[tex-live] Running Live - no access to C drive (emacs approach)

[Siep Kroonenberg]

On Thu, Mar 29, 2007 at 04:35:52PM -0700, poti giannakouros wrote:
> Siep Kroonenberg <siepo at cybercomm.nl> wrote:
> Here is the script in-line:
> 
> ' Prepare a Windows system for running TeX Live from dvd.
> ' This involves adding or changing some user environment variables
> ' and placing some files under %USERPROFILE%.
> 
> (snip)
> 
> 
> ' generate files
> 
> Set oFile = oFS.CreateTextFile( sTLmain & "\temp\tl_generate.bat" )
> oFile.WriteLine( "@echo off" )
> oFile.WriteLine( "path %path%;" & sTLrootSl & "bin\win32" )
> oFile.WriteLine( "set TEXMFCNF=" & sTLmain & "\texmf-var\web2c" )
> oFile.WriteLine( "set TEXMFTEMP=" & sTLmain & "\temp" )
> oFile.WriteLine( "set TEXMFVAR=" & sTLmain & "\texmf-var" )
> oFile.WriteLine( "set TEXMFLOCAL=" & sTLocal )
> oFile.WriteLine( "set TLroot=" & sTLmain )
> oFile.WriteLine( "mktexlsr" )
> oFile.WriteLine( "updmap" )
> oFile.WriteLine( "fmtutil --byfmt latex" )
> 'oFile.WriteLine( "fmtutil --all" )
> oFile.WriteLine( "echo Done. Please re-login." )
> 
> This script requires a reboot. On some lab Macs I have used,
> a reboot reset all user settings. I don't know if this is a likely
> scenario in a Windows lab, and it does not apply to our NT lab
> so this is an approach I can use for some things.

The lines above merely create a temporary environment for generating
formats and mapfiles. The real configuration takes place earlier, by
writing to the registry. I tested things under Windows XP and
Windows 2000, and in those tests a re-login was sufficient.

I am working on a web page about portable TeX Live and MikTeX, with
revised scripts and howtos. It might be useful to include a
zero-config solution where you start up a command prompt or an
editor with the right environment settings, somewhat in the spirit
of your Emacs solution. I would have to test how much functionality
could be made available this way.

I had something in mind that I can give to people for use at
arbitrary locations, so that is why I prefer to put in some tests.
Adding Ghostscript and an editor is the right idea. But for an
editor I would pick something like TeXnicCenter, which has a wider
appeal. And personally I wouldn't worry too much about dvi viewing
if Ghostscript is available for converting to pdf.

-- 
Siep Kroonenberg