variables not rendered in LaTex \input

[feffi]

Hi, I'm trying to build a modular template for the pandoc/LaTex combination. For what I can see, variables entered in included LaTex files are not rendered. Instead just the name (latex math syntax, because of $...$) is rendered.

Is it possible to render subsequent variables included in subdocuments?

main.md

test: fooBar

main.tex

\documentclass[a4paper]{scrbook}
\begin{document}
A variable should be rendered here twice: $test$
\input{second}
\end{document}

second.tex

$test$

• Expected output: A variable should be rendered here twice: fooBar fooBar

• Output: A variable should be rendered here twice: fooBar test

• Pandoc 2.7.3

• Command: pandoc --pdf-engine=xelatex --from "markdown+yaml_metadata_block+raw_html" --template=main.tex main.md -o ./main.pdf --resource-path=.:includes:lib:content --verbose

[jgm]

I think you're misunderstanding how templates work. Pandoc doesn't actually parse the latex in a latex template. A template is just considered a block of text with some holes in it for variables. Pandoc doesn't pay a bit of attention to what this text is, so when you write \input{second} pandoc simply passes that through verbatim.

What you're looking for is a template partial. This feature has been added to pandoc's template language in version 2.8. This would allow you to do something like:

$second()$

instead of

\input{second}

and it will work the way you want. Upgrade to 2.8 and read the manual section on Templates.

[feffi]

Hello @jgm, thanks for your quick feedback! Really appreciated, I'll try your suggestion.