Convert TEX to ORG
Max file size 100mb.
TEX vs ORG Format Comparison
| Aspect | TEX (Source Format) | ORG (Target Format) |
|---|---|---|
| Format Overview |
TEX / LaTeX
Document Preparation System
LaTeX is a high-quality typesetting system designed for scientific and technical documentation. Created by Leslie Lamport as a macro package for Donald Knuth's TeX system, it's the standard for academic publishing, especially in mathematics, physics, and computer science. Scientific Academic |
ORG
Emacs Org-mode Format
Org-mode is an editing and organizing mode for Emacs. The Org format is a plain-text markup language used for notes, planning, task management, and literate programming. It supports tables, links, LaTeX equations, code blocks, and export to many formats including HTML, PDF, and LaTeX. Plain Text Literate Programming |
| Technical Specifications |
Structure: Plain text with markup commands
Encoding: UTF-8 or ASCII Format: Open standard (TeX/LaTeX) Processing: Compiled to DVI/PDF Extensions: .tex, .latex, .ltx |
Structure: Plain text with hierarchical outline
Encoding: UTF-8 (recommended) Format: Open, human-readable plain text Processing: Live editing in Emacs, export to many formats Extensions: .org |
| Syntax Examples |
LaTeX uses backslash commands: \documentclass{article}
\title{My Document}
\author{John Doe}
\begin{document}
\maketitle
\section{Introduction}
This is a paragraph with
\textbf{bold} and \textit{italic}.
\begin{itemize}
\item First item
\item Second item
\end{itemize}
$E = mc^2$
\end{document}
|
Org uses asterisks and simple markup: #+TITLE: My Document #+AUTHOR: John Doe * Introduction This is a paragraph with *bold* and /italic/ text. - First item - Second item $E = mc^2$ |
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| Version History |
TeX Introduced: 1978 (Donald Knuth)
LaTeX Introduced: 1984 (Leslie Lamport) Current Version: LaTeX2e (1994+) Status: Active development (LaTeX3) |
Introduced: 2003 (Carsten Dominik)
Current Version: Org 9.x (with Emacs) Status: Active development Evolution: Part of GNU Emacs since 2006 |
| Software Support |
TeX Live: Full distribution (all platforms)
MiKTeX: Windows distribution Overleaf: Online editor/compiler Editors: TeXstudio, TeXmaker, VS Code |
GNU Emacs: Native Org-mode support
Other Editors: VS Code, Vim (limited) Pandoc: Read/Write support Mobile: Orgzly, beorg |
Why Convert LaTeX to Org-mode?
Converting LaTeX documents to Org-mode format is valuable when you want to leverage Emacs' powerful editing environment for your documents. Org-mode combines document authoring with task management, note-taking, and literate programming capabilities that LaTeX alone doesn't provide.
Org-mode was created by Carsten Dominik in 2003 and has become one of Emacs' most popular features. While LaTeX excels at producing publication-quality documents, Org-mode provides a more interactive editing experience with collapsible outlines, executable code blocks, and seamless export to multiple formats including LaTeX itself.
One of Org-mode's key strengths is literate programming through Org Babel. You can embed code in multiple languages, execute it, and weave the results into your document. This makes it excellent for reproducible research, where you want your analysis code alongside your prose.
Key Benefits of Converting TEX to Org:
- Simpler Syntax: More intuitive markup than LaTeX commands
- Outlining: Hierarchical structure with collapsible sections
- Task Management: Add TODOs and scheduling to your documents
- Literate Programming: Execute code blocks and include results
- Multi-Format Export: Generate HTML, PDF, ODT from single source
- Math Support: LaTeX equations work natively in Org
- Version Control: Clean diffs for Git workflows
Practical Examples
Example 1: Academic Paper Section
Input TEX file (paper.tex):
\section{Introduction}
This paper presents our findings on quantum
computing algorithms. We demonstrate that
\textbf{Grover's algorithm} provides a
quadratic speedup for search problems.
\subsection{Background}
The complexity of classical search is $O(n)$,
while quantum search achieves $O(\sqrt{n})$.
Output ORG file (paper.org):
* Introduction
This paper presents our findings on quantum
computing algorithms. We demonstrate that
*Grover's algorithm* provides a
quadratic speedup for search problems.
** Background
The complexity of classical search is $O(n)$,
while quantum search achieves $O(\sqrt{n})$.
Example 2: Document with Code
Input TEX file (guide.tex):
\section{Installation}
\begin{enumerate}
\item Download the package
\item Extract the archive
\item Run the installer
\end{enumerate}
\begin{verbatim}
pip install mypackage
\end{verbatim}
Output ORG file (guide.org):
* Installation 1. Download the package 2. Extract the archive 3. Run the installer #+BEGIN_SRC bash pip install mypackage #+END_SRC
Example 3: Mathematical Content
Input TEX file (math.tex):
\section{Equations}
The quadratic formula is:
\begin{equation}
x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}
\end{equation}
Einstein's famous equation:
\[ E = mc^2 \]
Output ORG file (math.org):
* Equations
The quadratic formula is:
\begin{equation}
x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}
\end{equation}
Einstein's famous equation:
\[ E = mc^2 \]
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is Emacs Org-mode?
A: Org-mode is a major mode for the Emacs text editor that provides features for note-taking, project planning, task management, and document authoring. Created by Carsten Dominik in 2003, it uses a plain-text markup format that's both human-readable and powerful enough for complex documents.
Q: Do I need Emacs to use Org files?
A: While Org-mode is designed for Emacs and provides the best experience there, Org files are plain text and can be edited in any text editor. There's also limited support in VS Code and Vim. However, advanced features like code execution and agenda views require Emacs.
Q: Will my LaTeX equations be preserved?
A: Yes! Org-mode has native support for LaTeX math syntax. Inline equations ($...$) and display equations (\[...\] or equation environments) are preserved and render correctly when exporting to PDF or HTML with MathJax.
Q: Can I convert Org back to LaTeX?
A: Yes, Org-mode has built-in export to LaTeX (C-c C-e l l in Emacs). This is a common workflow: write in Org for the easier syntax and organizational features, then export to LaTeX for final publication. Pandoc also supports Org to LaTeX conversion.
Q: What is literate programming in Org?
A: Org Babel allows you to embed executable code blocks in your documents. You can write code in Python, R, Julia, or dozens of other languages, execute it within Emacs, and include the results in your document. This is powerful for reproducible research and tutorials.
Q: How does Org handle tables?
A: Org-mode has excellent table support with spreadsheet-like features. Tables auto-align as you type, support formulas (similar to Excel), and export beautifully to HTML, PDF, and other formats. Many users find Org tables easier than LaTeX tabular environments.