Generalhelp! problems getting started

LaTeX specific issues not fitting into one of the other forums of this category.
Post Reply
armytage171
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:54 pm

help! problems getting started

Post by armytage171 »

I've used TeXnicCenter before on a different computer, but I'm having trouble getting it to fully work on this one. For background, I'm running windows vista on a fairly new dell laptop, and my internet connection is working.

Here is what I've done so far:

I went to
http://www.texniccenter.org/
and downloaded the TeXnicCenter Installer
http://www.texniccenter.org/resources/d ... -installer
and ran the installation, choosing all of the default options.

I went to
http://miktex.org/
and downloaded the Basic MiKTeX 2.8 Installer,
and ran the installation, choosing the default options.

I opened TeXnicCenter, and was asked to "Enter the full path of the directory, where the executables (latex, tex, etc.) of your TeX-distribution are located"
I chose "C:\Program Files (x86)\MiKTeX 2.8\miktex\bin", and left the optional things on the next page blank.

Now, I try to create a document. I can basically construct a pdf document, with math and everything, but with one major problem: I can't seem to use the setspace package.
In the original version of my file I have the command \usepackage{setspace}, but if I include this, then the pdf isn't created at all.
I get error messages like these:
"LaTeX Error: File `setspace.sty' not found."
"Fatal error occurred, no output PDF file produced"

If I do not include the command \usepackage{setspace}, then my later command \doublespacing is not understood, and my whole document is single-spaced, which looks bad.

DVI is even worse. Like pdf, it does not work at all when I include the command \usepackage{setspace}. In addition to this, even when I do exclude this command, there are more problems aside from the single spacing. When I compile the DVI document, I get the error
"Not all fonts could be loaded. See 'File->Document Properties', for details.", and the math in my document is completely screwed up.

Please... can anyone help me? I'm not trying to do anything too ambitious here, just very basic latex stuff on a computer that should be able to easily handle it; hence it is frustrating that I can't get this to work!

Thank you to anyone who can help!

Recommended reading 2024:

LaTeXguide.org • LaTeX-Cookbook.net • TikZ.org

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

localghost
Site Moderator
Posts: 9202
Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2007 12:06 pm

Re: help! problems getting started

Post by localghost »

Just install the package(s) subsequently with the MiKTeX Package Manager. You can access it via Start menu.


Best regards and welcome to the board
Thorsten¹
armytage171
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:54 pm

help! problems getting started

Post by armytage171 »

localghost wrote:Just install the package(s) subsequently with the MiKTeX Package Manager. You can access it via Start menu.
Best regards and welcome to the board
Thorsten¹
Thank you! However, my problem is not resolved. I opened the miktex package manager, clicked the + sign next to "setspace", and it goes into an installation mode. However, it reports an "LZMA decoder error", and the download doesn't complete.

I notice that a similar error occurs in my texnic center when I try to use setspace. In the output window it says
"pdflatex.exe: LZMA decoder error", and
"pdflatex.exe: Data: hr=1"

Also, I'm still not sure why my fonts are not working in DVI...

Again, thank you for your time.

James
User avatar
localghost
Site Moderator
Posts: 9202
Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2007 12:06 pm

Re: help! problems getting started

Post by localghost »

This behaviour is pretty unusual and a remote diagnosis is very difficult. Choose a remote repository in your country (or at least the nearest) and try again.
armytage171
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:54 pm

help! problems getting started

Post by armytage171 »

localghost wrote:This behaviour is pretty unusual and a remote diagnosis is very difficult. Choose a remote repository in your country (or at least the nearest) and try again.
Yes, thank you! Changing the package repository seems to have helped. I can now use setspace once again. Excellent!

However, I'm still having trouble with my DVI's.

Once again, compiling a DVI gives me the error message
"Not all fonts could be loaded. See 'File->Document Properties', for details."
and my math looks mostly like nonsense, and my font looks rather odd as well.

When I do see File->Document Properties, there is a list of fonts such as cmex10, cmr12, and so on; beside each font name is the error message
">>> Not loadable - double-click to see details"
However, double-clicking does no good. It merely says "Attempted an unsupported operation". What should I do?

Again, thank you for your time.
James
User avatar
localghost
Site Moderator
Posts: 9202
Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2007 12:06 pm

help! problems getting started

Post by localghost »

Usually a minimal working example (MWE) is most helpful. You can try to fix this by installing the cm-super package. Check the success with this small example.

Code: Select all

\documentclass[11pt,a4paper,english]{article}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage{babel}
\usepackage{blindtext}

\begin{document}
  \blinddocument
\end{document}
Post Reply