How to use the command 'quarto' (with examples)

Quarto is an open-source scientific and technical publishing system, leveraging Pandoc, making it easier for users to create documents, presentations, websites, and books in multiple formats. Its flexibility and extensive support for different types of content and output formats have made it a popular choice among researchers, technical writers, and bloggers who wish to present their findings and content effectively.

Use case 1: Create a new project

Code:

quarto create-project path/to/destination_directory --type book|default|website

Motivation:

When starting a new publication, whether it’s a report, presentation, or a full-fledged book, setting up a project environment is the first crucial step. This use case demonstrates how Quarto streamlines the creation of a structured project folder that is tailored to the intended output – be it a book, default document, or website. This not only saves time but ensures consistency and organization as you develop your content.

Explanation:

• quarto create-project: This command initializes a new project with necessary configurations and directories to get you started.
• path/to/destination_directory: This argument specifies the location where the new project directory will be created. It’s the user’s choice of where they want to store the project files.
• --type book|default|website: The --type option allows the user to define the nature of the project. Choosing ‘book’ sets up the skeleton for a book with chapters, ‘default’ is for standard documents, and ‘website’ initializes files for a full-featured website project.

Example output:

Upon executing the command, you will see a directory named based on your specified path. Inside, it would typically contain a configuration file, directories for resources and content, and template files that provide a starting point for your project.

Use case 2: Create a new blog website

Code:

quarto create-project path/to/destination_directory --type website --template blog

Motivation:

For individuals or organizations aiming to share updates, articles, and opinions online, establishing a blog can be a powerful tool. Quarto’s create-project command provides a streamlined process to set up a blog-ready website, making it easy to focus on content creation rather than structural details.

Explanation:

• quarto create-project: Similar to the previous use case, this initializes a new Quarto project.
• path/to/destination_directory: Defines the path where you want your blog project to be set up.
• --type website: This specifies that the project is intended to be a website, setting up files necessary for web publishing.
• --template blog: The --template option allows users to start with a pre-defined structure for a blog, which includes post templates, navigation, and style settings.

Example output:

After execution, the specified directory will contain a set of preformatted folders and files geared towards blog management, including a home page, example posts, and configurations that define the look and feel of the blog.

Use case 3: Render input file(s) to different formats

Code:

quarto render path/to/file.{{qmd|rmd|ipynb}} --to {{html|pdf|docx}}

Motivation:

In academic and professional environments, sharing documents in various formats is often required, whether it’s for readability across devices, printing, or presentations. Quarto’s render capability allows for seamless conversion of files from one type to another, supporting a wide array of formats.

Explanation:

• quarto render: This command processes the specified source file and converts it into the desired format.
• path/to/file.{{qmd|rmd|ipynb}}: Specifies the input file(s) that can be in Quarto markdown (qmd), R markdown (rmd), or Jupyter notebook (ipynb) formats.
• --to {{html|pdf|docx}}: This defines the output format, allowing the user to specify whether they want the file in HTML for web, PDF for print, or DOCX for word processing applications.

Example output:

On successful execution, the command produces a file in your specified format, typically placed in the same directory as your input file, making it easy to locate and use the output immediately for distribution or presentation.

Use case 4: Render and preview a document or a website

Code:

quarto preview {{path/to/destination_directory|path/to/file}}

Motivation:

While working on a document or a website, it’s essential to see how changes reflect in real-time. This use case is critical for authors and developers who need to review and edit their content iteratively, ensuring it meets their design and layout expectations before finalizing.

Explanation:

• quarto preview: This command not only renders the document but also launches a live preview, typically in a browser, where changes can be seen instantly.
• {{path/to/destination_directory|path/to/file}}: The argument can be either a directory or a specific file, allowing flexibility whether you’re previewing a single document or an entire website project.

Example output:

Executing this command opens a browser window displaying the rendered document or website, allowing users to interact and visualize changes as they make them, greatly enhancing the editing process.

Use case 5: Publish a document or project to Quarto Pub, Github Pages, RStudio Connect, or Netlify

Code:

quarto publish {{quarto-pub|gh-pages|connect|netlify}}

Motivation:

Once a project reaches completion, sharing it with a wider audience is the next step. Quarto provides built-in support to publish directly to popular hosting platforms, reducing complexity and enhancing accessibility to your work, whether it’s a blog post, paper, or documentation site.

Explanation:

• quarto publish: This command pushes your project to a specified hosting service, streamlining the deployment process.
• {{quarto-pub|gh-pages|connect|netlify}}: These options specify the target platform for your publication. ‘Quarto Pub’ is a simple hosting service for Quarto projects, ‘gh-pages’ deploys to a repository’s GitHub Pages site, ‘connect’ targets RStudio Connect for enterprise-level sharing, and ’netlify’ leverages Netlify for web hosting.

Example output:

The project files will be uploaded to the chosen platform, and you’ll typically receive a URL or confirmation message indicating successful deployment, allowing your audience to access your work online immediately.

Conclusion:

Quarto not only simplifies the creation and management of technical and scientific documents but also provides robust support for publishing in a versatile array of formats and platforms. These use cases illustrate how Quarto can be a powerful tool for authors, researchers, and professionals seeking efficient workflows and high-impact presentations of their content.