Complete Guide to
ScholarConverter
Everything you need to know to convert LaTeX manuscripts perfectly
Quick Navigation
1Create an Account
Sign up for a free account to get started. You'll receive 3 free conversions with no credit card required.
2Create a Project
Once logged in, navigate to your dashboard and click "Create New Project". Give your project a descriptive name (e.g., "PhD Thesis Chapter 3" or "Nature Submission").
3Upload Your Files
Upload your complete LaTeX project as a .zip file. Include all necessary files: .tex files, images, bibliography (.bib), and any custom style files.
4Select Citation Style
Choose your target journal's citation format from our library of 1000+ CSL styles. Common options include APA, MLA, Chicago, Nature, Cell, and IEEE.
5Convert & Download
Click "Convert" and wait approximately 60 seconds. Download your .docx and JATS XML files when ready. If there are errors, you'll receive clear instructions on how to fix them.
Required Files
- Main .tex file (e.g., main.tex or manuscript.tex)
- All included .tex files (chapters, sections)
- Bibliography file (.bib)
- All images and figures (PDF, PNG, JPG, EPS)
- Any custom style files (.sty, .cls)
Creating Your .zip File
Your .zip file should contain your entire LaTeX project directory:
├── main.tex
├── references.bib
├── figures/
│ ├── figure1.pdf
│ └── figure2.png
└── sections/
├── intro.tex
└── methods.tex
Image Guidelines
- Supported formats: PDF, PNG, JPG, JPEG, EPS
- Resolution: Minimum 300 DPI for publication quality
- File size: Keep individual images under 10 MB
- Naming: Use simple names without spaces (use underscores or hyphens)
- Paths: Use relative paths in your .tex file
LaTeX Best Practices
✓ DO:
- Use standard LaTeX packages when possible
- Include complete bibliography in .bib file
- Use \cite for citations, not manual formatting
- Keep figure and table captions in LaTeX commands
- Use standard document classes (article, report, book)
✗ AVOID:
- Hardcoded formatting (use LaTeX commands instead)
- Complex custom macros that override standard behavior
- Absolute file paths to images
- Special characters in file names
- Nested \input commands more than 3 levels deep
Bibliography Setup
For best results with citation conversion:
- Use BibTeX or BibLaTeX for your bibliography
- Include DOI or URL for each reference when available
- Ensure all citations in your text have corresponding .bib entries
- Use standard BibTeX entry types (article, book, inproceedings, etc.)
- Avoid special formatting in .bib file entries
ScholarConverter supports over 1,000 CSL (Citation Style Language) formats. Here are some of the most popular:
Academic Styles
- • APA (American Psychological Association)
- • MLA (Modern Language Association)
- • Chicago Manual of Style
- • Harvard
- • Vancouver
Journal Styles
- • Nature
- • Science
- • Cell
- • PLOS
- • IEEE
Pro Tip
If you're unsure which style to use, check your target journal's "Author Guidelines" or "Instructions for Authors" page. They'll specify the required citation format.
❌ "Missing main.tex file"
Solution: Your .zip file must contain a main .tex file (usually named main.tex, manuscript.tex, or paper.tex). Make sure it's at the root level of your .zip, not in a nested folder.
❌ "Image not found: figure1.pdf"
Solution: Ensure all images referenced in your .tex file are included in your .zip. Check that image paths match exactly (including file extensions and case sensitivity).
❌ "Bibliography compilation failed"
Solution: Make sure your .bib file is included and all citations in your text have corresponding entries in the .bib file. Check for special characters or formatting errors in your bibliography.
❌ "Package not found"
Solution: We support all standard LaTeX packages. If you're using a custom or very obscure package, include the .sty file in your .zip, or try using standard alternatives.
❌ "Conversion timeout"
Solution: This usually occurs with very large manuscripts (500+ pages) or hundreds of images. Try splitting your document into chapters, or reduce image file sizes.
JATS XML Output
Every conversion includes JATS (Journal Article Tag Suite) XML output. JATS is the standard format used by PubMed and many publishers. This format is ideal for direct submission to journal systems.
Project Version History
Paid plans include version history. Upload new versions of your manuscript to the same project and compare outputs. Perfect for tracking revisions during peer review.
Team Collaboration
Lab and Institution plans support multiple users. Share projects with your team, grant different permission levels, and collaborate on conversions.
API Access
Enterprise customers can access our REST API for automated batch conversions. Integrate ScholarConverter into your existing publishing workflow.