Save lyx document using plain text instead of binary format

Question

Saving a .lyx file produces a binary version of the file, which makes it hard to track changes in git. Is there a way to tell lyx to save files in some text format? Not plain text, something that retains all the formatting.

LyX Version 2.3.0 on macOS.

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 28 '18 at 23:58

2

The .lyx file format is actually text by default. It is possible that your LyX has the preference set to save files with compression by default, which would make them binary. To turn this preference off, go to Tools > Preferences > Look & Feel > Document Handling and uncheck "Save new documents compressed by default". See also the following answer: https://tex.stackexchange.com/a/330529/12212

answered Jun 28 '18 at 23:58

scottkosty

13,164

I haven't changed any preferences after installing it and that preference is already unchecked. https://i.imgur.com/c8WAR6A.png. Is there a way to explicitly specify which version is saved? Maybe the document I have was saved as compressed before. – waspinator Jun 29 '18 at 13:49
@waspinator can you please upload a minimal example .lyx file somewhere and link to it in your question? I don't think you can upload a binary file directly here. – scottkosty Jun 29 '18 at 15:56

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Oct 20 '21 at 19:08

0

To save a compressed .lyx file in plain text, uncheck Document->Compressed

edited Oct 20 '21 at 19:08

Mensch

65,388

answered Oct 20 '21 at 17:55

Brian Armstrong

1

Welcome to TeX.SE! – Mensch Oct 20 '21 at 19:07

Save lyx document using plain text instead of binary format

2 Answers2