Latex compilation

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Compilers

pdfLaTeX is usually the default compiler:

  • pdfLaTeX supports .png, .jpg, .pdf image formats. It will convert .eps images to .pdf on-the-fly during compilation, which may prolong the compilation time required. (pdfLaTeX may not be able to handle pstricks well on Overleaf.)
  • LaTeX supports only .eps and .ps image formats for use with \includegraphics. If all the images in your project are .eps files, then this compiler setting is recommended.
  • XeLaTeX and LuaLaTeX both supports UTF-8 robustly out of the box, as well as Truetype and OpenType. They are therefore recommended if you need to typeset non-Latin scripts on Overleaf, in conjunction with the polyglossia pacakge. They also support all of the .png, .jpg, .pdf and .eps image formats.
  • XeLaTeX supports pstricks; but LuaLaTeX doesn’t.

Output formats

  • (DVI) Device independent file format consists of binary data describing the visual layout of a document in a manner not reliant on any specific image format, display hardware or printer.
  • (PS) PostScript file format describes text and graphics on page and it is based on vector graphics. PostScript is, until now, a standard in desktop publishing areas.
  • (PDF) Portable Document Format is a file format, based on PostScript, used to represent documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems. It is now widely used as a file format for printing and for distribution on the Web.

If you are required to produce a DVI file from your Overleaf project:

  • Make sure you’re using only .eps and .ps images in your project.
  • Click on the Overleaf menu icon above the file list panel, and set the Compiler setting to ‘LaTeX’.
  • Recompile your project.
  • Click on the “Logs and output files” button next to the Recompile button.
  • Scroll right to the bottom, and click on “Other logs and output files”.
  • You should then able to download the generated .dvi file.

If you need to convert the DVI file into PS yourself

  • cd to a dedicated folder
  • Place the generated/downloaded .dvi file into the dedicated folder (for example, let’s call it output.dvi).
  • Place all .eps image files in the dedicated folder. Even if the images were previously placed into a fig/ subfolder, you need to place .eps image files at the same directory level as the .dvi file.
  • Type the following (dvips can be installed with MacTex or equivalent):
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dvips -P pdf -o output.ps output.dvi

# The -P pdf option generates a 
# PS file smoother on the screen 
# when further converted to PDF.

References