an article in the AAAI format.

AAAI provides a Latex author kit which can be downloaded here:
http://www.aaai.org/Publications/Templates/AuthorKit.zip

More information on this format may be found on their Author Instructions
page:
http://www.aaai.org/Publications/Author/author.php

What is the best way of getting LyX to use this Latex author kit to create
articles (with bibliographies) in AAAI format?

I am using LyX 1.6.5 on a Mac.

Thanks a lot!

[Rob Oakes]

Hi Mehrdad ,

The best way to get started is to install the LaTeX class and examples in your texmf folder (~/Library/texmf/tex/latex on Mac OS X, /usr/local/share/texmf/tex/latex on other Unix-like operating systems; if the folder doesn't exist, then create it). When done, open up a terminal and type:

sudo texhash

When done, Open LyX and select Tools->Reconfigure. Restart LyX.

To use the aaai style, create a new document in LyX using the "article" document class.

To the preamble of your document (Document->Settings->LaTeX preamble), add the following:

\usepackage{aaai}

\usepackage{times}
\usepackage{helvet}
\usepackage{courier}

For the bibliography, choose Insert->LaTeX Bibliography and specify which BibTeX database you will be using. To ensure that it uses the right style, find aaai from the available options and select it. Press Ok.

Then, start writing. You're very lucky. Aaai is implemented as a LaTeX package (rather than as a stand-alone document class), which means don't need to create your own custom layout. The \usepackage{aaai} command will ensure that the formatting complies with the publication specifications.

If you want additional information, take a look at the "formatting-instructions.tex" file which came as part of the AuthorKit. It has some good information on how to get started. If you are going to be using LyX long-term, it will also help you become comfortable looking at LaTeX source. You don't need to be a LaTeX guru to use LyX, but understanding the basics opens a whole new world of what you can accomplish.

If you're interested, I've written a couple of articles that explore this more in-depth:

Customizing LyX: Create an NIH Grant Proposal (http://www.oak-tree.us/blog/index.php/2009/11/02/custom-lyx-nih)

Customizing LyX: Character Styles and the LyX Local Layout (http://www.oak-tree.us/blog/index.php/2009/11/14/customize-lyx-character-styles)

Best of luck with your paper.

Cheers,

Rob Oakes

[Mehrdad Oveisi]

Hi Rob,

Thanks a lot for your prompt and helpful respond!

I have copied "aaai.sty" from the AuthorKit to ~/Library/texmf/tex/latex/
and followed the rest of your instructions, and things are working quite
nicely.

The only problem I have is with Bibliography. I have inserted it using:
Insert -> List / TOC -> BibTeX Bibliography

and then I used "aaai-named" as style which was the only style I found in
the list with a mention of aaai.

But this gives me a pop up window containing the following error:

--- Latex Errors --------

}1982]{alchourrn_logic_1982}

The control sequence at the end of the top line

of your error message was never \def'ed. If you have

misspelled it (e.g., `\hobx'), type `I' and the correct

spelling (e.g., `I\hbox'). Otherwise just continue,

and I'll forget about whatever was undefined.

----------------------------

I noticed that the AAAI AuthorKit also contains a file named "fixbib.sty".
I don't know if that can help to "fix" the problem.

Also thanks a lot for the nice LyX links!

Regards,
Mehrdad

Post by Rob Oakes
Hi Mehrdad ,
The best way to get started is to install the LaTeX class and examples in
your texmf folder (~/Library/texmf/tex/latex on Mac OS X,
/usr/local/share/texmf/tex/latex on other Unix-like operating systems; if
the folder doesn't exist, then create it). When done, open up a terminal
sudo texhash
When done, Open LyX and select Tools->Reconfigure. Restart LyX.
To use the aaai style, create a new document in LyX using the "article" document class.
\usepackage{aaai}
\usepackage{times}
\usepackage{helvet}
\usepackage{courier}
For the bibliography, choose Insert->LaTeX Bibliography and specify which
BibTeX database you will be using. To ensure that it uses the right style,
find aaai from the available options and select it. Press Ok.
Then, start writing. You're very lucky. Aaai is implemented as a LaTeX
package (rather than as a stand-alone document class), which means don't
need to create your own custom layout. The \usepackage{aaai} command will
ensure that the formatting complies with the publication specifications.
If you want additional information, take a look at the
"formatting-instructions.tex" file which came as part of the AuthorKit. It
has some good information on how to get started. If you are going to be
using LyX long-term, it will also help you become comfortable looking at
LaTeX source. You don't need to be a LaTeX guru to use LyX, but
understanding the basics opens a whole new world of what you can accomplish.
Customizing LyX: Create an NIH Grant Proposal (
http://www.oak-tree.us/blog/index.php/2009/11/02/custom-lyx-nih)
Customizing LyX: Character Styles and the LyX Local Layout (
http://www.oak-tree.us/blog/index.php/2009/11/14/customize-lyx-character-styles
)
Best of luck with your paper.
Cheers,
Rob Oakes

[Rob Oakes]

Hi Mehrdad,

If you can't get your LaTeX distribution to recognize the bibtex style,
you can also use it locally. Copy it to the same directory as your LyX
document. Then, open up LyX and the Bibliography dialog (the easiest
way to do this is to click on the "BibTeX bibliography" in your
document.

Next to the list of available BibTeX styles, you will see a "Browse"
button. Just open up the file dialog and find the style in the local
directory then try and recompile the document.

If you continue to have problems, take a look at the formatting
instructions provided with the author kit. I haven't ever used this
particular style and I'm not sure that I can give you much guidance on
how to navigate its complexities.

Cheers,

Rob

Post by Mehrdad Oveisi
Hi Rob,
Thanks a lot for your prompt and helpful respond!
I have copied "aaai.sty" from the AuthorKit to
~/Library/texmf/tex/latex/
and followed the rest of your instructions, and things are working
quite nicely.
Insert -> List / TOC -> BibTeX Bibliography
and then I used "aaai-named" as style which was the only style I found
in the list with a mention of aaai.
--- Latex Errors --------
}1982]{alchourrn_logic_1982}
The control sequence at the end of the top line
of your error message was never \def'ed. If you have
misspelled it (e.g., `\hobx'), type `I' and the correct
spelling (e.g., `I\hbox'). Otherwise just continue,
and I'll forget about whatever was undefined.
----------------------------
I noticed that the AAAI AuthorKit also contains a file named
"fixbib.sty".
I don't know if that can help to "fix" the problem.
Also thanks a lot for the nice LyX links!
Regards,
Mehrdad
Hi Mehrdad ,
The best way to get started is to install the LaTeX class and
examples in your texmf folder (~/Library/texmf/tex/latex on
Mac OS X, /usr/local/share/texmf/tex/latex on other Unix-like
operating systems; if the folder doesn't exist, then create
sudo texhash
When done, Open LyX and select Tools->Reconfigure. Restart LyX.
To use the aaai style, create a new document in LyX using the
"article" document class.
To the preamble of your document (Document->Settings->LaTeX
\usepackage{aaai}
\usepackage{times}
\usepackage{helvet}
\usepackage{courier}
For the bibliography, choose Insert->LaTeX Bibliography and
specify which BibTeX database you will be using. To ensure
that it uses the right style, find aaai from the available
options and select it. Press Ok.
Then, start writing. You're very lucky. Aaai is implemented
as a LaTeX package (rather than as a stand-alone document
class), which means don't need to create your own custom
layout. The \usepackage{aaai} command will ensure that the
formatting complies with the publication specifications.
If you want additional information, take a look at the
"formatting-instructions.tex" file which came as part of the
AuthorKit. It has some good information on how to get
started. If you are going to be using LyX long-term, it will
also help you become comfortable looking at LaTeX source. You
don't need to be a LaTeX guru to use LyX, but understanding
the basics opens a whole new world of what you can accomplish.
If you're interested, I've written a couple of articles that
Customizing LyX: Create an NIH Grant Proposal
(http://www.oak-tree.us/blog/index.php/2009/11/02/custom-lyx-nih)
Customizing LyX: Character Styles and the LyX Local Layout
(http://www.oak-tree.us/blog/index.php/2009/11/14/customize-lyx-character-styles)
Best of luck with your paper.
Cheers,
Rob Oakes

[Mehrdad Oveisi]

Hi Rob,

It's working! It is important to set the Document class to "article (aaai)"
and the Bibliography style to "aaai". The Bibliography style "aaai" may not
be in the drop down list, but you can just manually type "aaai" there.

Thanks again for your helpful responses!
Mehrdad

Post by Rob Oakes
Hi Mehrdad,
If you can't get your LaTeX distribution to recognize the bibtex style,
you can also use it locally. Copy it to the same directory as your LyX
document. Then, open up LyX and the Bibliography dialog (the easiest
way to do this is to click on the "BibTeX bibliography" in your
document.
Next to the list of available BibTeX styles, you will see a "Browse"
button. Just open up the file dialog and find the style in the local
directory then try and recompile the document.
If you continue to have problems, take a look at the formatting
instructions provided with the author kit. I haven't ever used this
particular style and I'm not sure that I can give you much guidance on
how to navigate its complexities.
Cheers,
Rob

Post by Mehrdad Oveisi
Hi Rob,
Thanks a lot for your prompt and helpful respond!
I have copied "aaai.sty" from the AuthorKit to
~/Library/texmf/tex/latex/
and followed the rest of your instructions, and things are working
quite nicely.
Insert -> List / TOC -> BibTeX Bibliography
and then I used "aaai-named" as style which was the only style I found
in the list with a mention of aaai.
--- Latex Errors --------
}1982]{alchourrn_logic_1982}
The control sequence at the end of the top line
of your error message was never \def'ed. If you have
misspelled it (e.g., `\hobx'), type `I' and the correct
spelling (e.g., `I\hbox'). Otherwise just continue,
and I'll forget about whatever was undefined.
----------------------------
I noticed that the AAAI AuthorKit also contains a file named
"fixbib.sty".
I don't know if that can help to "fix" the problem.
Also thanks a lot for the nice LyX links!
Regards,
Mehrdad
Hi Mehrdad ,
The best way to get started is to install the LaTeX class and
examples in your texmf folder (~/Library/texmf/tex/latex on
Mac OS X, /usr/local/share/texmf/tex/latex on other Unix-like
operating systems; if the folder doesn't exist, then create
sudo texhash
When done, Open LyX and select Tools->Reconfigure. Restart LyX.
To use the aaai style, create a new document in LyX using the
"article" document class.
To the preamble of your document (Document->Settings->LaTeX
\usepackage{aaai}
\usepackage{times}
\usepackage{helvet}
\usepackage{courier}
For the bibliography, choose Insert->LaTeX Bibliography and
specify which BibTeX database you will be using. To ensure
that it uses the right style, find aaai from the available
options and select it. Press Ok.
Then, start writing. You're very lucky. Aaai is implemented
as a LaTeX package (rather than as a stand-alone document
class), which means don't need to create your own custom
layout. The \usepackage{aaai} command will ensure that the
formatting complies with the publication specifications.
If you want additional information, take a look at the
"formatting-instructions.tex" file which came as part of the
AuthorKit. It has some good information on how to get
started. If you are going to be using LyX long-term, it will
also help you become comfortable looking at LaTeX source. You
don't need to be a LaTeX guru to use LyX, but understanding
the basics opens a whole new world of what you can accomplish.
If you're interested, I've written a couple of articles that
Customizing LyX: Create an NIH Grant Proposal
(http://www.oak-tree.us/blog/index.php/2009/11/02/custom-lyx-nih

)

Post by Mehrdad Oveisi
Customizing LyX: Character Styles and the LyX Local Layout (

http://www.oak-tree.us/blog/index.php/2009/11/14/customize-lyx-character-styles
)

Post by Mehrdad Oveisi
Best of luck with your paper.
Cheers,
Rob Oakes