[texhax] MacTeX Extras

[Richard Koch]

Susan,

"MacTeX" contains everything you need to use TeX, LaTeX, XeTeX, and LuaTeX.

"MacTeX Extras" is a folder containing additional front ends, utilities, documentation, etc. You'd don't really install it; instead you look through it for bits and pieces which you might find useful. I'd recommend first using MacTeX until you are familiar with TeX, and then searching through the Extras folder.

This is very clearly explained in the main MacTeX site: http:tug.org/mactex. Indeed the link on the main page essentially answers your question because it says

"The link below leads to other optional download packages: `MacTeXtras: optional pieces'."

Philip Taylor, who has a sharp tongue, looked just at the MacTeXtras page on the site and discovered a missing word. The first sentence is supposed to read

"The complete MacTeX Distribution is part of the TeX Collection produced by the TeX User Groups,
WHICH also contains additional Front Ends, Spell Checkers, Documentation, and Showcase items."


Dick Koch