Write in LaTeX

Start with a journal layout or a blank article. Write in the source editor, compile beside your text, and jump between a sentence and its place in the PDF.

The LaTeX practice document in Oleafly, with its source, outline, and compiled PDF side by side Open full screenshot

Make your first page

1. From the library, choose New project → Use a template → Blank document.
2. Name the project Toolbar practice and choose Create project.
3. Open main.tex. Replace its contents with the example below.
4. Choose Recompile, or press ⌘Enter on macOS / Ctrl+Enter on Windows and Linux.

main.tex

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath,graphicx,hyperref}
\title{A Small Research Note}
\author{Alex Chen}
\date{}
\begin{document}
\maketitle
\section{Question}\label{sec:question}
How does the sample size affect the estimate?
\section{Method}
We repeat the measurement and compare the mean.
\begin{equation}\label{eq:mean}
  \bar{x}=\frac{1}{n}\sum_{i=1}^{n}x_i
\end{equation}
Equation~\ref{eq:mean} defines the estimate.
\end{document}

You should see a title, two sections, and a numbered equation. This example supplies the packages used by the equation, figure, and link tools below.

Download the example source

Find every toolbar control

The LaTeX toolbar in LLaMA’s editor-only view. Its controls run from Code/Visual and Undo through formatting, citations, tables, equations, symbols, and code intelligence. Open full screenshot

The formatting bar sits above the document. Select existing text to wrap it, or place the cursor where new content belongs. Most insertion tools select a placeholder so you can type over it immediately. Narrow panes move controls into More formatting options (…).

Code / Visual

Enable Visual editor in Settings → Experimentation, then switch modes above the document. Code exposes the source; Visual provides formatted editing for supported document structures.

Undo

Click the left curved arrow or press ⌘Z / Ctrl+Z. Reverses the last edit.

Redo

Click the right curved arrow or press ⌘Shift+Z / Ctrl+Shift+Z. Reapplies an undone edit.

Heading → Part

Choose Part from the heading menu to insert \part{Part}. Replace the heading text with your own title.

Heading → Chapter

Choose Chapter from the heading menu to insert \chapter{Chapter}. Replace the heading text with your own title. Use a chapter-based class such as report or book.

Heading → Section

Choose Section from the heading menu to insert \section{Section}. Replace the heading text with your own title.

Heading → Subsection

Choose Subsection from the heading menu to insert \subsection{Subsection}. Replace the heading text with your own title.

Heading → Subsubsection

Choose Subsubsection from the heading menu to insert \subsubsection{Subsubsection}. Replace the heading text with your own title.

Heading → Paragraph

Choose Paragraph from the heading menu to insert \paragraph{Paragraph}. Replace the heading text with your own title.

Bold

Select “sample size” and click Bold or press ⌘B / Ctrl+B while editing. \textbf{sample size}.

Italic

Select a term and click Italic or press ⌘I / Ctrl+I. \textit{term}.

Underline

Select text and click Underline. \underline{text}.

Inline code

Select a filename or identifier and click the code icon. \texttt{filename}.

Bulleted list

Choose Bulleted list to insert an itemize environment. Type each entry after \item. Enter continues the list; Enter on an empty item exits it.

Numbered list

Choose Numbered list to insert an enumerate environment. Add each step after \item; LaTeX supplies its number when compiled.

Insert blockquote

Place the cursor on a new line and click the quote icon. A quote environment for an attributed quotation.

Insert link

Click the link icon, replace url, and then replace link text. \href{url}{link text}; load hyperref in the preamble.

Citations

Open the citation picker, search your project bibliography, and choose the entry you want. A citation using the selected bibliography key. Add sources in References & citations first.

Insert cross-reference

Click the tag icon and replace label with eq:mean in the practice document. \ref{eq:mean}, which resolves to the equation number after compilation.

Insert footnote

Place the cursor after a word and click the footnote icon. \footnote{note text}; replace the note text.

Put a \label{...} after a section heading, equation, or figure caption, then refer to that exact label. Completion and hover previews help you find the target without leaving the sentence.

Insert figure

Import an image into the file tree, click the image icon, and replace image-filename with its project path. Edit the caption and label. A centered figure with \includegraphics[width=0.8\textwidth]{...}.

Insert table

Open the table grid and choose rows and columns. Fill the caption and cells. A table containing a left-aligned tabular; separate cells with & and rows with \\.

Image to LaTeX

With a vision-capable AI setup available, click the image transcription button and choose a screenshot of an equation or text. AI transcribes the image into LaTeX. Check the inserted expression and compile it.

Align environment

Insert on a new line; write one equation per row with & at the alignment point and \\ between rows. An align environment; load amsmath.

Equation environment

Insert on a new line and type an expression between its begin and end lines. A numbered display equation.

Fraction

Use inside math; replace the selected numerator, then the denominator. \frac{numerator}{denominator}.

Symbols

Open the symbol picker, find the symbol, and select it. Inserts its LaTeX command at the cursor. Use mathematical symbols inside a math environment.

For a quick table, choose two columns and three rows, then use the caption Measurements and cells Run & Value, 1 & 0.42, and 2 & 0.47. Compile to check the placement. For a larger dataset, use the table generator.

Code intelligence → Go to definition

Put the cursor on a supported command, reference, or citation and choose the action. Opens its definition or source location.

Code intelligence → Find references

Put the cursor on a project symbol. Lists locations that use it.

Code intelligence → Rename symbol

Select a supported symbol and enter its new name. Prepares a coordinated rename across matching project references.

Project information

Open the information button at the right of the bar. Inspect document statistics; selecting prose lets you inspect the selection.

Find

Click the magnifier in Code mode or press ⌘F / Ctrl+F. Search the current file. Use the sidebar’s Search Project for multiple files.

Go to PDF (SyncTeX)

Place the cursor in the source and click the arrow when the engine supports it. Jumps to the matching location in the compiled PDF.

Code intelligence explains the language tools; SyncTeX covers navigation in both directions.

Write a longer manuscript

Keep the main file small and split sections into files such as sections/method.tex. Include them with \input{sections/method}. The source tree, outline, search, and completion keep those files connected while you work.

Use the bibliography guide to add references and the figure guide for plots and diagrams. When a build fails, open Logs, follow the file and line, and fix the first relevant error before recompiling.

Share the result

Compile, inspect the PDF, and run Preflight. Export the PDF for reading or a source ZIP for a collaborator who needs to edit. Export formats also covers Word, HTML, Markdown, and document-specific conversions.

Editor-only layout

Choose Editor only from the project layout menu when you want more room for source. The formatting tools stay above the document, and you can return to a split layout for the next compile.

The LaTeX source editor and its formatting toolbar in Editor only layout. Open full screenshot