Using PSTricks with pdflatex on Overleaf

Author

Overleaf

Last Updated

2 months ago

License

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

Abstract

PSTricks drawings can't be compiled under pdflatex and lualatex (Frequently done errors #5). Instead, compilation with XeLaTeX is preferred if you need to use .jpg/.png/.pdf images in your project.

But if you absolutely need to compile with pdflatex, this example demonstrates how to use PStricks with pdflatex using auto-pst-pdf on Overleaf (But you still can't use .jpg/.png/.pdf images within your PSTricks drawings).

Tags

latexmkrc PSTricks

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Using PSTricks with pdflatex on Overleaf

\def\jobname{main} % or whatever your main document .tex file is named!
\documentclass[a4paper]{article}

\title{Using PSTricks with pdflatex on Overleaf}
\author{Overleaf}

\usepackage{pst-node}
\usepackage{pst-coil}
\usepackage{auto-pst-pdf}

\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{hyperref}
\pagestyle{empty}

%%%%% 
%% These lines are required ≥TL2021 due to 
%% incompatibility between hyperref and preview
%% (See https://www.reddit.com/r/LaTeX/comments/jhi7nk/with_pdflatex_hyperref_breaks_autopstpdf/ and 
%% https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-auctex/2020-11/msg00000.html  
\makeatletter
\ifPreview
  \let\Hy@FirstPageHook\relax
  \let\Hy@EveryPageAnchor\relax
\fi
\makeatother
%%%%%

\begin{document}
\maketitle

\begin{description}
\item[Solution 1 (Recommended):] Compile with XeLaTeX. You can switch to XeLaTeX from the Overlef project: see \href{https://www.overleaf.com/learn/how-to/Changing_compiler}{this help page} too.

\item[Solution 2:] Use the \texttt{auto-pst-pdf} package \textbf{together with} a custom \texttt{latexmkrc} file that contains this line:

\begin{verbatim}
$hash_calc_ignore_pattern{'pdf'} = '^/(CreationDate|ModDate|ID) ';
\end{verbatim}

You will also need to add this line before your \verb|\documentclass|:

\begin{verbatim}
\def\jobname{main} % or whatever your main document .tex file is named!
\end{verbatim}

\end{description}


This is a PSTricks drawing:

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%% This example was taken from https://www.tug.org/PSTricks/main.cgi?file=Examples/pst-coil/coils
\psset{subgriddiv=0}
\SpecialCoor
\psset{griddots=5,subgriddiv=0,gridlabels=0pt}
% (Nearly) original code
\begin{pspicture}(4,4)\psgrid
  \pscircle(2,2){2}
  \qdisk(!2  2 70 sin mul add 2 -2 70 cos mul add){4pt}
  \pscoil[coilarm=3mm,coilwidth=3mm,linecolor=red]{-}%
         (2,0)(!2 2 70 sin mul add 2 -2 70 cos mul add)
  \rput(3.6,1.6){$m$}
  \rput(2.8,1){$k$}
  \psline[linecolor=blue,linewidth=1.5pt]{<-}(0,2)(2,2)
  \rput(1,2.2){$r$}
\end{pspicture}
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Here's a JPG picture to prove we're \emph{not} using the LaTeX+dvipdf engine!

\includegraphics[width=5cm]{stream}

\end{document}