[OS X TeX] More questions on MacTeX

[Herbert Schulz]

On Mar 9, 2008, at 3:18 PM, Christoph Hoh wrote:

> Dear all,
>
> first of all thanks a lot for answering my questions regarding the  
> MacTeX installation additions and extras. It is very clear to me now.
>
> Since I do not have a lot of experience in using (La)TeX on a Mac so  
> far, I have some more rather fundamental questions on MacTeX:
>
> - In the MacTeX readme file it is mentioned that the real directory  
> structure of the MacTeX installation (e.g. usr/local or /usr/local/ 
> texlive/2007) is not visible in the Finder. Instead only Alias of  
> these directories are accessible under Library/TeX/Root.
>
> 	Why is it so?
> 	Is there a way to see the real directory structure either in the  
> Finder or somewhere else?
>

Howdy,

I can only assume that Apple has hidden (at least in the Finder, by  
default) things like /usr/, /etc/, /tmp/, etc. from direct view to  
keep from confusing most users more than necessary.

If you use Terminal you can see it all.

> - Is it correct that "personal" files (e.g. bst-files) should be  
> saved under ~/Library/texmf/tex/latex so that MacTeX can access  
> these files when needed?

That's where I put my personal packages, etc. I put personal bib and  
bst files in ~/Library/texmf/bibtex/bib/ and ~/Library/texmf/bibtex/ 
bst/ or subdirectories of those directories.

>
> - 	Are all files in this folder (and subfolders) saved under /usr/ 
> local/texlive/texmf-local/ and are they accessible by any Tex  
> distribution?
>

After inserting items in the proper location in /usr/local/texlive/ 
texmf-local/ you must run

sudo texhash

in Terminal. This builds as listing of files in that subdirectory  
(recursively) to speed up file search. This is NOT used for the  
personal tree (starting at ~/Library/texmf/) so there is o need to run  
texhash when placing files there.

The personal tree (starting at ~/Library/texmf/) is for personal  
items, the tree starting at /usr/local/texlive/texmf-local/ is meant  
for items to be used by all users of the system (which may be only you).

MacTeX 2008 will install in /usr/local/texlive/2008/ and leave the / 
usr/local/texlive/texmf-local/ tree alone. That way items that are  
placed there won't be changed or destroyed. You might have to re- 
enable fonts that are placed there but that is a different story.

> Thanks a lot in advance!
>
> Regards,
> Christoph

Good Luck,

Herb Schulz
(herbs at wideopenwest.com)