Convert RST to TeX

Why Convert RST to TeX?

Converting reStructuredText (RST) documents to TeX/LaTeX enables transforming technical documentation into publication-quality typeset documents. LaTeX is the gold standard for academic publishing, and this conversion bridges software documentation with scholarly output.

Sphinx already uses LaTeX for generating PDF output from RST documentation. By converting directly to TeX, you gain full control over the LaTeX source, allowing customization of styling, packages, and layout beyond what automated tools provide.

For researchers and academics who document software in RST but need to publish in academic venues, RST to TeX conversion provides a seamless workflow. Technical documentation can be converted and refined for journal submissions, conference papers, or thesis chapters.

RST's math directive already uses LaTeX syntax, so mathematical content transfers perfectly to TeX output. This makes the conversion particularly valuable for scientific and mathematical documentation where precise notation is essential.

Key Benefits of Converting RST to TeX:

• Publication Quality: Professional typesetting for academic papers
• Math Excellence: Superior mathematical notation and equations
• Academic Standard: Required format for many journals and conferences
• Full Control: Complete customization of LaTeX output
• PDF Generation: High-quality PDF output via LaTeX compilation
• Bibliography Support: BibTeX integration for references
• Cross-References: Automatic numbering and referencing

Practical Examples

Example 1: Basic Document Conversion

Input RST file (paper.rst):

Research Paper Title
====================

Abstract
--------

This paper presents **significant findings** in
the field of *computational analysis*.

Introduction
------------

The problem we address is defined as:

.. math::

   f(x) = \int_0^\infty e^{-x^2} dx

Output TeX file (paper.tex):

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}

\title{Research Paper Title}
\begin{document}
\maketitle

\begin{abstract}
This paper presents \textbf{significant findings} in
the field of \textit{computational analysis}.
\end{abstract}

\section{Introduction}

The problem we address is defined as:

\begin{equation}
f(x) = \int_0^\infty e^{-x^2} dx
\end{equation}

\end{document}

Example 2: Technical Documentation with Code

Input RST file (algorithm.rst):

Algorithm Implementation
========================

Overview
--------

The algorithm has complexity :math:`O(n \log n)`.

Implementation
--------------

.. code-block:: python

   def quicksort(arr):
       if len(arr) <= 1:
           return arr
       pivot = arr[len(arr) // 2]
       return quicksort(left) + middle + quicksort(right)

Output TeX file (algorithm.tex):

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{listings}
\usepackage{xcolor}

\lstset{
    language=Python,
    basicstyle=\ttfamily\small,
    keywordstyle=\color{blue},
    stringstyle=\color{red},
    commentstyle=\color{green}
}

\begin{document}

\section{Algorithm Implementation}

\subsection{Overview}

The algorithm has complexity $O(n \log n)$.

\subsection{Implementation}

\begin{lstlisting}
def quicksort(arr):
    if len(arr) <= 1:
        return arr
    pivot = arr[len(arr) // 2]
    return quicksort(left) + middle + quicksort(right)
\end{lstlisting}

\end{document}

Example 3: Document with Tables and References

Input RST file (analysis.rst):

Data Analysis Results
=====================

Results Summary
---------------

+------------+-------+-------+
| Metric     | Train | Test  |
+============+=======+=======+
| Accuracy   | 95.2% | 93.1% |
+------------+-------+-------+
| Precision  | 94.8% | 92.5% |
+------------+-------+-------+

.. _results-table:

See Table 1 for detailed results.

References
----------

.. [1] Smith et al., "Machine Learning", 2024.

Output TeX file (analysis.tex):

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{booktabs}

\begin{document}

\section{Data Analysis Results}

\subsection{Results Summary}

\begin{table}[h]
\centering
\caption{Results Summary}
\label{tab:results-table}
\begin{tabular}{lcc}
\toprule
Metric & Train & Test \\
\midrule
Accuracy & 95.2\% & 93.1\% \\
Precision & 94.8\% & 92.5\% \\
\bottomrule
\end{tabular}
\end{table}

See Table~\ref{tab:results-table} for detailed results.

\begin{thebibliography}{1}
\bibitem{ref1} Smith et al., ``Machine Learning'', 2024.
\end{thebibliography}

\end{document}

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the difference between TeX and LaTeX?

A: TeX is the underlying typesetting engine created by Donald Knuth. LaTeX is a set of macros built on top of TeX by Leslie Lamport that provides higher-level commands like \section and \begin{document}. Most "TeX" files today are actually LaTeX.

Q: How do I compile the TeX output?

A: Use a LaTeX distribution like TeX Live (Linux/Mac) or MiKTeX (Windows). Run `pdflatex filename.tex` to generate PDF. For documents with references, you may need multiple passes or use latexmk for automatic compilation.

Q: Will RST math formulas convert correctly?

A: Yes! RST math directives use LaTeX syntax internally, so mathematical content transfers perfectly. Inline math (:math:`...`) becomes $...$ and display math becomes equation environments.

Q: What about RST code blocks?

A: Code blocks are converted to LaTeX listings or verbatim environments. The listings package provides syntax highlighting for many programming languages, similar to what you see in RST documentation.

Q: Can I use Overleaf with the converted files?

A: Absolutely! Overleaf is an online LaTeX editor that can compile your converted TeX files directly in the browser. Simply upload the .tex file to Overleaf and compile to see the PDF output.

Q: How are RST cross-references handled?

A: RST labels and references are converted to LaTeX \label and \ref commands. This maintains the ability to reference sections, figures, and tables by name, with automatic numbering in the compiled output.

Q: Is the output suitable for journal submission?

A: The converted TeX provides a solid foundation. Most journals provide specific LaTeX templates (documentclass) that you can apply to the converted content. You may need to adjust formatting to match specific journal requirements.

Q: Can I customize the LaTeX preamble?

A: Yes! The generated TeX file can be edited freely. You can add packages, define custom commands, and modify the document class. The conversion provides a starting point that you can enhance for your specific needs.