Convert TEX to SQL

Why Convert LaTeX to SQL?

Converting LaTeX documents to SQL creates database-ready INSERT statements from your document metadata and content. This enables building powerful document management systems, searchable archives, and content databases without manually extracting and formatting data.

For research institutions managing thousands of papers, theses, and reports, SQL conversion automates the cataloging process. Document metadata (title, author, date, keywords) becomes immediately queryable, enabling fast search and retrieval across large collections.

The conversion also supports full-text search by extracting document content into TEXT fields. Combined with database full-text indexing (like PostgreSQL's tsvector or MySQL's FULLTEXT), you can build sophisticated search systems for your LaTeX document repository.

Publishers and academic institutions use this conversion to populate content management systems, generate publication catalogs, and create APIs for document access. The structured SQL format integrates seamlessly with web applications and reporting tools.

Practical Examples

Example 1: Document Metadata Table

Store document information in a structured table:

-- Table schema
CREATE TABLE documents (
    id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
    title VARCHAR(500),
    author VARCHAR(255),
    date_created DATE,
    doc_class VARCHAR(50),
    content TEXT,
    created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
);

-- Generated INSERT from LaTeX
INSERT INTO documents (title, author, date_created, doc_class, content)
VALUES ('Quantum Computing Fundamentals', 'Dr. Jane Smith', '2024-01-15',
        'article', 'Introduction to quantum computing...');

Example 2: Package Dependencies Table

Track LaTeX packages used across your document collection:

-- Packages used by documents
INSERT INTO document_packages (document_id, package_name, options)
VALUES
    (1, 'amsmath', NULL),
    (1, 'graphicx', NULL),
    (1, 'hyperref', 'colorlinks=true'),
    (1, 'geometry', 'margin=1in');

-- Query: Find all documents using a specific package
SELECT d.title, d.author FROM documents d
JOIN document_packages dp ON d.id = dp.document_id
WHERE dp.package_name = 'tikz';

Example 3: Full-Text Search Setup

Enable powerful search across document content:

-- PostgreSQL full-text search
ALTER TABLE documents ADD COLUMN search_vector tsvector;
UPDATE documents SET search_vector = to_tsvector('english', title || ' ' || content);
CREATE INDEX idx_search ON documents USING GIN(search_vector);

-- Search for documents about "quantum entanglement"
SELECT title, author, ts_rank(search_vector, query) AS rank
FROM documents, to_tsquery('quantum & entanglement') query
WHERE search_vector @@ query
ORDER BY rank DESC;

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What SQL dialect is the output compatible with?

A: The output uses standard ANSI SQL syntax compatible with PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB, SQLite, SQL Server, and Oracle. String escaping follows SQL standards, but you may need minor adjustments for specific database features.

Q: What data is extracted from the LaTeX document?

A: The converter extracts document metadata (title, author, date), document class and options, loaded packages, section structure, and plain text content. Mathematical formulas are converted to text representation or preserved as LaTeX source.

Q: How is the document content handled?

A: Document content is extracted as plain text with LaTeX commands stripped. Section headings are preserved. For full LaTeX preservation, the raw source can be stored in a separate field. Content is properly escaped to prevent SQL injection.

Q: Can I customize the table schema?

A: The default output uses a standard documents table structure. For custom schemas, you can post-process the SQL output or use the conversion as a starting point. The field mapping follows common document management conventions.

Q: Is the SQL safe from injection attacks?

A: Yes, string values are properly escaped (single quotes doubled, special characters handled). However, for production use, we recommend using parameterized queries instead of direct INSERT statements when possible.

Q: How are LaTeX special characters handled?

A: LaTeX special characters (\, {, }, $, etc.) are converted to their text equivalents or removed depending on context. Unicode characters are preserved in UTF-8 encoding. Math mode content is converted to readable text.

Q: Can I import multiple documents at once?

A: Each document generates separate INSERT statements. For batch imports, you can combine multiple SQL outputs into a single file or use database-specific bulk import features (COPY in PostgreSQL, LOAD DATA in MySQL).

Q: How do I handle BibTeX references?

A: Bibliography entries are extracted into a separate references section or table if present. Citation keys are preserved, allowing you to build a relational database linking documents to their references.