Here you can find links to other software that can be useful when working with LyX.

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  1. 1. Required Software
    1. 1.1 Document typesetting
    2. 1.2 Image conversion
    3. 1.3 Spell checking
  2. 2. Optional Software
    1. 2.1 LaTeX packages
    2. 2.2 Document viewing
    3. 2.3 Reference managers
    4. 2.4 Various Convertors
    5. 2.5 Typesetting tools
    6. 2.6 Scripts and add-ons
  3. 3. Special support for specific languages and scripts
    1. 3.1 Chinese Korean and Japanese support

Note: If you use the installers/packages for Windows, Mac OS X or Linux, the required software will be installed automatically.

1.  Required Software

Qt - user interface toolkit
At least version 4.1 is needed for LyX 1.5.x. LyX 1.6.x needs at least version 4.2.2.
Python - scripting language
Required for configuration and conversion scripts.

1.1  Document typesetting

(La)TeX distribution
In order to properly use LyX to create documents, you'll need to have a LaTeX installation. You can use TeXLive (or older teTeX) on various unix-like systems, MikTeX on Windows or MacTeX on Mac OS.

1.2  Image conversion

ImageMagick tools
LyX used ImageMagick to convert your images when no other converter is available. For manipulating with Postscript files you will need Ghostscript too.

1.3  Spell checking

GNU Aspell
is a Free and Open Source spell checker supported by LyX. It is said to do a very good job of coming up with possible suggestions. It also has many other technical enhancements over Ispell such as using shared memory for dictionaries and intelligently handling personal dictionaries when more than one Aspell process is open at once (this allows spellchecking of multiple language documents). Dictionaries are available here.

2.  Optional Software

2.1  LaTeX packages

CTAN - The Comprehensive TeX Archive Network.
Since LyX is based on LaTeX, practically any tool made for use with LaTeX can be used with LyX. The CTAN is an archive of packages, tools, documentation and much more about LaTeX, and therefore an invaluable resource if you want to become a power user of LaTeX (and LyX).

2.2  Document viewing

Adobe Reader
PDF Viewer
GSView or gv
PostScript viewer, requires Ghostscript to work. Note that once Ghostscript is installed a many convertors from/to Postcript will be installed simultaneously.

2.3  Reference managers

JabRef
BibTeX reference manager for all platforms (Windows/Mac OS X/Linux)
Pybliographer
BibTeX reference manager for Linux/GNOME

2.4  Various Convertors

Metafile to EPS Converter
For proper conversion of EMF/WMF images on Windows
Graphviz
dot -> pdf using Graphviz, which is a FOSS suite for producing large graph/network diagrams.

UnRTF: rtf -> html conversion tool.

html2latex: html -> tex conversion tool.

LaTeX2rtf: tex -> rtf conversion tool.

TTH, HEVEA, LaTeX2HTML: various tex -> html convertors

TeX4ht: tex -> odt/html convertor.

Writer2LaTeX: odt -> tex convertor.

Grace convertor: agr -> png/jpg/pnm conversion tool.

LilyPond convertor: ly -> eps/png/pdf conversion tool.

PS2EPS: ps -> eps conversion tool.

2.5  Typesetting tools

ChkTeX Homepage - performs typographical checking.
LyX can use ChkTeX as an aid to find common typograhical errors in your document.
NoWeb - literate programming.
Use LyX to write programs whose documentation and manuals are included in the program.
The SGMLtools homepage - DocBook support.
If you want to create documents using the LinuxDOC DTD that is used for the Linux Documentation Project to create documents in a variety of different formats, you'll need to get the SGMLtools.
Dvipost - post-processor for DVI files created by LaTeX and TeX.
It can be used for special modes that normally need DVI drivers such as dvips. It supports layout raster, change bars, and overstrike mode.

2.6  Scripts and add-ons

Many useful scripts can be found in LyX Wiki.

3.  Special support for specific languages and scripts

3.1  Chinese Korean and Japanese support

  • CJK-LyX denotes an extened version of LyX for multibyte script users such as Chinese, Japanese and Koreans. As of version 1.5.3, CJK support has been integrated to LyX itself, so the CJK-LyX port is not needed anymore.