My IT projects : Glossary in LaTeX

As I was Finishing my MSc thesis today I wanted to create a glossary with LaTex, but it was very difficult to find a tutorial or even basic steps to create one, without having to change something, so I decided to create a small “tutorial” on how to create a glossary with LaTeX.

The first step is to include the package :

\usepackage[nonumberlist]{glossaries}

1	\usepackage[nonumberlist]{glossaries}

As you may see, I also added the option [nonumberlist]. When this option is not enabled the glossary contains a list of page numbers where the entry was used.

The second step is to use the package :

\usepackage{acronym}

1	\usepackage{acronym}

This package will allow you the use of acronyms. Now that the right packages were included, you can insert the following command in the body :

\makeglossaries

1	\makeglossaries

You may now create the acronyms and entries that you want in your glossary. These entries have to follow this layout :

\newacronym{gui}{GUI}{Graphical User Interface}

1	\newacronym{gui}{GUI}{Graphical User Interface}

\newacronym{sdk}{SDK}{Software Development Kit}

1	\newacronym{sdk}{SDK}{Software Development Kit}

Finally you can put the following commands where the glossary should be printed

\glsaddall

1	\glsaddall

\printglossaries

1	\printglossaries

The first command list all the entries in the glossary, while the second prints the glossary out. In your text you may now use it such as following :

This is the \gls{gui} of my application. This \gls{gui} will display all the information[...].

1	This is the \gls{gui} of my application. This \gls{gui} will display all the information[...].

and this should appear :

This is the Graphical User Interface (GUI). This GUI will display all the information[...].

1	This is the Graphical User Interface (GUI). This GUI will display all the information[...].

Compile your LaTeX document a first time and then open a shell an type the following command:

makeindex Master_Thesis.glo -s Master_Thesis.ist -t Master_Thesis.glg -o Master_Thesis.gls

1	makeindex Master_Thesis.glo -s Master_Thesis.ist -t Master_Thesis.glg -o Master_Thesis.gls

Compile your document with LaTeX a second time, and your glossary should appear right there.

and that’s it !

Below is a basic example of a LaTeX file with glossary :

\documentclass[12pt,a4paper]{report}
\usepackage[nonumberlist]{glossaries}
\usepackage{acronym}

\begin{document}

\title{}
\date{}
\maketitle

%Glossary
\makeglossaries

\newacronym{pdf}{PDF}{Portable Document Format }

%Abstract

\begin{abstract}

\end{abstract}
%Acknowledgments
\chapter*{Acknowledgements}

\tableofcontents
\listoffigures
\listoftables
\glsaddall
\printglossaries
\end{document}

\documentclass[12pt,a4paper]{report}

\usepackage[nonumberlist]{glossaries}

\usepackage{acronym}

\begin{document}

\title{}

\date{}

\maketitle

%Glossary

\makeglossaries

\newacronym{pdf}{PDF}{Portable Document Format }

%Abstract

\begin{abstract}

\end{abstract}

%Acknowledgments

\chapter*{Acknowledgements}

\tableofcontents

\listoffigures

\listoftables

\glsaddall

\printglossaries

\end{document}

Have Fun with LaTeX.

{ 2 } Comments

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