LyX ⇒ Trouble accessing classes after new LyX installation

[johns]

Hi, I've been using LyX for a while on my Windows PC, and have become a huge advocate.

But after recently having to reinstall Windows and then LyX/MikTeX due to various problems, something seems to be wrong with my settings:

- At first, whenever I would open a document, I'd get a message saying that the document class (usually article) couldn't be located. I then found the *.layout files -- they were in /Program Files (x86)/LyX 2.1/Resources/layouts -- and tried to pick the right one out via Document Settings, where the relevant class is still listed as "Unavailable".

- Now, when I open such a file I get a message saying that there's a further prerequisite that I'm missing, here natbib.sty.

What do I need to do here? It seems like something is wrong with the settings in the new install, though I am too stupid with computers to figure out what it is. Help!

[StarValkyrie]

Normally, LyX will correctly pass the request to download a missing common sty or cls file for you to MikTeX's package manager and then go on to compile so I suspect this is the old All Classes Unavailable/MikTeX Settings problem again. Go to the Windows Start Menu> All Programs> MikTeX> Maintenence (Admin)> Settings (Admin) and under Package Installation, change the pulldown to "Ask Me First". Then click Refresh FNDB, then close Settings and open LyX. Under Tools, select Reconfigure and wait. Allow all the packages it says are missing to be installed (choose one of the CTAN archives if you can't reach the default one). This may take 10-20 minutes and you'll have to babysit it to click all those messages but you only have to do it once.

[johns]

Thanks for your reply. I did what you described, and it was going fine for a while, but then I got a window with the following message:

The system reconfiguration has failed. Default textclass is used but LyX may not be able to work properly. Please reconfigure again if needed.

Reconfiguring again just brings up the same message, though.

[johns]

PS. Never mind, now it works. Thank you again!

[Tom-85]

I have a similar problem. I wanted to install an additional class (Mac, MacTex), and put it in the user folder (~/texmf/ ...). Afterwards LyX couldn't find any classes any more. Even after completely deleting the user texmf folder and performing a texhash or reinstalling LyX, none of the classes (like article.cls) are available any more.
It would be great if you could help me with this as well. Thanks in advance!

Thomas

[StarValkyrie]

If you've already tried the solution above and that didn't work, check your LyX Preferences and make sure your paths are correct. Then go to MiKTeX Maintenance (Admin)>Options and click Refresh FNDB, then when it finishes, open LyX and Reconfigure.

[Tom-85]

Thanks for your reply but I'm on a Mac with MacTex... Do you have any idea how to restore the setting there, too?