MiKTeX and proTeXt ⇒ How to install amy new packages to my local repository?

[ronctlsmile]

Hi guys,

I am wondering how to install a new package to my local repository. For example, I have downloaded a new package called ha-prosper.zip, which doesn't appear in my local repsitory, on this http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/macros/ ... ha-prosper. I tried to use Browse Packages to install this package. I got no success. Can anyone tell me what is the right procedure to install new patches?

Cheers
Ron

[Stefan Kottwitz]

Hi Ron,

welcome to the LaTeX Community board!

Usually you don't need to download the package from CTAN, you can install it with the MiKTeX package manager.
Regarding ha-prosper look here on miktex.org, there you have package information. The MiKTeX manual informs about how to use the package manager. If you have further questions feel free to ask.

Sometimes it may happen that one LaTeX package is not packaged for MiKTeX, then you can install it manually. Have a look here in the UK TeX FAQ: Installing a new package.

Stefan

[ronctlsmile]

Hi Stefan,

I am afraid I still don't know how to install a package. I have checked my local repository and found out ha-prosper has been installed by running Browser Packages ( btw, where is the physical location of this package installed?) . I downloaded some prospers templates and ran them on my winedit. I got no luck and an error message saying,

("C:\Program Files\MiKTeX 2.7\tex\latex\hyperref\hdvips.def"
("C:\Program Files\MiKTeX 2.7\tex\latex\hyperref\pdfmark.def"))
! Class prosper Error: unknown Prosper style file: PPReliz.sty.
See the prosper class documentation for explanation.
Type H <return> for immediate help.

Then I went to this link, http://amath.colorado.edu/documentation/LaTeX/prosper/ and downloaded some PPR file which is a sty class. After this I don't know where I should put this
some PPR files. Have you got any clues to solve it?

Can you teach me a general procedure to install a package in window system? Suppose, I have a package called prosper which I downloaded from CTAN and I unzipped it. What is the rest procedures I should do so as to get everything up and running?

Thanks
Ron Chan

[Stefan Kottwitz]

Hello Ron,

before we continue with prosper and ha-prosper: did you look at the beamer class too? It's an alternative to prosper. The beamer class is very well documented, provides already many themes/styles and a lot of features. In contrary to prosper with the beamer class you can include png and jpg files because beamer runs with pdflatex.
See beamer user guide.

Stefan

[ronctlsmile]

Thanks Stefan, I have just written one silde of presentation by Beamer. It seems working fine.
Ron

[Stefan Kottwitz]

Hi Ron,

though beamer is working, some words regarding your question about installation. Usually the MiKTeX package manager does the job, but if no MiKTeX package exists you can download it from CTAN and extract/unzip it into the MiKTeX directory structure. For the package name create a folder name below C:\Program Files\MiKTeX 2.7\tex\latex\ and extract/unzip the files to C:\Program Files\MiKTeX 2.7\tex\latex\name\ (or copy the files there). Important: after putting files there you have to refresh the file name database, go to MiKTeX options and click the button Refresh FNDB.
Other installation info can be found following the links in my posting above, they are marked blue.

Stefan