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author | Karl Berry <karl@freefriends.org> | 2006-01-09 00:49:07 +0000 |
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committer | Karl Berry <karl@freefriends.org> | 2006-01-09 00:49:07 +0000 |
commit | 007f67a693e4d031fd3d792df8e4d5f43e2cb2e7 (patch) | |
tree | 90d17e00e572ecb1e24764b6f29c80e098b08d29 /Master/texmf-dist/doc/latex/ednotes/visible.txt | |
parent | 950209b26f70aa87ed07c54f82a95b6f03b7c3a0 (diff) |
doc/latex
git-svn-id: svn://tug.org/texlive/trunk@84 c570f23f-e606-0410-a88d-b1316a301751
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diff --git a/Master/texmf-dist/doc/latex/ednotes/visible.txt b/Master/texmf-dist/doc/latex/ednotes/visible.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..9bd75a7e881 --- /dev/null +++ b/Master/texmf-dist/doc/latex/ednotes/visible.txt @@ -0,0 +1,101 @@ +VISIBLE -- Advice for placing new LaTeX files. + +Author: Uwe L"uck, http://www.contact-ednotes.sty.de.vu, +2004/10/18; +aided by Karl Berry. + +--derived from a TUGboat (vol. 24) article on Ednotes. + + + +* The problem: * + +E.g., a user downloads a LaTeX file from CTAN. Or: often there +is a pair of a .dtx and an .ins file for producing a .sty file. +("Run LaTeX on the .ins file ..." This may be difficult enough, +but we assume now that the user manages this.) Typically the +user is told to put the (.sty) file to a folder "where LaTeX +can find it", or "visible to TeX". Indeed, the user cannot use +the file otherwise. However, some users have had no idea how to +arrange things so that (La)TeX finds the file. + +Unfortunately, the procedure for this is somewhat non-trivial +indeed. It depends very much on the user's LaTeX installation, +so it is difficult to indicate a procedure that helps everyone. + + +* Principles for solutions: * + +Technically, the searching agent is the TeX program, not LaTeX +--we choose our wordings accordingly here. LaTeX is rather a +kind of input ("format") to the TeX program. (If this doesn't +make sense to you, don't worry about it.) + +I think of three kinds of approaches: + +1. Put the file into the folder where the files you are editing +are (call them "job files" here). This is easy; but if the user +wants to use the file for another project pursued in a different +folder, the approach would require another copy of the file--or +a link! Therefore, it has been common to place macro (.sty) or +similar files in folders that TeX searches independent of the +folder containing the job files. + +2. Put the file into a folder that TeX has searched so far. + +3. Put the file anywhere (or into an extra folder newly created +with care)--and extend the set of folders that TeX searches +accordingly. The TeX installation ("shell") usually offers a +facility for this--which unfortunately is not always known to +the user. + + +* Advices from TeX Users Groups: * + +I recommend to study the following web pages. The first two of +them deal with installation more generally and give some hints +that I consider worth to remind of. + + http://tug.ctan.org/installationadvice + + http://www.tex.ac.uk/cgi-bin/texfaq2html?label=instpackages + +These prefer approach 3 of the above, especially the TDS +standard of arranging folders, see + + http://www.tex.ac.uk/cgi-bin/texfaq2html?label=tds + +The narrower subject matter is concerned at + + http://{www.tex.ac.uk/cgi-bin/texfaq2html?label=wherefiles + + +* Easy tricks that I prefer: * + +I must confess that I have never worked with the shells that are +chosen as examples on these web pages. Moreover, some Windows +users may find the examples little helpful. So my personal hints +use approach 2 of the above. + +o Typically, the file is from CTAN folder + /tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/, and you find a folder + .../latex/contrib/ in the installation at your workplace. + Then the latter should be a good guess for placing the new + file. + +o You may find a folder .../texinput/ (or TeXinput!?) which + should be another good guess. + +o Search your installation for files with the same file name + extension (usually `.sty'), try their folder. + +(Updates are a special case of the last idea, of course.) + + +Ok, if all this doesn't help, you may ask at comp.text.tex +or your local TeX guru. + + +Good luck! + + |