Chapter 7. Using the Build Tools

Compiling, converting and viewing

To view the result of your work, you first need to compile the source. All the build tools are grouped closely together in the Build->Compile, Build->Convert, and Build->View menus.

To compile your source code for screen viewers like KDVI, other DVI viewers or further conversion, you can use the shortcut Alt-2. Then you can view the DVI file using your default viewer with Alt-3, convert the DVI to a PS file with Alt-4, and view the PS file with Alt-5.

BibT_EX

If you are using BibT_EX for your bibliography entries, you will have to follow a special compiling scheme.

Run L^AT_EX with Alt-2.
Run BibT_EX with Alt--: this will compile the bybliography file.
Run twice L^AT_EX again, to incorporate the compiled bybliography information, and to get citations and cross-referencing right.

You may also view the BibT_EX file with your BibT_EX editor of choice (for example gBib) by choosing Build->View->View Bibtex; you can change the default BibT_EX viewer at Tools->Configure Kile...+Tools.

MakeIndex

If you are using the makeidx package to make a final, alphabetical index for your document, you have also to follow a certain compilation pattern.

Run L^AT_EX with Alt-2.
Make index with Alt-=: this will compile the index file.
Run L^AT_EX again, to incorporate the compiled index information.

MetaPost

If you want to compile your document with MetaPost, a picture drawing program, you can do it with Build->Compile->Mpost.

PDFL^AT_EX

There is also another way to compile your document, if you want a PDF: you can run PDFL^AT_EX, that will compile the source directly into a PDF file, with Alt-6: you can then view the compiled file pressing Alt-7.

Alternatively, you can convert a PS into a PDF with Alt-8, or directly a DVI into a PDF with Alt-9.

Using PDFL^AT_EX instead of L^AT_EX may be just a matter of simplicity or habit, but sometimes the behaviour of the two program can differ.

L^AT_EX2HTML

Finally, you may want to publish your work on the web and not just on paper. You may then use the latex2html program, that can be called from Kile's menu Build->Convert->LaTeX to HTML. The result will be placed in a subfolder of the work folder, and you will be able to see the result of the conversion choosing the menu item Build->View->View HTML.

Passing Command-Line Parameters

If you want to pass some specific command-line parameters to the compile, convert or view tools, you can configure their call in Settings->Configure Kile...+Tools.