jpaltheme is a LaTeX program for making Beamer presentations that comply with J-PAL's new branding guidelines. It is designed to be easily implemented and tweaked, while mantaining all the advantages of using LaTeX. Check out a screenshot of the title slide:
Pretty cool, huh?
- Adheres to J-PAL's new guidelines
- Waaay cooler than
Powerpoint - Easy to install
- Easier to use
- Fun to configure!
Option 1 is the easiest, but it is not the most elegant one. It may be suitable if this is the first time you'll use the template or just want to try it once, to see what the fuzz is all about.
The first step is simply to download this repository to your computer. There's also a download button if you scroll up this page, shown in this next screenshot in case you missed it:
Second step is to uncompress the contents. That's it. Now you can just run the *.tex files contained in the minimal or demo folders. See the usage section for more information.
Option 2 is a tiny bit less easy, but much more elegant. You'll install only once, so no copying and pasting all those *.sty files that mess up your presentations' folders.
First step is to download the contents of this repository.
Second step is to check where your TeX home directory is. Open either the Command Prompt in Windows or the Terminal in Mac (if you're using Linux then I'm sure you know what to open :). Then copy, paste and execute this command:
kpsewhich -var-value=TEXMFHOMEThat will return a directory address, like /Users/alvaro/Library/texmf in my case. It will almost certainly end with /texmf. Go to that folder. If the texmf folder doesn't exist, you'll have to create it (it's normal).
Third (and final) step is to create a subfolder named latex and then inside it create another one named beamer. Unpack the jpaltheme folder from the *.zip file you downloaded in the first step (here's another chance) into that beamer folder. At the end you should have this structure:
.../texmf/latex/beamer/jpalthemeIf you have any issues with steps 2 or 3, I recommend you check this question in the tex.SE site.
There are various ways to try out your brand new installation of jpaltheme, but always compile using XeLaTeX!
If you installed using Option 1, then all the files of the jpaltheme folder must be placed in the same folder as your main *.tex file. The files are:
beamercolorthememetropolis.stybeamerfontthememetropolis.stybeamerinnerthememetropolis.stybeamerouterthememetropolis.stybeamerthemejpal.styswirl.png
Now if you installed with Option 2, there's nothing extra to do! Just open a brand new *.tex file.
Without regard of the installation method, jpaltheme provides the jpal Beamer theme, so your document should start with
\documentclass{beamer}
\usetheme{jpal}
...If you know what you're doing, then this should suffice you — beam away! Just remember to compile with XeLaTeX.
If you want to try out the J-PAL theme, I suggest you start with the minimal folder. In there, compile jpaltheme_minimal.tex (again, using XeLaTeX).
minimal showcases a barebones example of a document using jpaltheme, so that's why I called it "minimal". Creative naming right there. This should compile a boring but easy-to-understand document.
Trying to compile this is a good way to start using the theme, specially if you're (kind of) new to LaTeX.
If you want to see all the nitty gritty details of what jpaltheme can do, then I suggest checking jpaltheme_demo.tex, located in the demo folder. As always, remember to compile using XeLaTeX.
The jpaltheme_demo.tex file showcases many typical elements of LaTeX documents and how they are displayed using this theme. There's also mention of some guideline elements, but it is not intended to be a complete guide. Please refer to the official document for a full rundown of all those guidelines.
[I'm working to get this part finished!]
I'm Alvaro Carril, research analyst at the J-PAL Latin America & The Caribbean office. I like econometrics, TeX, Stata and computer stuff.
If you have any suggestions, criticisms, doubts or fears, feel free to email me at acarril@povertyactionlab.org.
Please note that this theme was independently developed by me, with very helpful comments and guidance from Amanda Kohn, Senior Multimedia and Graphic Design Associate at J-PAL. However, I'm solely responsible for this product and all the errors I'm sure it contains.
This is not an official J-PAL product and you should always consult the powers that be prior to using it. This software is in beta stage and lots of things may not work as intended (or at all). Please write an email if you encounter problems.
This theme is based on the Metropolis theme by Matthias Vogelgesang. Make sure to check out his template if you dig this one, but don't have anything to do with J-PAL... or apply to work with us!
- Section slide progress finishes before presentation (width adjust of background incongruent with foreground?)
- Foot area progress bar has erratic behaviour