I've been LaTeXing for a number of years at work on a Linux system. We use SSHSecure Shell client to edit the text, then for displaying .pdf we use XLaunch.
I intend to do some freelancing so I have installed MikTeX from the on my home PC, Windows 10. This is a totally new format for me. Since this is not work related, I got minimal assistance from our Linux admin. I.E. he directed me to the MikTex.org site. Beyond that he is not allowed to assist me.
I can locate the MikTex files on my HD. I see lots of file folders, and some applications, but I am not sure what to do next.
What do I do next with respect to editing in MikTeX, then displaying .pdf files. I don't think I'm savvy enough to install a Linux environment on my home computer.
General ⇒ Getting Started
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Stefan Kottwitz
- Site Admin
- Posts: 10330
- Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:44 pm
Getting Started
Hi Tommy,
welcome to the forum!
First, yes, you need to install a TeX distribution, that can be either MiKTeX (Windows specific) or TeX Live via http://tug.org/texlive. I use TeX Live, since the maintainer base and support is significantly bigger. It is recommended to install a full version, that can be up to 3 Gigabyte in any case. With a base or small installation, you can have headaches later with further required packages. Better make it fully from the start. (If it was a basic MiKTeX, you still could consider installing TeX Live instead, since TeX Live also is the TeX for Linux).
Second, you need to install a TeX editor. In a full installation, both MiKTeX and TeX Live install TeXworks, that's a nice and fast editor that I use myself too. It's a split screen, writing on the left side and seeing the output on the right side.
Other good options for more complex editors are TeXstudio and Texmaker. Whatever TeX editor you install, it should detect and run the underlying TeX (MiKTeX or TeX Live) for you.
In the editor, you can usually choose the TeX compiler for LaTeXing, usually it's pdfLaTeX (there's XeTeX and ConTeXt and pdfTeX (no LaTeX!) and possibly others), just make sure that pdfLaTeX is chosen for the run.
Stefan
welcome to the forum!
First, yes, you need to install a TeX distribution, that can be either MiKTeX (Windows specific) or TeX Live via http://tug.org/texlive. I use TeX Live, since the maintainer base and support is significantly bigger. It is recommended to install a full version, that can be up to 3 Gigabyte in any case. With a base or small installation, you can have headaches later with further required packages. Better make it fully from the start. (If it was a basic MiKTeX, you still could consider installing TeX Live instead, since TeX Live also is the TeX for Linux).
Second, you need to install a TeX editor. In a full installation, both MiKTeX and TeX Live install TeXworks, that's a nice and fast editor that I use myself too. It's a split screen, writing on the left side and seeing the output on the right side.
Other good options for more complex editors are TeXstudio and Texmaker. Whatever TeX editor you install, it should detect and run the underlying TeX (MiKTeX or TeX Live) for you.
In the editor, you can usually choose the TeX compiler for LaTeXing, usually it's pdfLaTeX (there's XeTeX and ConTeXt and pdfTeX (no LaTeX!) and possibly others), just make sure that pdfLaTeX is chosen for the run.
Stefan
LaTeX.org admin
Getting Started
Okay, I have found TeXworks. I copied and pasted a .tex file which I created on SSHsecure. How do I 'run' it to get the messages as to whether there are errors or not?
You're going to have to get real basic with me on this. I'm new to TeXworks.
You're going to have to get real basic with me on this. I'm new to TeXworks.
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Stefan Kottwitz
- Site Admin
- Posts: 10330
- Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:44 pm
Getting Started
Hi Tommy,
maybe you already tried - it's not difficult.
With TeXworks, just click "File/Open" in the menu (or "Open with..." in the explorer with TeXworks) and then you just need to choose the compiler in the list box at the top left (pdfLaTeX) and click the "play" button with the green triangle to compile it, so the output is shown at the right side.
Johannes, can you support too? I got a shaky Internet connection at the Bahamas shipyard, and the next hurricane is approaching and we may again sail away soon to avoid that.
Stefan
maybe you already tried - it's not difficult.
With TeXworks, just click "File/Open" in the menu (or "Open with..." in the explorer with TeXworks) and then you just need to choose the compiler in the list box at the top left (pdfLaTeX) and click the "play" button with the green triangle to compile it, so the output is shown at the right side.
Johannes, can you support too? I got a shaky Internet connection at the Bahamas shipyard, and the next hurricane is approaching and we may again sail away soon to avoid that.
Stefan
LaTeX.org admin
Getting Started
Okay, I was able to work on it at home last night.
My first attempt was met with an error message I couldn't decipher. I closed Texworks and started over. Then I read and re-read the error message until I understood it. MiKTeX was looking for tools that weren't already downloaded. When i closed the previous attempts, I was actually interrupting the download. So... I became patient and waited for the download. Then it ran for a bit, then errored again. And again downloaded what it needed. FINALLY!, it created the .pdf for me to view. Huzzah!, It's ALIVE!.
Now I'll need to see if the .pdf is extant on the hard drive somewhere. This will make it convenient so I can email the .pdf for the clients to proof.
I don't care what Johannes says about you Stefan, you're okay! (just kidding I've never met Johannes. It's just how my humor rolls in The Shire.)
Be safe Stefan, this hurricane season isn't over.
My first attempt was met with an error message I couldn't decipher. I closed Texworks and started over. Then I read and re-read the error message until I understood it. MiKTeX was looking for tools that weren't already downloaded. When i closed the previous attempts, I was actually interrupting the download. So... I became patient and waited for the download. Then it ran for a bit, then errored again. And again downloaded what it needed. FINALLY!, it created the .pdf for me to view. Huzzah!, It's ALIVE!.
Now I'll need to see if the .pdf is extant on the hard drive somewhere. This will make it convenient so I can email the .pdf for the clients to proof.
I don't care what Johannes says about you Stefan, you're okay! (just kidding I've never met Johannes. It's just how my humor rolls in The Shire.)
Be safe Stefan, this hurricane season isn't over.
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Stefan Kottwitz
- Site Admin
- Posts: 10330
- Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:44 pm
Getting Started
Hi Tommy!
Yes, that's why I recommended to make a full installation, so MiKTeX does not need to download additional packages on the fly. It can do it though, but I'm not sure if it does it perfectly when there is an indirect dependency or a package/bundle name is different to the .sty file name. Of cause you can always install more via the MiKTeX package manager.
By the way, if you see error message you cannot decipher, let us know what is written there. We may know what it means. And, every error message that we talk about here, and clarify and fix, helps future useres who google the same message and find the discussions here.
Stefan
Yes, that's why I recommended to make a full installation, so MiKTeX does not need to download additional packages on the fly. It can do it though, but I'm not sure if it does it perfectly when there is an indirect dependency or a package/bundle name is different to the .sty file name. Of cause you can always install more via the MiKTeX package manager.
By the way, if you see error message you cannot decipher, let us know what is written there. We may know what it means. And, every error message that we talk about here, and clarify and fix, helps future useres who google the same message and find the discussions here.
Stefan
LaTeX.org admin