[OS X TeX] Installing "MacTeXtras" using MacPorts

[M A]

On 3/1/07, Michael Williams <williams at astro.ox.ac.uk> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> It seems MacTeX has settled down sufficiently for us normal users to
> install. I'd like to do this by downloading MacTeX.dmg from
> http://www.tug.org/mactex/ and using it to install only TeXLive and the
> preference pane.
>
> This is because I intend to make my own arrangements for front end GUI
> applications, and I prefer to use MacPorts to manage installation (and,
> importantly, uninstallation!) of Unix tools, since it's what I already
> use for the rest of my system.
>
> (snip)
>
> The only thing missing is fontdu. I'd be very grateful for advice on
> what, if any, problems this method of installation will create. For
> example, does anything expect to find these tools in /usr/local/? What
> will I be missing by not having access to fontdu? Does MacPorts interact
> badly with the modifications to /etc/profile and manpath.conf?
>

I manage most unix tools through macports (or some tools on my own if
not available in macports). I also do not have any of
MacTex/i-installer packages installed in /usr/local and have no
problems. Nothing in TeX cares about whether ghostscript or whatever
in in /usr/local or not. Just avoid all the GUI stuff with mactex when
you install. The additions to the path and manpath.conf will not have
any negative effect, as long as you do not try to install any TeX
things through macports. The only thing to watch out for is that the
path to all the tex binaries will not show up in an xterm unless you
make sure to launch the xterm as a login shell or make appropriate
changes to .bashrc.

Mark A

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