Documentation

Quick tips to get your manuscript compiling smoothly. Use the helpers below to copy a valid citation and test that your bibliography is set up.

Example citation:[@Finch2023]
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Author Guide

Copy or download a ready-to-share Markdown guide for authors.

Requirements

Verifies the frontend proxy, backend health, and a minimal compile path. Useful for Vercel + Railway sanity checks.

  • Proxy rewrite (/api → Railway) reachable
     
  • Backend /health OK
     
  • Minimal PDF compile OK (safe, fast)
     

Undefined citation

If the error console shows Undefined citations, confirm the keys exist in references.bib on the server and that your in-text cites use Pandoc syntax [@Key] exactly.

No PDF / 400-501 errors

  • Make sure the compiler backend is running on http://localhost:4000.
  • If using Docker: npm run docker:build && npm run docker:run in backend/.
  • Network errors: check that your browser can reach /api/health.

Template or package issues

If the console lists missing LaTeX packages, add them to the Dockerfile via tlmgr install <package>, rebuild, and redeploy.

Style warnings

Double spaces after punctuation are flagged as warnings. They won't stop compilation but are worth fixing for polish.

Recommended Reading

PagePerfect's grid system is inspired by Josef Muller-Brockmann's systematic approach to graphic design — baseline grids, proportional typography, and mathematical spacing.

Grid Systems in Graphic Design

Josef Muller-Brockmann

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