AI Agent Guide for SciTeX
Complete guide for AI agents to create scientific manuscripts using SciTeX Writer.
Quick Start
export SCITEX_WRITER_DOC_TYPE=manuscript
./compile_manuscript
# Output
manuscript: 01_manuscript/manuscript.pdf
changes: 01_manuscript/diff.pdf
Project to Manuscript Workflow
1. Link Research Assets
Use symlinks to maintain single source of truth (don't copy):
# Link figures
ln -s ~/proj/my-research/scripts/analysis/output/fig1.png \
01_manuscript/contents/figures/caption_and_media/.01_seizure_prediction.png
# Link tables
ln -s ~/proj/my-research/data/results/performance.csv \
01_manuscript/contents/tables/caption_and_media/.01_performance.csv
# Link diagrams
ln -s ~/proj/my-research/docs/workflow.mmd \
01_manuscript/contents/figures/caption_and_media/.02_workflow.mmd
2. Write Content
Edit files in 01_manuscript/contents/:
% introduction.tex
\section{Introduction}
Neural interactions through phase-amplitude coupling...
% Reference figures
As shown in Figure~\ref{fig:01_seizure_prediction}...
% Citations (from 00_shared/bibliography.bib)
Previous work \cite{Tort2010} demonstrated...
Note: Bibliography is 00_shared:
- Edit: 00_shared/bibliography.bib
- Used by: manuscript, supplementary, revision
3. Add Figure Captions
Create 01_manuscript/contents/figures/caption_and_media/.01_seizure_prediction.tex:
\textbf{Seizure prediction performance.}
(A) ROC curves across patients.
(B) Feature importance analysis.
(C) Temporal dynamics of prediction confidence.
4. Compile
./compile_manuscript # Everything handled automatically
File Naming Rules
CRITICAL: Naming Conventions
Figures: .XX_descriptive_name.{jpg|png|tif|mmd}
- Must start with .
- XX = two-digit number (01, 02, 03...)
- descriptive_name = lowercase with underscores
- Example: .01_seizure_prediction.png
Tables: .XX_descriptive_name.csv
- Must start with .
- XX = two-digit number
- descriptive_name = lowercase with underscores
- Example: .01_patient_demographics.csv
Captions: Same name with .tex extension
- .01_seizure_prediction.tex (figure caption)
- .01_patient_demographics.tex (table caption)
LaTeX Citation Syntax
\cite{key} % (Author Year)
\cite{key1,key2} % (Author1 Year1; Author2 Year2)
\citet{key} % Author (Year)
\cite{key} % (Author Year)
Manuscript Structure
Directory Layout
01_manuscript/
├── manuscript.tex # Main entry point
├── contents/
│ ├── abstract.tex
│ ├── introduction.tex
│ ├── methods.tex
│ ├── results.tex
│ ├── discussion.tex
│ ├── figures/
│ │ ├── caption_and_media/ # Place figure files here
│ │ │ ├── .01_figure.png
│ │ │ └── .01_figure.tex
│ │ └── compiled/ # Auto-generated
│ └── tables/
│ ├── caption_and_media/ # Place table files here
│ │ ├── .01_table.csv
│ │ └── .01_table.tex
│ └── compiled/ # Auto-generated
├── 00_shared/
│ ├── authors.tex
│ ├── title.tex
│ ├── keywords.tex
│ └── bibliography.bib
└── scripts/
└── (compilation scripts)
Content Sections
Each content file should follow LaTeX structure:
\section{Introduction}
First paragraph introduces topic...
\subsection{Background}
Subsection with relevant background...
\subsubsection{Previous Work}
Detailed discussion of related research...
Compilation Options
Full Compilation
./compile_manuscript # Full document with all features
With Figure Processing
./compile_manuscript --figs
./compile_manuscript -f
Processes:
- PowerPoint to PNG conversion
- Image cropping and normalization
- Caption integration
- Resolution optimization
View Differences
./compile_manuscript --diff
Shows change tracking from previous version
Debug Mode
./compile_manuscript --debug
Provides verbose output and keeps intermediate files
Using with LLMs
Workflow for Claude, GPT, etc.
- Provide context:
- Share research outputs (figures, tables, raw data)
-
Provide manuscript skeleton or outlines
-
Request manuscript generation:
- Ask LLM to write specific sections
-
Provide example structure for consistency
-
Content integration:
- Save LLM output to appropriate
.texfiles -
Link figures/tables as described above
-
Iterative refinement:
- Request revisions through manuscript comments
- Use diff feature to track changes
- Iterate until publication-ready
Example Prompt
Create a manuscript introduction for a paper on seizure prediction using PAC analysis.
Requirements:
- Use LaTeX formatting
- Include references to Figure 1 and Table 1
- 500-700 words
- Research context: your research dataset
Structure:
- Motivate the problem (2 paragraphs)
- Review existing methods (2 paragraphs)
- State our approach (1 paragraph)
Figure Workflow
Adding Figures for LLM Processing
- Generate figure (Python, R, etc.):
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.savefig('seizure_prediction.png', dpi=300)
- Link to manuscript:
ln -s /path/to/seizure_prediction.png \
01_manuscript/contents/figures/caption_and_media/.01_seizure_prediction.png
- Create caption (LLM can help):
% File: .01_seizure_prediction.tex
\caption{\textbf{Seizure prediction performance.}
(A) ROC curves for single-patient models...
(B) Comparison across all patients...}
% width=0.9\textwidth
- Reference in text:
Figure~\ref{fig:01_seizure_prediction} shows...
Table Workflow
Adding Tables for LLM Processing
- Generate table (CSV format):
Patient,Accuracy,Sensitivity,Specificity
P001,0.92,0.89,0.94
P002,0.88,0.85,0.91
- Link to manuscript:
ln -s /path/to/results.csv \
01_manuscript/contents/tables/caption_and_media/.01_results.csv
- Create caption:
% File: .01_results.tex
\caption{\textbf{Classification performance.}
Summary of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity...}
% alignment=auto
% fontsize=small
- Reference in text:
Table~\ref{tab:01_results} presents...
Version Control
Track Manuscript Changes
Each compilation creates diff with previous version:
01_manuscript/diff.pdf # Shows all changes
01_manuscript/manuscript.pdf # Current version
Git Integration
git add 01_manuscript/contents/*.tex
git commit -m "Update results section with new analysis"
git diff HEAD~1 # See what changed in this commit
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Figure not appearing
- Check file path and naming
- Verify .PNG and .TEX files have same base name
- Examine debug output with --debug flag
Bibliography errors
- Ensure 00_shared/bibliography.bib is valid
- Verify all \cite{} keys exist in bibliography
- Run ./compile_manuscript again if keys were added
Compilation fails
- Check for LaTeX syntax errors in content
- Verify all linked files exist
- Check disk space
- Review console output for specific errors
Symlinks not working
- Use absolute paths: /full/path/to/file
- Verify source files exist before creating link
- Check link with: ls -l <link_name>
Advanced Features
Custom LaTeX Templates
Override default styling by editing files in styles/:
- Document class options
- Color schemes
- Font selections
- Page layout parameters
Bibliography Management
Add citations from BibTeX format:
@article{Smith2023,
author = {Smith, John},
title = {Article Title},
journal = {Journal Name},
year = {2023}
}
Supplementary Materials
Create additional documents in 02_supplementary/:
- Same structure as main manuscript
- Cross-references to main document
- Separate compilation
Resources
- See
01_GUIDE_CONTENT_CREATION.mdfor detailed figure/table guide - Check
to_claude/guidelines/for language-specific standards - Review
structure/directory for repository organization