diff --git a/latty.py b/latty.py
index d63a4b5..f4b5322 100644
--- a/latty.py
+++ b/latty.py
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ def get_datetime():
     now = datetime.now()
     return now.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
 
+root_dir = os.path.dirname(os.getcwd())
+proj_dir = root_dir + '/undercover/'
+output_dir = proj_dir + 'outputs/'
+base_tex_text = open(proj_dir + "/writing_templates/base.tex", "r").read()
+
 @dataclass
 class CLData():
     username: str
@@ -40,15 +45,11 @@ class CLData():
     def generate_pdf(self):
         import threading
         unique_id = get_unique()
-        root_dir = os.path.dirname(os.getcwd())
-        proj_dir = root_dir + '/undercover/'
-        output_dir = proj_dir + 'outputs/'
-
         unique_file = output_dir + unique_id + ".tex"
         f = open(unique_file, "w")
         for pair in self.get_pairs():
             f.write("\\def \\" + pair[0] + "{" + pair[1] + "}\n")
-        f.write(open(proj_dir + "/writing_templates/base.tex", "r").read())
+        f.write(base_tex_text)
         f.close()
 
         output_arg="-jobname=outputs/" + unique_id + " " + unique_file