MacOSX-TeX Digest #29 - 06/05/01
TeX on Mac OS X Mailing List
MacOSX-TeX at email.esm.psu.edu
Wed Jun 6 02:00:03 CEST 2001
MacOSX-TeX Digest #29 - Tuesday, June 5, 2001
what library do you prefer ?
by "laurens" <jerome.laurens at u-bourgogne.fr>
Re: [Mac OS X TeX] what library do you prefer ?
by "serafim" <serafim at nada.kth.se>
Re: [Mac OS X TeX] what library do you prefer ?
by "Ross Moore" <ross at ics.mq.edu.au>
Re: [Mac OS X TeX] what library do you prefer ?
by "Michael Goldweber" <mikeyg at cerebro.cs.xu.edu>
Re: [Mac OS X TeX] what library do you prefer ?
by "laurens" <jerome.laurens at u-bourgogne.fr>
Re: [Mac OS X TeX] what library do you prefer ?
by "serafim" <serafim at nada.kth.se>
Re: [Mac OS X TeX] Carbon CMacTeX
by "Joshua S. Hodas" <hodas at cs.hmc.edu>
Re: [Mac OS X TeX] Carbon CMacTeX
by "Joshua S. Hodas" <hodas at cs.hmc.edu>
Re: [Mac OS X TeX] Carbon CMacTeX
by "Enrico Franconi" <franconi at cs.man.ac.uk>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: what library do you prefer ?
From: "laurens" <jerome.laurens at u-bourgogne.fr>
Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 09:43:33 +0200
the problem of personal tex files location came a few days ago, the
question was: where should one install its own packages and other tex
stuff? At this time the answer was to install all these supplementary files
at the right location in the texmf tree. It is not satisfying.
I think that the right answer is partially: inside the /Library folder...
but where exactly?
My opinion is that /library and ~/Library should contain the same
hierarchy. In the first location an administrator will place files
available to all the users, in the second one, each user will place files
of its own. I suggest the following hierarchy as a basis for a discussion
and I am waiting for your suggestions.
(~)/Library/TeXMF Support/TeX
/TeX/Shell Scripts
/TeX/TeX Input
/TeX/TeX Input/TeX (input .tex files)
/TeX/TeX Input/LaTeX (packages in folders...)
/TeX/TeX Input/?
/TeX/TeX Format (for further use)
/TeX/TeX Fonts (linked to (~)/Library/Fonts ??? :(
/Metafont
/?
the way those files are accessed is another problem that should be resolved
by appropriate shell scripts.
LAURENS Jerome
Analyse Appliquee & Optimisation tel : (+33) (0)3 80 39 58 76
9 Avenue Alain Savary fax : (+33) (0)3 80 39 58 90
BP 47870 courriel : laurens at u-bourgogne.fr
F-21078 DIJON Cedex
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Re: [Mac OS X TeX] what library do you prefer ?
From: "serafim" <serafim at nada.kth.se>
Date: Tue, 05 Jun 2001 10:15:53 +0200
laurens wrote:
>
> the problem of personal tex files location came a few days ago, the
> question was: where should one install its own packages and other tex
> stuff? At this time the answer was to install all these supplementary files
> at the right location in the texmf tree. It is not satisfying.
> I think that the right answer is partially: inside the /Library folder...
> but where exactly?
>
> My opinion is that /library and ~/Library should contain the same
> hierarchy. In the first location an administrator will place files
> available to all the users, in the second one, each user will place files
> of its own. I suggest the following hierarchy as a basis for a discussion
> and I am waiting for your suggestions.
>
> (~)/Library/TeXMF Support/TeX
> /TeX/Shell Scripts
> /TeX/TeX Input
> /TeX/TeX Input/TeX (input .tex files)
> /TeX/TeX Input/LaTeX (packages in folders...)
> /TeX/TeX Input/?
> /TeX/TeX Format (for further use)
> /TeX/TeX Fonts (linked to (~)/Library/Fonts ??? :(
> /Metafont
> /?
>
> the way those files are accessed is another problem that should be resolved
> by appropriate shell scripts.
>
> LAURENS Jerome
> Analyse Appliquee & Optimisation tel : (+33) (0)3 80 39 58 76
> 9 Avenue Alain Savary fax : (+33) (0)3 80 39 58 90
> BP 47870 courriel : laurens at u-bourgogne.fr
> F-21078 DIJON Cedex
>
Since Mac OS X is a unix variation it is highly personal how to
configure
personal additions.
In all the different Unix variants that I use (I haven't installed
Mac OS X yet) I have use my own setting.
I have made a number of file catalogues:
~/tex
as a "root" for my local definitions and packages
~/tex/inputs
where I store all .cls, .tex and .sty files
~/tex/formats
where I store all .fmt files
~/tex/fonts
where I store all font files
and, finally,
~/tex/locals
where I store all packages that I don't want to split into
the other directories.
In Solaris and on all Linux distributions I have a set of
inititalizations to make my stuff come first. There must be a
way to get the same effect in Mac OS X.
In solaris they reside in either .bashrc or .aliases or .environment
depending on the actual system. In all the different Linux's they
reside in .bashrc.
------------------------------------ for tcsh --------------
setenv TEXINPUTS .:$HOME/tex/inputs//:$HOME/tex/locals//::
setenv TEXFORMATS .:$HOME/tex/formats//:$HOME/tex/locals//::
setenv TEXFONTS .:/tex/fonts//:$HOME/tex/locals//::
setenv TEXEDIT emacs
------------------------------------ for sh and bash --------------
export TEXINPUTS=.:$HOME/tex/inputs//:$HOME/tex/locals//::
export TEXFORMATS=.:$HOME/tex/formats//:$HOME/tex/locals//::
export TEXFONTS=.:$HOME/tex/fonts//:$HOME/tex/locals//::
export TEXEDIT emacs
The double slash tells tex to search recursively in subdirectories ans
the double colon on the end tells tex to add the standard search paths
at the end.
All the directories are open to anyone and this way I get my stuff
without imposing it on others.
But ...... as I said ... it's personal and in a complex distributed
environment (as Unix) - let's keep personal stuff personal.
/Serafim
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Re: [Mac OS X TeX] what library do you prefer ?
From: "Ross Moore" <ross at ics.mq.edu.au>
Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 19:04:41 +1000 (EST)
> laurens wrote:
> >
> > My opinion is that /library and ~/Library should contain the same
> > hierarchy. In the first location an administrator will place files
> > available to all the users, in the second one, each user will place files
> > of its own. I suggest the following hierarchy as a basis for a discussion
> > and I am waiting for your suggestions.
> >
> > (~)/Library/TeXMF Support/TeX
> > /TeX/Shell Scripts
> > /TeX/TeX Input
> > /TeX/TeX Input/TeX (input .tex files)
> > /TeX/TeX Input/LaTeX (packages in folders...)
> > /TeX/TeX Input/?
> > /TeX/TeX Format (for further use)
> > /TeX/TeX Fonts (linked to (~)/Library/Fonts ??? :(
> > /Metafont
> > /?
> >
>
> Since Mac OS X is a unix variation it is highly personal how to
> configure
> personal additions.
No, this is not a good way to do it.
A whole bunch of TeX experts spent several years devising the TDS
(TeX Directory Structure) specifications for organising the hierarchy
of applications/fonts/packages etc. for use with all things TeX.
The result of this is the kind of hierarchy that you find under
the ..../texmf/ directory.
Please *always* use such a structure, else you are just negating
the good work that has been done already, and ultimately making things
more difficult for yourself.
The free TeXLive CDs that are produced every year use such a TDS
structure. So keeping your TeX up-to-date is very simple when you
also follow TDS. The free teTeX structure, with the kpathsea
searching mechanism, only works efficiently because of this TDS
structure.
If you want to keep a local tree, separate from the main texmf/ tree,
that's OK --- provided it also is TDS compliant. Searching multiple texmf/
trees is easy to configure (in teTeX, via the texmf.cnf file).
But unless you keep to the TDS structure, then you cannot be sure that
local updates will indeed be found in preference to older versions
of files having the same name, located within the system texmf/ tree.
For example, you add a new font with its .tfm files, so that (La)TeX
finds it. But does dvips find it too ? and pdfTeX ?
Will Metafont find the .mf sources, if you need to make bitmaps ?
> In all the different Unix variants that I use (I haven't installed
>
> Mac OS X yet) I have use my own setting.
>
> I have made a number of file catalogues:
>
> ~/tex
> as a "root" for my local definitions and packages
>
> ~/tex/inputs
> where I store all .cls, .tex and .sty files
>
> ~/tex/formats
> where I store all .fmt files
>
> ~/tex/fonts
> where I store all font files
>
> and, finally,
> ~/tex/locals
> where I store all packages that I don't want to split into
> the other directories.
Having your own structures, built up over the years so that you know
exactly where things belong, is fine; but please do not recommend this
to others who do not have that same historical advantage.
The TDS is the standard that should be followed with new installations;
especially those based on Unix and/or a myriad of separate executables
each performing their individual tasks.
> In Solaris and on all Linux distributions I have a set of
> inititalizations to make my stuff come first. There must be a
> way to get the same effect in Mac OS X.
Installing teTeX under MacOS X is no more difficult than on
any other platform (provided the 'configure' script is up-to-date
so as to recognise the Mac platform).
> In solaris they reside in either .bashrc or .aliases or .environment
> depending on the actual system. In all the different Linux's they
> reside in .bashrc.
>
> ------------------------------------ for tcsh --------------
> setenv TEXINPUTS .:$HOME/tex/inputs//:$HOME/tex/locals//::
> setenv TEXFORMATS .:$HOME/tex/formats//:$HOME/tex/locals//::
> setenv TEXFONTS .:/tex/fonts//:$HOME/tex/locals//::
> setenv TEXEDIT emacs
>
> ------------------------------------ for sh and bash --------------
> export TEXINPUTS=.:$HOME/tex/inputs//:$HOME/tex/locals//::
> export TEXFORMATS=.:$HOME/tex/formats//:$HOME/tex/locals//::
> export TEXFONTS=.:$HOME/tex/fonts//:$HOME/tex/locals//::
> export TEXEDIT emacs
To add a new TDS-compliant texmf/ tree to a teTeX installation requires
adding *just one path* into *just one line* of the texmf.cnf file.
(However, it is more elegant to use 1 line to define a new variable,
then use that variable in just one place on another line of the file.)
Then all of the other variables inherit from this simple addition,
and all of the applications can find what they need from the new tree.
All those .bashrc .aliases etc. files are completely redundant.
Besides, on a shared server, teTeX is usually setup so that a new user
simply need create a ~/texmf/ tree (i.e. texmf/ in their home directory).
*No further* configuration is required to have a local tree that
overrides older files in the system texmf/ tree.
So if you don't have write-access to texmf.cnf then it doesn't matter
at all, because you don't need to do it that way.
> The double slash tells tex to search recursively in subdirectories ans
> the double colon on the end tells tex to add the standard search paths
> at the end.
>
> All the directories are open to anyone and this way I get my stuff
> without imposing it on others.
>
> But ...... as I said ... it's personal and in a complex distributed
> environment (as Unix) - let's keep personal stuff personal.
Precisely...
... and TDS is designed to make it easier to do so.
Hope this helps,
Ross
>
> /Serafim
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, send email to <info at email.esm.psu.edu> with
> "unsubscribe macosx-tex" (no quotes) in the body.
> For additional HELP, send email to <info at email.esm.psu.edu> with
> "help" (no quotes) in the body.
> This list is not moderated, and I am not responsible for
> messages posted by third parties.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Re: [Mac OS X TeX] what library do you prefer ?
From: "Michael Goldweber" <mikeyg at cerebro.cs.xu.edu>
Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 09:12:23 -0400
I must echo Ross Moore's recommendation. By all means create
your own archive of tex inputs (or packages from CTAN not included in
the standard teTeX distribution), but put them in the TDS format.
In addition to Ross's reasons I offer the following:
1) It works and it will ultimately translate into less work for you.
2) By creating your own ~/texmf or ~/lib/texmf you can have one texmf
tree (teTeX) that remains untouched for ease of upgrading and
CMacTeX, teTeX, and TeXShop all work without any extra work! (OzTeX
is easily pointed to this location through its local configuration
file as well.)
CMacTeX expects a local texmf tree; one creates an alias to it in the
application folder.
TeXShop CANNOT read the TEXINPUTS environment variables suggested by
Serafim so this solution is not helpful to TeXShop users.
----
For the bashful out there, modifying
/usr/local/teTeX/share/texmf/web2c/texmf.cnf is trivial.
Michael Murray previously posted to this list some instructions on
modifying texmf.cnf
Instead of his approach
TEXMF = {~/Library/texmf,!!$TEXMFMAIN}
I would suggest un-commenting the definition for HOMETEXMF and then
using this definition for TEXMF
% User texmf trees can be catered for like this...
HOMETEXMF = $HOME/lib/texmf %%-or wherever you
wish your local TDS tree to reside
TEXMF = {$HOMETEXMF,!!$TEXMFMAIN}
mikeyg
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Re: [Mac OS X TeX] what library do you prefer ?
From: "laurens" <jerome.laurens at u-bourgogne.fr>
Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 16:33:41 +0200
> I must echo Ross Moore's recommendation. By all means create
>your own archive of tex inputs (or packages from CTAN not included in
>the standard teTeX distribution), but put them in the TDS format.
>
>In addition to Ross's reasons I offer the following:
>
>1) It works and it will ultimately translate into less work for you.
>
>2) By creating your own ~/texmf or ~/lib/texmf you can have one texmf
>tree (teTeX) that remains untouched for ease of upgrading and
>CMacTeX, teTeX, and TeXShop all work without any extra work! (OzTeX
>is easily pointed to this location through its local configuration
>file as well.)
>
>CMacTeX expects a local texmf tree; one creates an alias to it in the
>application folder.
>
>TeXShop CANNOT read the TEXINPUTS environment variables suggested by
>Serafim so this solution is not helpful to TeXShop users.
Well you are almost right. Texshop is not actually designed to read the
TEXINPUTS envir variable declared in a .cshrc but it should read it if it
is declared inside a script (see altpdflatex...)
More generally everyone of you thinks in terms of long term UNIX user which
does not suit any (?) mac user. So I have to restate my problem
For newbies and average mac users, I have to put a quite TDS structure for
local and user texmf related files. I do not want to use the "local"
feature of TDS and leave my TeX distribution unchanged (as suggested above,
I want a drag and drop update: I put the old distribution to the trash and
I place the new one instead, well almost...) So the local and user
specifics will be on a more macish "(~)/Library/TeXMF\ Support" entry. But
we cannot expect the average mac user to read all the TDS doc to create
with the CLI the right folders inside.
So what are the useful subdirectories to place under the TDS root? I am
afraid everything will frighten macintosh users...
Moreover we have to deal with the problem of fonts. TeX should be able to
use macintosh fonts stored in /Library/Fonts (TTF...). Should, not must...
LAURENS Jerome
Analyse Appliquee & Optimisation tel : (+33) (0)3 80 39 58 76
9 Avenue Alain Savary fax : (+33) (0)3 80 39 58 90
BP 47870 courriel : laurens at u-bourgogne.fr
F-21078 DIJON Cedex
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Re: [Mac OS X TeX] what library do you prefer ?
From: "serafim" <serafim at nada.kth.se>
Date: Tue, 05 Jun 2001 17:21:39 +0200
laurens wrote:
>
> > I must echo Ross Moore's recommendation. By all means create
> >your own archive of tex inputs (or packages from CTAN not included in
> >the standard teTeX distribution), but put them in the TDS format.
> >
> >In addition to Ross's reasons I offer the following:
> >
> >1) It works and it will ultimately translate into less work for you.
> >
> >2) By creating your own ~/texmf or ~/lib/texmf you can have one texmf
> >tree (teTeX) that remains untouched for ease of upgrading and
> >CMacTeX, teTeX, and TeXShop all work without any extra work! (OzTeX
> >is easily pointed to this location through its local configuration
> >file as well.)
> >
> >CMacTeX expects a local texmf tree; one creates an alias to it in the
> >application folder.
> >
> >TeXShop CANNOT read the TEXINPUTS environment variables suggested by
> >Serafim so this solution is not helpful to TeXShop users.
>
I am sorry if I stir up a lot of emotion. I have used TeX and LaTeX for
many years and followed what I supposed to be good advice from TeX
"wizards" at my job.
My letter really has three messages:
1) This is what I did (and learned today that it stinks-:).
2) Don't mess up the global TeX system.
3) Keep personal stuff personal - don't impose your stuff on others.
In the system such as it is configured at work it obviously doesn't
work your way and that's a pity. The result is that I use my own
settings "everywhere" and it works - "everywhere" (so far), but ...
I am willing to learn (and possibly teach others - the local TeX
wizards since many years). Point me to the right docs for this matter.
/Serafim
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Re: [Mac OS X TeX] Carbon CMacTeX
From: "Joshua S. Hodas" <hodas at cs.hmc.edu>
Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 15:29:30 -0700
Tom,
Can you tell me if you know whether the ``prosper" macros
(for making powerpoint-like presentations) work with
CMacTex, and how hard they are to install in that setting.
I am desperately in search of some way of running prosper on
the mac.
Josh
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Josh Hodas / Associate Professor Office Phone: (909) 621-8650
Director, Computer Science Clinic Clinic Sec'y: (909) 607-8379
Computer Science / Harvey Mudd College Home Phone: (909) 625-1179
1250 North Dartmouth Avenue E-Mail: hodas at cs.hmc.edu
Claremont, CA 91711 WWW : http://www.cs.hmc.edu/~hodas/
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Re: [Mac OS X TeX] Carbon CMacTeX
From: "Joshua S. Hodas" <hodas at cs.hmc.edu>
Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 15:52:36 -0700
Arrrrgggghh! That note was obviously intended for Tom Kiffe,
not the whole list.
Sorry.
Josh
PS: On the other hand, if anyone else knows the answer to this question
(whether prosper works with CMacTeX, or any other mac latex), feel free to
reply to me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Josh Hodas / Associate Professor Office Phone: (909) 621-8650
Director, Computer Science Clinic Clinic Sec'y: (909) 607-8379
Computer Science / Harvey Mudd College Home Phone: (909) 625-1179
1250 North Dartmouth Avenue E-Mail: hodas at cs.hmc.edu
Claremont, CA 91711 WWW : http://www.cs.hmc.edu/~hodas/
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Re: [Mac OS X TeX] Carbon CMacTeX
From: "Enrico Franconi" <franconi at cs.man.ac.uk>
Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2001 00:37:08 +0100
I'm happily using prosper with standard tetex and ghostscript
installed from fink.
-- e.
Enrico Franconi - franconi at cs.man.ac.uk
University of Manchester - http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/~franconi/
Department of Computer Science - Phone: +44 (161) 275 6170
Manchester M13 9PL, UK - Fax: +44 (161) 275 6204
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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