sci-latex-editing

name	sci-latex-editing
description	Use when editing live SCI LaTeX sources, Overleaf exports, arXiv source packages, figures, tables, citations, author blocks, labels, refs, packages, or appendix files

SCI LaTeX Editing

Overview

Make surgical LaTeX changes without destabilizing the manuscript.

Core principle: small scoped patches beat broad rewrites.

Required Background

Use this strategy even when no project-specific TeX guide exists.

Edit Order

Prefer editing:

1. one paragraph
2. one subsection
3. one section
4. one sections/*.tex
5. main.tex only when necessary

Checks

After structural edits, check:

• \input{} paths
• labels and refs
• citation keys and bibliography order
• figure/table file paths
• package color/style definitions
• arXiv path compatibility

Output

• exact files changed
• compile risk notes
• Overleaf/arXiv instructions if user compiles externally

Common Mistakes

• Moving files without updating \input.
• Fixing prose and restructuring TeX in the same pass.
• Leaving local absolute paths in public packages.
• Using non-ASCII paths in source package references.