How To View LateX PDF Documents Real-Time on Visual Studio Code | Live LateX PDF Preview on VS Code

Introduction

This tutorial guides you on how to view LaTeX PDF documents in real-time using Visual Studio Code. Real-time previewing allows you to see changes to your LaTeX documents immediately, enhancing your writing and editing experience.

Step 1: Install Visual Studio Code

• Download and install Visual Studio Code from the official website.
• Follow the installation prompts based on your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux).

Step 2: Install LaTeX Distribution

• Choose a LaTeX distribution based on your operating system:
  • Windows: Install MiKTeX from the MiKTeX website.
  • macOS: Install MacTeX from the MacTeX website.
  • Linux: Use your package manager to install TeX Live.

Step 3: Install LaTeX Workshop Extension

• Open Visual Studio Code.
• Go to the Extensions view by clicking on the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the side or pressing Ctrl+Shift+X.
• Search for “LaTeX Workshop” and click on the install button.

Step 4: Create a New LaTeX Document

• Open a new file in Visual Studio Code and save it with a .tex extension (e.g., document.tex).
• Start writing your LaTeX document. Here’s a simple example to get you started:

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
Hello, World!
\end{document}

Step 5: Enable Real-Time Preview

• With your .tex file open, press Ctrl+Alt+B to build the document.
• The LaTeX Workshop extension will automatically compile your document and open a preview panel.
• You can also select "View LaTeX PDF" from the command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P).

Step 6: Adjust Preview Settings (Optional)

• If you want to change the layout of the preview, you can do so through the settings:
  • Go to File > Preferences > Settings.
  • Search for "latex-workshop.view.pdf.viewer" and select your preferred viewer (e.g., side by side, tab, etc.).

Step 7: Edit and Preview Changes

• As you make changes to your LaTeX document, remember to build the document again (Ctrl+Alt+B) to see the updates in real time.
• Enjoy the seamless editing and previewing experience.

Conclusion

You have now set up real-time LaTeX PDF previewing in Visual Studio Code. This setup streamlines your workflow, allowing for immediate feedback on your document changes. For further exploration, consider checking out additional LaTeX packages or extensions that can enhance your document formatting and features. Happy writing!