mdbase writer
Layouts and export
Choose the manuscript's appearance and download PDF, Word or a Pandoc/Quarto bundle.Manuscript settings
Open Settings to edit title, subtitle, authors, abstract, date, citation style, layout and language. Enter authors one per line;Name; Affiliation adds an affiliation. Settings update the manuscript's frontmatter and preview as you edit.
A problem with a setting appears beside that field. Check the save status after changing settings, just as you do after writing body text.
Layouts
The bundled Article and Thesis layouts typeset the manuscript with appropriate title and document structure. You can also choose a Typst template stored as a .typ file in the collection. Custom layouts require Typst knowledge and a template function accepting title, subtitle, authors, abstract, date and body.
A collection template is one file: files it imports are not loaded. Its layout affects the PDF. A manuscript's citation style can be a bundled style or a .csl file in the collection.
Export formats
Open the menu beside Export to choose a format. The main button repeats the format you used last in this browser. You can also open the export menu with Ctrl Shift S(⌘ on macOS).
| Format | Contents |
|---|---|
| The typeset manuscript using the selected layout. It is available once the manuscript typesets. | |
| Word (DOCX) | An editable document with formatted citations, resolved cross-references and Word document styles. |
| Pandoc bundle (ZIP) | Materialised Markdown, references, citation style and supporting files for building with Pandoc or Quarto. Follow the bundle's README. |
Exports are generated in the browser. The first Word export downloads about 16 MB of additional software. Keep the tab open while it prepares the file. A slow first export does not mean the manuscript needs to be reopened.
PDF and Word differences
PDF uses the Typst layout; Word uses its own styles and Pandoc's document structure. Word is not a page-for-page copy of the preview. A custom Typst layout uses article styles for Word output. The bundled article and thesis layouts have their corresponding Word reference styles.
The Word export resolves cross-reference numbers before conversion. A Pandoc/Quarto bundle leaves cross-references for the external build tools; follow its instructions for Quarto or an appropriate Pandoc filter.
Check before sharing
Review Problems and export warnings, then inspect the downloaded file. Missing records or images can leave output incomplete. Check page breaks, figures, cross-references, citations and bibliography before submitting or sharing. The bundle includes manuscript text and supporting content; treat it as private research material.