[protext] (no subject)

[Karl Berry]

    cannot figure out how to open  protext.

Oh, now I think I understand.  You mean, to start TeX itself, not to
install the distribution.

There is no protext.exe program (that's the distribution zip file).  The
most likely program you want to invoke is called pdflatex.exe, and you
can get a "command prompt window" by clicking on the Start menu, then
finding a submenu named something like "Utilities" (I think) and then an
entry named "MSDOS prompt" or "command prompt".  But never mind that --
you probably don't want to invoke it directly.

Instead, when you did the installation, there was an option to install a
so-called "front end", namely WinEdt or TeXnicCenter.  Hopefully you
installed one or both of them; if not, do that now.  These are the
programs which will give you a more understandable interface.
Unfortunately I don't know the details; perhaps one of the Windows-savvy
people on the list can help more if need be.

The basic idea is that you create a document in an editor, and then run
TeX on it ...

    I need  a Latex for dummies procedure.    

http://tug.org/begin.html has some background information and
links, although it can't give step-by-step for any particular program.

    P.S.  I use windows XP and have 512 M in my computer RAM and a 80
    Gig hard drive.  I assume this computer is satisfactory.

Yes, it should suffice.


Hope this helps a little,
k