latex problem with scientific journal packages

[jwebster8]

I recently upgraded from edgy to feisty (64bit amd). I'm in the process of writing a paper in latex using the jasatex package, and I'm using the preprint option. Before I upgraded, the document would compile (latex filename.tex) fine and everything would be in order...bibliography followed by tables followed by list of figures followed by the figures, each on their own page without captions.

Now when I compile it, everything at the end is scrambled up. There are 2 figures per page and the figures are captioned, tables and figure lists etc are mixed together. It's a mess. But it compiles without any errors or warnings.

I thought that it might be that jasatex is screwy, so I tried revtex as well with similar results.
I thought maybe texLive was screwy, so I tried tetex with exactly the same result (they both use pdfetex now, so that might be the problem).

Can anyone tell me what changed in the latex installation from edgy to feisty?

I contacted the maintainer of jasatex at aip.org and she just told me told me to ask here.

Are there any other scientists out there that have come across this? I'd like to know if I'm alone.

[maladict]

Re: latex problem with scientific journal packages

I'm a Latex user too. I've always used tetex and kile and I've never had any problem at all.

Since texLive and tetex are independent systems (I'm not quite sure) I think the problem could be:

a) The file has changed. Maybe a instruction has been deleted.

b) You're using texLive when you think you're using tetex. That would explain it compiles the same.

I'd try to completely remove texLive and tetex from your system. Then, install tetex and try again. So you'll only have one latex system, and no chance of confusion.

I'd suggest you to install kile. Its a latex graphical user interface that allows you to make a latex system check... it may give you some clues. Anyway I reccommend you to use kile: is a nice, easy to use GUI, in my opinion better than Winedt. You can find it in the official repositories, and I think you can install it too using Automatix.

Have luck.

[jwebster8]

Re: latex problem with scientific journal packages

good suggestions. I had already removed TexLive completely and installed tetex. Same results. Since both sets use pdfetex to do the compiling, I'm leaning towards that being the problem. But who knows?

Since tetex is no longer being maintained, I've switched back to texlive for now.

I'll give kile a shot when I get some time to see if it gives any clues to what's wrong, but I'm too addicted to vim to switch to a gui for regular use.

I suppose it's possible that there is something wrong in my tex, but since it looked perfect before I upgraded, and since it doesnt give any errors or warnings, I cant troubleshoot. I didn't edit the tex file at all when I upgraded, and I'm not doing anything really tricky.

I'm going to try to find a latex forum and ask there, since this is probably not a kubuntu problem. I posted here because the tex maintainer at aip.org kept telling me to.