/latex-to-quarto

name: latex-to-quarto
description: 'Converts LaTeX article-class .tex documents to Quarto .qmd format for multi-format publishing (HTML, PDF, Word). Use when asked to convert, port, migrate, or translate a .tex LaTeX file to Quarto; when porting an academic paper or manuscript from LaTeX to Quarto; when a .tex document needs to render to HTML, Word, or Typst PDF. Covers preamble → YAML front matter, section headings, text formatting, math, citations (natbib/biblatex), cross-references, figures, tables, lists, footnotes, hyperlinks, and special characters.'
metadata:
  author: Christopher T. Kenny
  version: 1.0

LaTeX to Quarto Conversion

Convert a full LaTeX `.tex` article to a Quarto `.qmd` document that renders correctly to HTML, PDF (Typst or LaTeX), and Word. This skill handles the entire conversion pipeline: preamble extraction, document structure, and all inline/block transformations.

**This skill writes the output file** (overwriting the input or writing to a second path). Before writing, tell the user what file will be changed and remind them that `git diff` or file history can recover the original.

---

Input Arguments

| Position | Required | Description | |----------|----------|-------------| | 1 | **Yes** | Path to the input `.tex` file (e.g., `paper/paper.tex`) | | 2 | No | Output `.qmd` path. Defaults to same directory, `.qmd` extension. |

**Example invocations:**

/latex-to-quarto paper/paper.tex
/latex-to-quarto paper/paper.tex paper/paper.qmd

---

Quick Navigation: Use Which Reference

| Task | Reference File | |------|----------------| | `\documentclass`, `\usepackage`, `\title`, `\author` → YAML | [01-preamble-yaml.md](references/01-preamble-yaml.md) | | `\begin{document}`, `\maketitle`, `\begin{abstract}`, `\appendix` | [02-document-structure.md](references/02-document-structure.md) | | `\textbf`, `\emph`, `\texttt`, `\footnote`, `\href` | [03-text-formatting.md](references/03-text-formatting.md) | | `equation`, `align`, `gather`, inline math delimiters | [04-math.md](references/04-math.md) | | `\cite`, `\citep`, `\citet`, natbib/biblatex commands | [05-citations.md](references/05-citations.md) | | `\label`, `\ref`, `\autoref`, `\eqref`, prefix mapping | [06-cross-references.md](references/06-cross-references.md) | | `\includegraphics`, `figure` environment, subfigures | [07-figures.md](references/07-figures.md) | | `tabular`, `table`, `booktabs`, `\multicolumn` | [08-tables.md](references/08-tables.md) | | `\section`, `\subsection`, `itemize`, `enumerate` | [09-sections-lists.md](references/09-sections-lists.md) | | Special characters, `\newpage`, `verbatim`, `\input` | [10-misc.md](references/10-misc.md) |

---

Step-by-Step Workflow

1. Parse Arguments

Identify the input `.tex` path (arg 1) and output path (arg 2). If arg 2 is omitted, replace the `.tex` extension with `.qmd` in the same directory.

2. Read the File

Use the `Read` tool to load the full `.tex` file. Hold the entire content in memory — you will produce one complete `.qmd` file at the end.

3. Extract and Convert the Preamble

Everything before `\begin{document}` is the **preamble**. Extract:

• `\documentclass` options → YAML `format:` settings
• `\title{}`, `\author{}`, `\date{}` → YAML `title:`, `author:`, `date:`
• `\bibliography{file}` / `\addbibresource{file}` → YAML `bibliography:`
• Package hints (`geometry`, `setspace`, `natbib`, `biblatex`) → YAML format options

See [01-preamble-yaml.md](references/01-preamble-yaml.md) for the full mapping table.

4. Strip Document Wrapper

Remove `\begin{document}` and `\end{document}`. Remove `\maketitle` (title is rendered from YAML automatically). Convert `\begin{abstract}...\end{abstract}` to YAML `abstract:`. See [02-document-structure.md](references/02-document-structure.md).

5. Apply All Body Transformations

Work through the full document body and apply every applicable rule. Key principles:

• **Preserve math regions**: Never alter content inside `$...$` or `$$...$$` except to

move `\label{}` outside display math and convert delimiters (`\(...\)` → `$...$`).

• **Handle nesting**: `\textbf{\emph{text}}` → `***text***`. Process inner commands first.
• **Be complete**: Scan the entire file. Fix every instance of each pattern, not just the first.
• **Apply all categories**: Work through every reference file. A single paragraph may

require rules from multiple categories.

Apply reference files in this order (structural → inline):

1. [09-sections-lists.md](references/09-sections-lists.md) — headings and lists 2. [05-citations.md](references/05-citations.md) — citations 3. [06-cross-references.md](references/06-cross-references.md) — labels and references 4. [07-figures.md](references/07-figures.md) — figures 5. [08-tables.md](references/08-tables.md) — tables 6. [04-math.md](references/04-math.md) — math environments and delimiters 7. [03-text-formatting.md](references/03-text-formatting.md) — inline formatting 8. [10-misc.md](references/10-misc.md) — special characters and remaining patterns

6. Assemble the QMD File

Combine: 1. YAML front matter (between `---` delimiters) 2. Converted document body (blank line after closing `---`)

7. Write the Output File

Use the `Write` tool to write the complete `.qmd` file in one pass. Do not use `Edit` for individual substitutions — a single full write ensures nothing is missed.

8. Report to the User

Tell the user:

• **Output path** written
• **Summary of conversions** by category (citation count, figure count, table count, etc.)
• **Items requiring manual review** with approximate line numbers
• **Reminder** to run `quarto render` to verify the output

---

Key Conceptual Differences: LaTeX vs. Quarto

Preamble → YAML Front Matter

LaTeX uses a `\documentclass` preamble; Quarto uses YAML front matter between `---`.

% LaTeX preamble
\documentclass[12pt,a4paper]{article}
\usepackage[margin=1in]{geometry}
\title{My Paper}
\