very newby: how to install Lyx on OSX?

Marco72 · Post by **Marco72** » Fri Dec 29, 2017 2:39 pm

Dears
I used Lyx a very long time ago for my phd thesis, and now, after many many years, I'd like to use it again
My idea was to install on my macbook, starting to create quite simple documents.
I downloaded and installed mactex and then latest Lyx.
But things seem not working properly, I can't export any pdf file.
If there a "instruction for dummies" to install it correctly on OSX?
thank you in advance!
Marco

NEW: TikZ book now 40% off at Amazon.com for a short time.

Post by **Stefan Kottwitz** » Fri Dec 29, 2017 3:00 pm

Hi Marco,

welcome to the forum!

Marco72 wrote:I downloaded and installed mactex and then latest Lyx.

Sounds like you did the installation. Do you really want instructions and install it again? You could have a look here: https://wiki.lyx.org/Mac/Mac

Marco72 wrote:I can't export any pdf file.

Perhaps provide more information, such as error messages, or the .log file. This can be a simple document error, or some incorrect setting. We could discuss why the PDF export doesn't work (with details) or error messages. Another installation could be a waste of time if it is not the underlying cause.

Stefan

Marco72 · Post by **Marco72** » Fri Dec 29, 2017 4:06 pm

Stefan Kottwitz wrote:Hi Marco,

welcome to the forum!

Sounds like you did the installation. Do you really want instructions and install it again? You could have a look here: https://wiki.lyx.org/Mac/Mac

Perhaps provide more information, such as error messages, or the .log file.

Stefan

thank you so much for your prompt answer!!!
I did the first try opening my old thesis, no errors loading the file but on "file - export" the PDF option is grayed out.
So not really "errors" just I can't choose that option (maybe I'm wrong, but that is the way to have the pdf, is it)

I'll try to reinstall again!
Marco

Post by **Stefan Kottwitz** » Fri Dec 29, 2017 4:13 pm

You could try "Reconfigure" in LyX first. Perhaps it did not find MacTeX or you need to install in the correct order: 1. MacTeX, 2. LyX. Or, if it was the other way round, reconfigure LyX.

Stefan

Marco72 · Post by **Marco72** » Sat Dec 30, 2017 1:12 pm

Stefan Kottwitz wrote:You could try "Reconfigure" in LyX first. Perhaps it did not find MacTeX or you need to install in the correct order: 1. MacTeX, 2. LyX. Or, if it was the other way round, reconfigure LyX.

Stefan

thank you but.. nothing to do.
I reinstalled both (MacTex first, then Lyx 2.3), tried reconfigure different times but the export to PDF is still grayed out

Post by **Stefan Kottwitz** » Sat Dec 30, 2017 2:11 pm

Which version of OS X is it? MacTeX support for older versions is limited. On my 4 years old Macbook, MacTeX needed tweaks to work well.

Stefan

Marco72 · Post by **Marco72** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 11:34 am

Stefan Kottwitz wrote:Which version of OS X is it? MacTeX support for older versions is limited. On my 4 years old Macbook, MacTeX needed tweaks to work well.

Stefan

High Sierra 10.13.2 on a mac book late 2011, 16gb ram
thank you and happy new year!

Post by **scottkosty** » Mon Jan 01, 2018 12:11 pm

I have no idea, but perhaps this is related to the following:

http://www.lyx.org/trac/ticket/10671

which will be fixed in the LyX 2.3.0rc2 (and 2.3.0 final) release.

LaTeX.org

LyX ⇒ very newby: how to install Lyx on OSX?