[tex-live] TeXLive 2005 is slower than TeXLive2003

[Reinhard Kotucha]

>>>>> "gnwiii" == gnwiii  <gnwiii at gmail.com> writes:

  > On 9/9/06, Jinsong Zhao <jszhao at mail.hzau.edu.cn> wrote:
  >> I hope my question is only a special case.
  >> 
  >> I have install the TL2005 again, and now, it has a similar speed
  >> compared with TL2003. I don't know why.
  >> 
  >> The previous version of TL2005 is installed from a the TL2005
  >> Live DVD.  I just copy /bin, /texmf, /texmf-* and /xemtex to my
  >> disk and set proper environment. It's seems ok, but has a very
  >> low speed. However, in the same way, the TL2003 works well.

  > I installed the beta-test versions of TL2005 by copying a tree
  > generated using linux and the install CD (selecting multiple
  > binaries for the various platforms).  I recall some minor changes
  > were needed in texmf.cnf for Win32.  The Win32 installer replaces
  > texm.cnf with a WIn32 version -- what does the live DVD use?

  >> Now, I install the TL2005 from the TL2005 Live DVD using the
  >> provided installer, and all seem works.
  >> 
  >> I compared the directory of both TL2005, and don't find any
  >> different.

  > Did you use the win32 version of texmf.cnf?  The original can be
  > found at:

  > http://tug.org/texlive/Contents/live/texlive/texmf/web2c/texmf.cnf-4WIN

  > I think the default version (e.g., used on linux) puts generated
  > files under $HOME/.texlive2005 (because some multi-user systems
  > prohibit users from writing outside their home directory).

  >> I also install the following TeX distribution according to Karl's
  >> advice,
  >> http://www.fsci.fuk.kindai.ac.jp/kakuto/win32-ptex/web2c75-e.html
  >> It's very fast. And I like the way of its installation.
  >> 
  >> It seems that the installer of TL2005 is too simple, and don't
  >> give enough information to user.
  >> 
  >> Thanks to everyone who paid attention to my question.

  > I'm glad you found a way to get things working.  We still don't
  > know why your attempt to copy the live DVD failed, but since the
  > same files appear to work fine when installed using the GUI tool,
  > we can rule most of the possibilities, which leaves a kpathsea
  > problem, which can be checked using the built-in debugging
  > options.

  > Maybe section 4.2 of the 'live' document needs some elaboration:

  > 1.  indicate that "latex sample2e" should never take more than 1-2
  > s.  unless you are using an antique computer.

This doesn't help very much unless you can tell the user what he
should do if it's too slow.  Compiling one file doesn't provide much
information.  You get more information if you compile a small *and* a
large file.  The small file will give you a hint how fast all the
auxiliary files are found and the large file provides more information
about the speed of the tex binary.

However, I don't think that it makes much sense to mention this in the
TeXLive documentation unless we can give clear instructions how to
solve such a problem.

  > 2.  mention the role of kpathsea and the debugging capabilities

The kpathsea documentation is already available in various formats in
TeXLive (info, pdf, html).  

Regards,
  Reinhard

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Reinhard Kotucha			              Phone: +49-511-4592165
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