The PracT
E
X Journal, 2006, No. 3
Article revision 2006/08/18
Replacing L
A
T
E
X2
ε
standard classes with
KOMA-Script
Yuri Robbers, Markus Kohm and Rasmus Pank Roulund
Email yuri.robbers@gmail.com
Website http://www.komascript.de/
Abstract KOMA is a complete replacement of the standard L
A
T
E
X2
ε
classes. It is
aimed more at European typography but is easily configurable. Some of
KOMA’s extensions and ways to configure document layout are also avail-
able in other document classes, such as the L
A
T
E
X2
ε
standard classes. This
paper discusses just a few parts of KOMA, especially those that have to do
with page layout and with writing letters.
1 Introduction
KOMA-Script is a complex bundle of classes intended to replace the L
A
T
E
X2
ε
stan-
dard classes. The standard look and feel of KOMA-Script is rather different from
the standard classes and is inspired by European typographical standards. Since
the whole design philosophy of KOMA-Script is new, it offers all the commands
that are offered by the standard classes (except for the letter and slides class)
but not vice versa. Generally speaking the KOMA classes offer far more options
for adaptation and configuration than standard L
A
T
E
X2
ε
. Using the KOMA classes,
it should be relatively easy to obtain the look and feel that you like.
Some of the KOMA-Script options are also made available in packages that
can easily be loaded in your own favourite class (for example the AMS classes)
by including a \usepackage{} command with one of the special KOMA-Script
packages (see below for details).
Most modern T
E
X-distributions already include KOMA-Script; but if your in-
stallation does not, then download a copy from CTAN://macros/latex/contrib/
koma-script or from http://developer.berlios.de/project/koma-script3/. In-
stallation instructions are rather straightforward and covered in detail in the in-
cluded README and INSTALL files.
Copyright © 2006 Yuri Robbers, Markus Kohm and Rasmus Pank Roulund.
Permission is granted to distribute verbatim or modified
copies of this document provided this notice remains intact.