Free online JATS to TEX converter

JATS and TeX are very different file formats used in scholarly publishing and document preparation. JATS (Journal Article Tag Suite) is an XML-based standard for structuring journal content, including metadata, sections, references, figures, and tables. TeX is a typesetting language used to create high-quality scientific and technical documents, often compiled into PDF through LaTeX workflows.

What is JATS to TeX conversion?

JATS to TeX conversion means transforming structured journal XML into TeX source code so the content can be edited, typeset, or reused in a LaTeX-based publishing workflow. This is useful when an article stored in JATS must be prepared for print production, manuscript editing, or integration with TeX-based tools.

Why convert JATS to TeX?

There are several practical reasons to convert from JATS to TeX:

• Typesetting flexibility for scientific publishing.
• Compatibility with LaTeX editors and journal workflows.
• Reuse of structured content in academic production pipelines.
• Better control over equations, citations, and layout.

How the conversion works

The conversion process maps JATS XML elements to TeX commands and environments. For example, sections become \section{}, subsections become \subsection{}, references are converted into bibliography entries, and figures or tables are translated into TeX-compatible structures. Because JATS can contain rich metadata and nested markup, a reliable converter must preserve structure while adapting it to TeX syntax.

Best software for conversion

The best choice depends on your workflow, but the most practical options are:

• Pandoc — useful for XML-to-markup transformations, though JATS support may require customization.
• OxGarage — a strong document conversion platform often used in scholarly publishing pipelines.
• Custom XSLT stylesheets — the best option when you need precise control over how JATS elements map to TeX.

For production-quality results, custom XSLT-based conversion is often the most reliable approach because JATS structures vary widely between publishers and article types.

Recommended workflow

1. Validate the JATS XML file.
2. Map article structure to TeX commands.
3. Convert references, tables, and figures carefully.
4. Review the generated TeX source for formatting issues.
5. Compile the TeX file with a LaTeX engine such as pdfLaTeX or XeLaTeX.

Things to watch for

Math formulas, cross-references, special characters, and publisher-specific JATS tags can cause conversion issues. It is important to test the output and manually adjust the TeX file when needed.

Conclusion

JATS to TeX conversion is a valuable step when scholarly XML content must be prepared for LaTeX-based typesetting. For the best results, use a workflow that preserves structure, handles metadata correctly, and allows manual refinement after conversion.