> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://overleaf-pro.ayaka.space/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://overleaf-pro.ayaka.space/latex/latex-errors/01-h-float-specifier-changed-to-ht.md).

# !h' float specifier changed to !ht'

This is when LaTeX has a problem placing your float (such as an image or figure of some kind) in the position you have specified in the [float specifier](/latex/figures-and-tables/02-positioning-images-and-tables.md) i.e. the **`ht`** in **`\begin{figure}[ht]`** . LaTeX tries to place figures in a way that fits in with the flow of the text in order to avoid big gaps and bunched up paragraphs. The placement specifier parameter allows us to have a greater control over where a figure is placed. The different placement options available to us are listed below:

| Specifier | Permission                                                                                                                                              |
| --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| h         | Place the float *here*, i.e., *approximately* at the same point it occurs in the source text (however, not *exactly* at the spot)                       |
| t         | Position at the *top* of the page.                                                                                                                      |
| b         | Position at the *bottom* of the page.                                                                                                                   |
| p         | Put on a special *page* for floats only.                                                                                                                |
| !         | Override internal parameters LaTeX uses for determining "good" float positions.                                                                         |
| H         | Places the float at precisely the location in the LaTeX code. Requires the *float* package (*\usepackage{float}*). This is somewhat equivalent to *h!*. |

While LaTeX will do its best to follow the placement we specify, it may not always be possible for it to adhere to it. When LaTeX has trouble placing our float in the desired location, it may override the placement specifier in favor of a new placement specifier which does not break up the flow of text. When this happens, an error message will appear as shown below.

```latex
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage{graphicx}

\begin{document}

\section{Introduction}
\vspace{10cm}

\begin{figure}[h]
    \centering
    \includegraphics{image.PNG}
\end{figure}

\end{document}
```

This will generate an error message which looks like

main.tex, line 12

\`h' float specifier changed to \`ht'.

The float specifier **`h`** by itself is usually too strict of a command for LaTeX. To resolve this error, it is best to relax this demand to **`ht`** i.e. place the float either *here* or at the *top* of the page. The demand can even be relaxed further to **`htbp`** or **`!htbp`** if necessary. If you would like to override this replacement and have the figure placed at a specific location in the page, there are some useful ways of doing this listed below.

**Using the float package:**

If we include the **`float`** package in our preamble, then instead of using **`h`** to specify *here* in our float specifier option, we can use the more powerful **`H`**, which will ensure the figure is kept in place.

```latex
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{float}

\begin{document}

\section{Introduction}

\begin{figure}[H]
    \centering
    \includegraphics{image.PNG}
\end{figure}

\end{document}
```

**Using the placeins package:**

Using the **`placeins`** package, we can use the **`\FloatBarrier`** command. Wherever we put a **`\FloatBarrier`** command, a barrier will be put in place which figures cannot pass through. This means that if we put a **`\FloatBarrier`** command on either side of our figure, it will be locked in place

```latex
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{placeins}

\begin{document}

\section{Introduction}

\FloatBarrier
\begin{figure}
    \centering
    \includegraphics{image.PNG}
\end{figure}

\FloatBarrier
\end{document}
```

**Tweaking the parameters:**

In order to tell LaTeX to place figures within the text and not at the end of a chapter (which is default), we adjust the 'float placement' parameters in the preamble to our document. Here are some useful values.

```latex
\renewcommand\topfraction{.9}
\renewcommand\textfraction{0.35}
\renewcommand\floatpagefraction{0.8}
```


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