% $Id: faq-texsys.tex,v 1.2 2009/12/18 01:06:03 rf10 Exp rf10 $ \section{\TeX{} Systems} \Question[Q-TeXsystems]{\AllTeX{} for different machines} \keywords{windows,macintosh,macos,ms-dos,os/2,unix,linux} We list here the free or shareware packages; \htmlignore see \Qref{}{Q-commercial} for details of commercial packages. \endhtmlignore \begin{htmlversion} another question addresses \Qref{commercial \TeX{} vendors'}{Q-commercial} products. \end{htmlversion} \begin{description} \item[Unix] The only current distribution of \TeX{} for Unix systems (including \acro{GNU}/Linux and other free Unix-like systems) is \texlive{}, which is distributed as part of the % ! line break \Qref*{\TeX{} collection}{Q-CD}. Members of many \TeX{} user groups receive copies of the collection (on \acro{DVD}), as part of their membership of the groups. MacOS/X is also a Unix-based system; however users should refer to the information below, under item ``Mac''. \texlive{} may also be installed ``over the network''; a network installer is provided, and once you have a system, a manager (\ProgName{tlmgr}) can both keep your installation up-to-date and add packages you didn't install at first. \begin{ctanrefs} \item[texlive]Browse \CTANref{texlive} \item[texlive installer (Unix)]\CTANref{texlive-unix} \end{ctanrefs} \item[Linux] GNU/Linux users are supported by \texlive{} (as noted above). A free version of the commercial \Qref*{V\TeX{} extended \TeX{} system}{Q-commercial} is available for use under Linux, which among other things specialises in direct production of \acro{PDF} from \AllTeX{} input. Sadly, it's no longer supported, and the ready-built images are made for use with a rather ancient Linux kernel. In addition, the developer of \miktex{} has released a port of the \PDFTeX{} executable from of that excellent (Windows) system for use on Linux; get it via \href{http://miktex.org/unx/}{the \miktex{} site}. The \miktex{} package manager, for Linux, is also available from the same place. \begin{ctanrefs} \item[texlive]Browse \CTANref{texlive} \item[vtex]\CTANref{vtex-linux} \item[vtex \nothtml{\rmfamily}required common files]\CTANref{vtex-common} \end{ctanrefs} \item[\acro{PC}: Windows] \miktex{}, by Christian Schenk, is a comprehensive distribution. It has its own previewer, \acro{YAP}, which is itself capable of printing, though the distribution also includes a port of \ProgName{dvips}. The current version is available for file-by-file download (the \acro{HTML} files in the directory offer hints on what you need to get going). \miktex{} can automatically install packages that it ``knows about'', but that aren't in your system (it gets them over the network). Furthermore, users may keep their installation up-to-date, over the network: the distribution contains a ``package manager'', through which the user may select individual packages, or request that every extant update be retrieved. \miktex{} may also be used in a configuration which involves no installation at all: its ``portable'' distribution may be unpacked on a memory stick, and used on any windows computer without making any direct use of the hard drive. This is the first ``official'' release of such a setup, though a similar object has been available on the net for some time. The \miktex{} developers also provide a ready-to-run copy of the distribution, on \acro{CD} (for purchase) via the % ! line break \href{http://www.miktex.org/cd/}{\miktex{} web site}; otherwise the \File{setup} executable is available on \acro{CTAN}, together with all the optional packages. \href{http://tug.org/protext/}{Pro\TeX{}t}, part of the \TeX{} collection by Thomas Feuerstack, is a further option for installing \miktex{}. It bundles a \miktex{} setup with some further useful utilities, together with a \acro{PDF} file which contains clickable links for the various installation steps, along with explanations. Windows users are also supported directly by the \texlive{} distribution; a system is provided on the installation disc of the \TeX{} collection. The system may also be installed over the network, using an installer application tailored for use with Windows. \href{http://foundry.supelec.fr/projects/xemtex/}{XEm\TeX{}}, by Fabrice Popineau (he who created the excellent, but now defunct, fp\TeX{} distribution), is an integrated distribution of \TeX{}, \LaTeX{}, \CONTeXT{}, \ProgName{XEmacs} and friends for Windows. All programs have been compiled natively to take the best advantage of the Windows environment. Configuration is provided so that the resulting set of programs runs out-of-the-box. The (Japanese) \acro{W}32\acro{TEX} distribution was motivated by the needs of Japanese users (Japanese won't fit in a ``simple'' character set like \acro{ASCII}, but \TeX{} is based on a version of \acro{ASCII}). Despite its origins, \acro{W}32\acro{TEX} is said to be a good bet for Western users, notably those whose disks are short of space: the minimum documented download is as small as 95\,MBytes. Investigate the distribution at \URL{http://www.fsci.fuk.kindai.ac.jp/kakuto/win32-ptex/web2c75-e.html} A further (free) option arises from the \href{http://www.cygwin.com}{CygWin bundle}, which presents a Unix-like environment over the Win32 interface; an X-windows server is available. If you run CygWin on your Windows machine, you have the option of using \texlive{}, too (you will need the X-server, to run \ProgName{xdvi}). Of course, \texlive{} components will look like Unix applications (of course, that's presumably what you wanted), but \TeX{} under CygWin also reputedly somewhat slower than native Win32 implementations such as \miktex{} or XEm\TeX{}. The (now obsolete) te\TeX{} distribution is provided as part of the CygWin distribution, and but you can build your own copy of \texlive{} from the current sources. BaKoMa \TeX{}, by Basil Malyshev, is a comprehensive (shareware) distribution, which focuses on support of Acrobat. The distribution comes with a bunch of Type~1 fonts packaged to work with BaKoMa \TeX{}, which further the focus. \begin{ctanrefs} \item[bakoma]\CTANref{bakoma-tex} \item[miktex]\CTANref{miktex}; acquire \CTANref{miktex-setup} (also available from the \miktex{} web site), and read installation instructions from % ! line break \href{http://www.miktex.org/2.8/setup}{the \miktex{} installation page} \item[\nothtml{\bgroup\rmfamily}Portable\nothtml{\egroup} miktex]\CTANref{miktex-portable} \item[protext.exe]\CTANref{protext} \item[texlive]Browse \CTANref{texlive} \item[texlive installer (Windows)]\CTANref{texlive-windows} \end{ctanrefs} \item[\acro{PC}: \MSDOS{} or \acro{OS/}2] Em\TeX{}, by Eberhard Mattes, includes \LaTeX{}, \BibTeX{}, previewers, and drivers, and is available as a series of zip archives. Documentation is available in both German and English. Appropriate memory managers for using em\TeX{} with 386 (and better) processors and under Windows, are included in the distribution. Em\TeX{} will operate under Windows, but Windows users are better advised to use a distribution tailored for the Windows environment. A version of em\TeX{}, packaged to use a % beware line break \Qref*{TDS directory structure}{Q-tds}, is separately available as an em\TeX{} `contribution'. Note that neither em\TeX{} itself, nor em\TeX{}\acro{TDS}, is maintained. Most users of Microsoft operating systems, who want an up-to-date \AllTeX{} system, need to migrate to Win32-based systems. \begin{ctanrefs} \item[emtex]\CTANref{emtex} \item[emtexTDS]\CTANref{emtextds} \end{ctanrefs} \item[\acro{PC}: \MSDOS{}] The most recent \MSDOS{} offering is a port of the Web2C~7.0 implementation, using the \acro{GNU} \ProgName{djgpp} compiler. While this package is more recent than em\TeX{}, it still implements a rather old instance of \AllTeX{}. \begin{ctanrefs} \item[djgpp]\CTANref{djgpp} \end{ctanrefs} \item[\acro{PC}: \acro{OS/}2] Em\TeX{}, by Eberhard Mattes (see above), was actually developed under \acro{OS/}2, and lives happily in that environment. \acro{OS/}2 users may also use a free version of the commercial \Qref*{V\TeX{}}{Q-commercial}, which specialises in direct production of \acro{PDF} from \AllTeX{} input. (This version is, like the Linux version, unfortunately no longer supported.) \begin{ctanrefs} \item[emtex]\CTANref{emtex} \item[emtexTDS]\CTANref{emtextds} \item[vtex]\CTANref{vtex-os2} \item[vtex \nothtml{\rmfamily}required common files]\CTANref{vtex-common} \end{ctanrefs} \item[Mac] \href{http://www.trevorrow.com/oztex/}{Oz\TeX{}}, by Andrew Trevorrow, is a shareware version of \TeX{} for the Macintosh. A \acro{DVI} previewer and \PS{} driver are also included. (Members of \acro{UK}~\acro{TUG} may acquire the software without further payment, as part of a membership deal.) Oz\TeX{} does not run, natively, under MacOS/X, but will run with a sufficiently recent CarbonLib (see \URL{http://www.trevorrow.com/oztex/ozosx.html}). Other questions about Oz\TeX{} itself may be directed to \mailto{oztex@midway.uchicago.edu} Another partly shareware program is \href{http://www.kiffe.com/cmactex.html}{CMac\TeX{}} , put together by Tom Kiffe. CMac\TeX{} is much closer than Oz\TeX{} to the Unix \TeX{} model of things (it uses \ProgName{dvips}, for instance). CMac\TeX{} runs natively under includes a port of a version of \Qref*{Omega}{Q-omegaleph}. Both Oz\TeX{} and \acro{CM}ac\TeX{} run on either MacOS/X or on a sufficiently recent MacOS with CarbonLib (v1.3~for Oz\TeX{}, v1.4~for CMac\TeX{}). % beware line wrap From its 2005 release, the \Qref*{\texlive{} disc set}{Q-CD} includes Mac\TeX{}. Details (and a downloadable distribution set) may be found on the % ! line break \href{http://tug.org/mactex}{\acro{TUG} web site}; the distribution is also on \acro{CTAN}. \begin{narrowversion} % really, non-hyper version A useful resource for Mac users is to be found at \URL{http://www.esm.psu.edu/mac-tex/}; it has a news and `help' section, as well as details of systems and tools. \end{narrowversion} \begin{wideversion} A useful \href{http://www.esm.psu.edu/mac-tex/}{resource for Mac users} has a news and `help' section, as well as details of systems and tools. \end{wideversion} The Mac\TeX{}-on-OSX mailing list is a useful resource for users; mail \mailto{MacOSX-TeX-on@email.esm.psu.edu} to subscribe. \begin{ctanrefs} \item[cmactex]\CTANref{cmactex} \item[mactex]\CTANref{mactex} \item[oztex]\CTANref{oztex} \end{ctanrefs} \item[Open\acro{VMS}] \TeX{} for Open\acro{VMS} is available, though it seems unlikely that the version on \acro{CTAN} is the latest available. \begin{ctanrefs} \item[OpenVMS]\CTANref{OpenVMSTeX} \end{ctanrefs} \item[Atari] \TeX{} for the Atari \acro{ST} is available from \acro{CTAN}. \begin{ctanrefs} \item[Atari TeX]\CTANref{atari} \end{ctanrefs} \item[Amiga] Full implementations of \TeX{} 3.1 (Pas\TeX{}) and \MF{} 2.7 are available. \begin{ctanrefs} \item[PasTeX]\CTANref{amiga} \end{ctanrefs} \item[\acro{TOPS}-20] \TeX{} was originally written on a \acro{DEC}-10 under \acro{WAITS}, and so was easily ported to \acro{TOPS}-20. A distribution that runs on \acro{TOPS}-20 is available via anonymous \texttt{ftp} from \FTP{ftp.math.utah.edu} in \path{pub/tex/pub/web} \checked{RF}{2001/03/01} \end{description} \Question[Q-editors]{\TeX{}-friendly editors and shells} There are good \TeX{}-writing environments and editors for most operating systems; some are described below, but this is only a personal selection: \begin{description} \item[Unix] The commonest choices are \ProgName{[X]Emacs} or \ProgName{vim}, though several others are available. \href{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/emacs.html}{\acro{GNU}\nobreakspace\ProgName{emacs}} and \href{http://www.xemacs.org/}{\ProgName{XEmacs}} are supported by the \acro{AUC}-\TeX{} bundle (available from \acro{CTAN}). \acro{AUC}-\TeX{} provides menu items and control sequences for common constructs, checks syntax, lays out markup nicely, lets you call \TeX{} and drivers from within the editor, and everything else like this that you can think of. Complex, but very powerful. \href{http://vim.sourceforge.net}{\ProgName{Vim}} is also highly configurable (also available for Windows and Macintosh systems). Many plugins are available to support the needs of the \AllTeX{} user, including syntax highlighting, calling \TeX{} programs, auto-insertion and -completion of common \AllTeX{} structures, and browsing \LaTeX{} help. The scripts \File{auctex.vim} and \File{bibtex.vim} seem to be the most common recommendations. The editor \href{http://nedit.org/}{\ProgName{NEdit}} is also free and programmable, and is available for Unix systems. An \acro{AUC}-\TeX{}-alike set of extensions for \ProgName{NEdit} is available from \acro{CTAN}. \ProgName{LaTeX4Jed} provides much enhanced \LaTeX{} support for the \href{http://www.jedsoft.org/jed/}{\ProgName{jed}} editor. \ProgName{LaTeX4Jed} is similar to \acro{AUC}-\TeX{}: menus, shortcuts, templates, syntax highlighting, document outline, integrated debugging, symbol completion, full integration with external programs, and more. It was designed with both the beginner and the advanced LaTeX user in mind. The \ProgName{Kile} editor that is provided with the \acro{KDE} window manager provides \acro{GUI} ``shell-like'' facilities, in a similar way to the widely-praised \ProgName{Winedt} (see below); details (and downloads) are available from the project's \href{http://kile.sourceforge.net/}{home on SourceForge}. A newer system (by \ProgName{Kile}'s original author), \href{http://www.xm1math.net/texmaker/}{\ProgName{texmaker}} doesn't rely on \acro{KDE}'s facilities, and so may be more easily portable. \item[\MSDOS{}] \TeX{}shell is a simple, easily-customisable environment, which can be used with the editor of your choice. You can also use \acro{GNU}~\ProgName{emacs} and \acro{AUC}-\TeX{} under \MSDOS{}. \item[Windows '9x, NT, etc.]\ProgName{TeXnicCenter} is a (free) \TeX{}-oriented development system, uniting a powerful platform for executing \AllTeX{} and friends with a configurable editor. \ProgName{Winedt}, a shareware package, is also highly spoken of. It too provides a shell for the use of \TeX{} and related programs, as well as a powerful and well-configured editor. The editor can generate its output in \acro{UTF}-8 (to some extent), which is useful when working with \Qref*{\xetex{}}{Q-xetex} (and other ``next-generation'' \AllTeX{} applications). Both \ProgName{emacs} and \ProgName{vim} are available in versions for Windows systems. \item[\acro{OS/}2] \ProgName{epmtex} offers an \acro{OS/}2-specific shell. \item[Macintosh] The commercial Textures provides an excellent integrated Macintosh environment with its own editor. More powerful still (as an editor) is the shareware \ProgName{Alpha} which is extensible enough to let you perform almost any \TeX{}-related job. It works well with Oz\TeX{}. From release 2.2.0 (at least), Textures works with MacOS~X. For MacOS~X users, the free tool of choice appears to be \href{http://www.uoregon.edu/~koch/texshop/texshop.html}{\texshop{}}, which combines an editor and a shell with a coherent philosophy of dealing with \AllTeX{} in the OS~X environment. TeXShop is distributed as part of the MacTeX system, and will therefore be available out of the box on machines on which MacTeX has been installed. \ProgName{Vim} is also available for use on Macintosh systems. \item[Wildcard] \acro{TUG} is sponsoring the development of a cross-platform editor and shell, modelled on the excellent \texshop{} for the Macintosh. While this program, \href{http://www.tug.org/texworks/}{\texworks{}}, is still under development, it is already quite usable: if you're looking for a \AllTeX{} development environment, and are willing to step beyond the boundaries, it may be for you. \end{description} Atari, Amiga and \acro{N}e\acro{XT} users also have nice environments. \LaTeX{} users looking for \ProgName{make}-like facilities should review the answer on \Qref*{Makefiles for \LaTeX{} documents}{Q-make}. While many \AllTeX{}-oriented editors can support work on \BibTeX{} files, there are many systems that provide specific ``database-like'' access to your \BibTeX{} files~--- \begin{wideversion} see ``\Qref{creating a bibliography file}{Q-buildbib}''. \end{wideversion} \begin{narrowversion} these are discussed in % ! line break ``\Qref*{creating a bibliography file}{Q-buildbib}''. \end{narrowversion} \begin{ctanrefs} \item[alpha]\CTANref{alpha} \item[auctex]\CTANref{auctex} \item[epmtex]\CTANref{epmtex} \item[LaTeX4Jed]\CTANref{latex4jed} \item[Nedit LaTeX support]\CTANref{nedit-latex} \item[TeXnicCenter]\CTANref{texniccenter} \item[TeXshell]\CTANref{texshell} \item[TeXtelmExtel]\CTANref{TeXtelmExtel} \item[winedt]\CTANref{winedt} \end{ctanrefs} \Question[Q-commercial]{Commercial \TeX{} implementations} \keywords{windows,macintosh,commercial} There are many commercial implementations of \TeX{}. The first appeared not long after \TeX{} itself appeared. What follows is probably an incomplete list. Naturally, no warranty or fitness for purpose is implied by the inclusion of any vendor in this list. The source of the information is given to provide some clues to its currency. In general, a commercial implementation will come `complete', that is, with suitable previewers and printer drivers. They normally also have extensive documentation (\emph{i.e}., not just the \TeX{}book!) and some sort of support service. In some cases this is a toll free number (probably applicable only within the \acro{USA} and or Canada), but others also have email, and normal telephone and fax support. \begin{description} \item[\acro{PC}; True\TeX{}] Runs on all versions of Windows. \begin{quote} Richard J. Kinch\\ TrueTeX Software\\ 7890 Pebble Beach Court\\ Lake Worth \acro{FL} 33467\\ \acro{USA}\\[.25\baselineskip] Tel: +1 561-966-8400\\ Email: \mailto{kinch@truetex.com}\\ Web: \URL{http://www.truetex.com/} \end{quote} Source: Mail from Richard Kinch, August 2004. %% \item[\acro{PC}; \YandY{} \TeX{}] ``Bitmap free \TeX{} for Windows.'' %% \begin{quote} %% \YandY{}, Inc.\\ %% 106 Indian Hill, \acro{MA} 01741-1747\\ %% \acro{USA}\\[.25\baselineskip] %% Tel: 800-742-4059 (within North America)\\ %% Tel: +1 978-371-3286\\ %% Fax: +1 978-371-2004\\ %% Email: \mailto{sales-help@YandY.com} and %% \nothtml{\\ \hphantom{Email: }}% %% \mailto{tech-help@YandY.com}\\ %% Web: \URL{http://www.YandY.com/} %% \end{quote} %% Source: Confirmed with \YandY{}, February 2003 \item[pc\TeX{}] Long-established: pc\TeX{}32 is a Windows implementation. \begin{quote} Personal \TeX{} Inc\\ 725 Greenwich Street, Suite 210 \\ San Francisco, \acro{CA} 94133\\ \acro{USA}\\[.25\baselineskip] Tel: 800-808-7906 (within the \acro{USA})\\ Tel: +1 415-296-7550\\ Fax: +1 415-296-7501\\ Email: \mailto{sales@pctex.com}\\ Web: \URL{http://www.pctex.com/} \end{quote} Source: Personal \TeX{} Inc web site, December 2004 \item[\acro{PC}; V\TeX{}] \acro{DVI}, \acro{PDF} and \acro{HTML} backends, Visual Tools and Type 1 fonts \begin{quote} MicroPress Inc\\ 68-30 Harrow Street\\ Forest Hills, \acro{NY} 11375\\ \acro{USA}\\[.25\baselineskip] Tel: +1 718-575-1816\\ Fax: +1 718-575-8038\\ Email: \mailto{support@micropress-inc.com}\\ Web: \URL{http://www.micropress-inc.com/} \end{quote} Source: Mail from MicroPress, Inc., July 1999 \item[\acro{PC}; Scientific Word] Scientific Word and Scientific Workplace offer a mechanism for near-\WYSIWYG{} input of \LaTeX{} documents; they ship with True\TeX{} from Kinch (see above). Queries within the \acro{UK} and Ireland should be addressed to Scientific Word Ltd., others should be addressed directly to the publisher, MacKichan Software Inc. \begin{quote} Dr Christopher Mabb\\ Scientific Word Ltd.\\ 990 Anlaby Road,\\ Hull,\\ East Yorkshire,\\ \acro{HU}4 6\acro{AT}\\ \acro{UK}\\[0.25\baselineskip] Tel: 0845 766\,0340 (within the \acro{UK}) \\ Fax: 0845 603\,9443 (within the \acro{UK}) \\ Email: \mailto{christopher@sciword.demon.co.uk} \\ Web: \URL{http://www.sciword.demon.co.uk} \end{quote} \begin{quote} MacKichan Software Inc.\\ 19307 8th Avenue, Suite C\\ Poulsbo \acro{WA} 98370-7370\\ \acro{USA}\\[0.25\baselineskip] Tel: +1 360 394\,6033\\ Tel: 877 724\,9673 (within the \acro{USA}) Fax: +1 360 394\,6039\\ Email: \mailto{info@mackichan.com}\\ Web: \URL{http://www.mackichan.com} \end{quote} Source: Mail from Christopher Mabb, August 2007 \item[Macintosh; Textures] ``A \TeX{} system `for the rest of us'\,''. A beta release of Textures for MacOS/X is available~--- see \URL{http://www.bluesky.com/news/news_frames.html} (Blue Sky also gives away a \MF{} implementation and some font manipulation tools for Macs.) \begin{quote} Blue Sky Research\\ PO Box 80424\\ Portland, \acro{OR} 97280\\ \acro{USA}\\[.25\baselineskip] Tel: 800-622-8398 (within the \acro{USA})\\ Tel/Fax: +1 503-222-9571\\ Fax: +1 503-246-4574\\ Email: \mailto{sales@bluesky.com}\\ Web: \URL{http://www.bluesky.com/} \end{quote} Source: Mail from Gordon Lee, April 2007 \item[Amiga\TeX{}] A full implementation for the Commodore Amiga, including full, on-screen and printing support for all \PS{} graphics and fonts, IFF raster graphics, automatic font generation, and all of the standard macros and utilities. \begin{quote} Radical Eye Software\\ \acro{PO} Box 2081\\ Stanford, \acro{CA} 94309\\ \acro{USA} \end{quote} Source: Mail from Tom Rokicki, November 1994 \end{description} \checked{mc}{1994/11/09}% \checked{RF}{1994/11/24}% Note that the company \YandY{} has gone out of business, and \YandY{} \TeX{} (and support for it) is therefore no longer available. Users of \YandY{} systems may care to use the self-help \href*{http://tug.org/pipermail/yandytex/}{mailing list} that was established in 2003; the remaining usable content of \YandY{}'s web site is available at \URL{http://www.tug.org/yandy/}