Allow for use of ConTeXt writer to generate PDFs #2463

adunning · Oct 19, 2015

In the search for a more lightweight and reliable method to generate PDFs in parallel to LaTeX (#1839), it occurs to me that ConTeXt offers a solution that is mostly implemented already. I assume that allowing the use of something like pandoc x.md -o x.pdf -t context to generate a PDF without the accompanying log and tuc files would be straightforward (this gives the error cannot produce pdf output with context writer under 1.15.1.1).

For someone who simply wants a decent PDF without any fiddling, this has the advantages that the download is ca. 200 MB, in the same range as BasicTeX, but one doesn't have to worry about missing packages (also included in TeX Live); one doesn't have to worry about Unicode; and the default page layout has margins closer to what a user of MS Word would expect in comparison to the article document class (though less ideal from a design perspective).

jgm · Oct 19, 2015

This could be done. It's a bit more complex than with beamer, because in addition to generating the ConTeXt source we need to run a different program. But it should be pretty straightforward to implement this. +++ Andrew Dunning [Oct 19 15 08:00 ]:

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adunning · Oct 19, 2015

Brilliant. I'll see what can be done to improve the ConTeXt template.

jgm · Oct 20, 2015

@adunning I've added a section "ConTeXt variables" to the README. So, if you improve the ConTeXt template (e.g. adding a linkcolor variable and perhaps changing the default away from that garish blue), you can document variables there.

adunning · Oct 20, 2015

Thank you! Will update the README after you evaluate jgm/pandoc-templates#138 (I have also written the ConTeXt list to see whether I can get additional scrutiny for this).

hftf · Oct 20, 2015

Are there any plans to add a few tests for ConTeXt?

jgm · Oct 20, 2015

+++ Ophir Lifshitz [Oct 20 15 09:44 ]:

Are there any plans to add a few tests for ConTeXt?

There are tests for context. You mean tests for PDF generation via context? We don't even currently have tests for PDF generation via latex.

hftf · Oct 20, 2015

Yes, that's what I meant. Sorry, I didn't realize there weren't even tests for LaTeX PDF generation.

jgm · Oct 20, 2015

It's a bit difficult to write tests for PDF gen, since the exact binary contents of the PDF may vary depending on what version of latex is used to generate it + many other things. That's why we don't have such tests. +++ Ophir Lifshitz [Oct 20 15 10:28 ]:

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jgm added the enhancement label Oct 20, 2015

jgm added a commit that closed this issue Oct 20, 2015

jgm Allow use of ConTeXt to generate PDFs.
pandoc my.md -t context -o my.pdf will now create a PDF using ConTeXt rather than LaTeX. Closes #2463.
8193ebc

jgm closed this in 8193ebc Oct 20, 2015

jgm/pandoc

Allow for use of ConTeXt writer to generate PDFs #2463

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