TeXstudio is a free, open-source environment for writing and building LaTeX documents. It combines a source editor, document assistants, checking tools, and a PDF viewer on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The application uses the GNU General Public License and calls external LaTeX tools to produce finished documents.
A document’s starting structure
The Quick Start wizard generates a preamble from choices such as document class, paper size, and encoding. New from Template starts from an existing document layout instead. Users can create their own templates from an open document; multi-file templates create a collection of files on disk.
Formatting controls insert LaTeX commands around text selections. Choosing bold, for example, wraps the selection in the corresponding command. Environment completion inserts matching opening and closing commands. A mirror cursor can also change both environment names together when the user renames one.
LaTeX editing assistants
Typing a command prefix opens completion suggestions, and further letters narrow the list. Completion also handles filenames, references, and bibliography identifiers. Tooltips explain commands or preview images and reference locations. Multi-cursor editing applies text changes at several positions, including rectangular blocks.
Several assistants generate specialized source blocks:
- Math tools insert equation environments, fractions, roots, and delimiters. The symbol panel groups symbols into categories and supports searches and favorites.
- The table wizard accepts cell contents, including spreadsheet pastes, and sets borders, merged cells, and column alignment. Later table commands add or remove rows and columns or align the source text.
- The graphics wizard accepts an image file, dimensions, placement, caption, and label. Dropping an image into the editor opens it; returning to existing picture code lets the wizard adjust its settings.
The table wizard does not reopen its output for another editing pass. Table manipulation commands handle later changes, with limitations for complex table constructions.
Labels across a larger project
The structure panel follows sections, labels, includes, and task comments as the document changes. Selecting an entry jumps to its source. Section operations move a section’s text and subsections together or change their hierarchy level.
TeXstudio tracks parent and child files and normally sends the root document to the compiler. Users can override automatic detection with a root declaration or an explicit root selection. Automatic loading makes included files available for completion and checking. Cached files have limits: usage searches and label previews need the relevant source to load fully.
Reference completion offers existing labels and citation keys. Find Usage locates a label’s references across project files and can replace them. The Bibliography menu inserts standard entry types into BIB files. Sessions preserve the collection of open documents for reopening later.
Checking a LaTeX document
Spelling checks underline words and offer replacements or an ignore list. Users select a dictionary language, while file-specific settings can override the default. The LanguageTool integration sends paragraphs to its service and highlights the issues it returns. Separate checks can mark repeated words.
Syntax checking identifies issues such as unfamiliar commands, mismatched environments, inappropriate math commands, and inconsistent table column counts. A tooltip explains each marker. These checks approximate LaTeX syntax and cannot establish that the document will compile successfully.
Searching project files
Search supports case sensitivity, whole words, regular expressions, and selection limits. Extended search targets the project, all open documents, or files on disk. Users review matches, choose which ones to replace, and jump from a result to its source.
Compilation
Compile runs the document’s compiler and any necessary bibliography passes, repeating commands when the build needs them. Build and View follows compilation with the viewer. Settings choose the default compiler, bibliography tool, and viewer; custom command sequences can combine other tools.
Per-document declarations can choose a different compiler or bibliography command. This lets separate projects use different processing paths without changing the application-wide defaults.
The log panel shows either raw tool output or a table of errors, warnings, and bad boxes. Filters select the diagnostic types to display. Choosing a table entry moves the editor to the corresponding location, while navigation commands step between issues. Clean removes auxiliary compilation files and preserves the final PDF.
PDF navigation
The PDF viewer can sit beside the source or occupy a separate window. With SyncTeX output, forward search moves from source text to the matching PDF position. Inverse search returns from a PDF location to the source. Optional cursor and scrolling links keep the two views together during navigation.
For a small formula or table, users select the source and request a preview. TeXstudio compiles that fragment and displays the result inline, in a tooltip, in a preview panel, or in the PDF viewer. Hover previews also cover formulas, colors, and images.
Folder collaboration
Collaboration uses teamtype on macOS and Linux. The host chooses the current file’s folder and starts sharing, then gives another user an access code. The participant receives the folder’s files, and both editors show changes and cursor movement. Sharing exposes every file in that folder. Disconnecting stops the exchange.
Project revision history
Git and SVN integration record document revisions. The Git panel selects files and a commit message, then commits them. It also exposes fetch, pull, push, branches, history, and differences. Branch switching requires the working files to have no modifications.
Text macros
Macros insert text, create environments, or run ECMAScript scripts that manipulate document text and cursors. Shortcuts, completion abbreviations, and matching text patterns can trigger them.
AI chat
The AI chat connects to a provider or local compatible endpoint. Users configure the connection and model, enter a question, and inspect the response before inserting it. Hosted providers receive the question and relevant text; enabled tools can retrieve further document context. Generated code does not automatically add its required packages to the document.
HTML conversion
Convert to Html creates image-based pages from LaTeX source and an index with links corresponding to the document’s contents.
