pTyX is a LaTeX precompilator, written in Python. pTyX enables to generate LaTeX documents, using custom commands or plain python code. One single pTyX file may generate many latex documents, with different values. I developped and used pTyX to make several different versions of a same test in exams, for my student, to discourage cheating. Since it uses sympy library, pTyX has symbolic calculus abilities too.

pTyX is only tested on GNU/Linux (Ubuntu), but should work on MacOs X too.

Obviously, pTyX needs a working Python installation. Python version 3.8 (at least) is required for pTyX to run.

pTyX also needs a working LaTeX installation. Command pdflatex must be available in your terminal.

The easiest way to install it is using pip.

$ pip install ptyx

You may also download and install the latest version from Github:

$ git clone https://github.com/wxgeo/ptyx.git
$ cd ptyx
$ pip install -e .

To compile a pTyX file (see below), open a terminal, go to pTyX directory, and write:

$ ptyx my_file.ptyx

For more options:

$ ptyx --help

A pTyX file is essentially a LaTeX file, with a .ptyx extension, (optionally) some custom commands, and embedded python code.

To include python code in a pTyX file, use the #PYTHON and #END balise. A special write() command is available, to generate latex code on the flow from python.

This a simple \emph{addition}:\quad
#PYTHON
from random import randint
a = randint(5, 9)
b = randint(2, 4)
write('%s + %s = %s\\' % (a, b, a + b))
#END
Now, some basic \emph{subtraction}:\quad
#PYTHON
write('%s - %s = %s\\' % (a, b, a - b))
#END

To access any python variable outside python code scope, simply add a hashtag before the variable name.

Any valid python expression can also be evaluated this way, using syntax #{python_expr}.

$#a\mul#b=#{a*b}$

However, pTyX has also reserved tags, like conditionals statements #IF, #ELSE, #ENDIF...

(More to come...)