proTEXt

Thomas Feuerstack
English translation by Steve Peter
March 25, 2020

http://tug.org/protext

The Quickest Way to a

TEX System
based on MiKTEX and TEXstudio
Contents

1 Welcome to the World of TEX 4

1.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.2 So Setup is running – what now? . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.3 Beginners take note: TEX is different! . . . . . . . . . 5
1.4 How do I use this thing?, or: Read Me First! . . . . . 5
1.5 A few last notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.6 MiKTEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.6.1 Removing old versions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.6.2 The Systems size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.6.3 Installation notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.6.4 Problem: Installation fails . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
1.6.5 Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.6.6 Whither my own packages, classes, and config-
urations? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.7 TEXstudio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1.7.1 Removing old versions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1.7.2 Installation notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1.7.3 After the installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
1.7.4 Hints and Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
1.7.5 Alternative editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

2 Extensions 15
2.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
2.2 on-the-fly-installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
2.3 Using MiKTEX’s console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
2.4 Packages not controlled by the Update Wizard . . . . 16
3 Addresses/References 17
3.1 Getting off to a good start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.2 Further references . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.3 Other addresses of relevance for TEX . . . . . . . . . . 17

3
1 Welcome to the World of TEX

1.1 General
The fact that you’re reading this installation guide lets us surmise
some fundamental assumptions about your computer life and what
you want from it. Allow me to make a few conjectures as to why
you’ve got a proTEXt DVD in your drive, and judge for yourself how
close I am:

• You’re fed up with having to tweak Word or some other similarly-

afflicted word processor, just because your document has crossed
the magic border of 30 pages.
• You don’t really have anything against a ‘normal’ word proces-
sor, but your studies or work unfortunately require you to set
mathematics (and thus in LATEX).
• Your professor (or other task-master) is a fan of LATEX, and thus
you don’t have a choice.
• You are interested in producing first-class PDF documents, pos-
sibly even interactive ones – like this document. In this case,
(PDF)LATEX offers you possibilities that the users of the above-
named word processors can’t even dream of.

The goal of proTEXt is to allow you to install a complete TEX system

as easily as possible. Please note however that:

This document is not an introduction

to the use of TEX or LATEX!
Its only task is to put something useful on your computer.
If you are one of those persons who first installs something, then asks
what you’ve installed, I have a few remarks below, just for assurance.
You can read those remarks in chapter 3.2 on page 17.

1.2 So Setup is running – what now?

By launching the included setup.exe, you’ve started the global proTEXt
setup. Although we’ve arranged everything logically, and there shouldn’t
be any fundamental issues with the installation, perhaps you’re still
a bit uncertain how the whole thing is going to transpire.
 Figure 1.1: proTEXt’s global setup window

At least you’ve already made the correct next choice: you’re looking
at this guide. In the following sections, we’ll show you exactly what
is behind all those buttons.

1.3 Beginners take note: TEX is different!

If this is your first contact with TEX, you should try to understand
one fact that often trips up beginners: TEX is both a program and a
language. TEX is a program that uses the TEX typesetting language
to create finished documents.
In order to start working with TEX in the first place, you will nor-
mally need other programs, such as an editor in order to compose the
required input files.
A complete TEX system consists of several individual components,
which unfortunately need to be installed separately.1
The question of which components are absolutely required has no
blanket answer. It depends on your needs and wishes. On this DVD,
however, you will find everything you need (in my opinion) for a
problem-free start in the TEX world. Figure 1.2 on the next page
shows an overview.

1.4 How do I use this thing?, or: Read Me First!

You get a functioning TEX system by installing at least the compo-
nents marked in figure 1.2 as required; the illustration also shows the
order in which you should install the components.
1
Look at it this way: what seems right now to be a pain will work out for the
best, since you can use the tools you are most comfortable with. You won’t be
forced to use something just because the developer thinks you should.

5
 1. Base system MiKTEX required

?
2. Editor TEXstudio recommended

Figure 1.2: proTEXt: Overview of the individual components of the

installation

Each component has a chapter below that leads you through its in-
stallation and offers tips and advice. The general plan is as follows:

Removing old versions : Before you install new components on your computer, you should
remove old versions that might already be installed. This sec-
tion will guide you through this quickly and easily.
Installation notes : Although in most cases you can use the default values suggested
by the installer, should the proverbial ‘exception that proves the
rule’ rear its head, you’ll find it documented here.
Updates : Almost as soon as you install software, it’s out of date. However,
some components have the ability to keep themselves always up
to date, and this section describes how.
Alternatives : As already mentioned, this DVD acts as a starter kit, which
means that it contains components that I can imagine will help
you to get a problem-free start on the road to TEX. However,
since everyone’s taste is a bit different, you will find alternatives
listed in this section.

1.5 A few last notes

If you take the following points to heart, nothing should go wrong:

• Read the installation notes in each section before you install

the program. Items are covered there that you may need to
know about during the installation.
Even better: Print the entire document before you begin in-
stalling, and read through it carefully at least once.
• Only then should you begin installing.
• Install all the components you need in the same manner. You’ll
have a working TEX system up and running in no time; certainly

6
 less time than Word needs to print the 30 pages we mentioned
above.

Let’s get started. . .

7
1.6 MiKTEX
MiKTEX, a TEX distribution by Christian Schenk is the basis of
proTEXt. MiKTEX is a project that is constantly being developed.
You can find notes to its current status at the MiKTEX Project Page
(http://www.miktex.org).
Version contained in proTEXt: MiKTEX 2.9
Required disk space: ≈ 1.6 GB

1.6.1 Removing old versions

If you’ve used an older version of MiKTEX, you should uninstall it

before you begin this new install. You can do so either via Control
Panel → Add or Remove Programs, or simply click on Uninstall next
to the MiKTEX label in the main setup window (see figure 1.1).

1.6.2 The Systems size

In the last weeks and months, we received several complaints com-

mited to proTEXt’s size (which was at least 3.5 GB). Starting with the
current version proTEXt is shipped with a amount of packages and
styles, based on TEXLive’s “medium installation scheme” to reduce
space.2 This should satisfy the needs of the most LATEX-documents.
Beside that, missing packages can be easily post-installed online dur-
ing the compilation of your document as usual.

1.6.3 Installation notes

After you click Install next to the MiKTEX label, the installer virtu-
ally runs itself, which is to say you can and should accept the default
settings. However, be careful at the points shown in the following
windows:

Installation Scope
While Windows (at least since version 7) has the potentiality to host
multiple user, you can decide if you will make MiKTEX available for
all registered users on your host, or only for yourself. Dependent of
your choice, the default setted → Installation Directory might differ.
In case you’re unsure, and if no serial reason points against it, you
should take over the recommended default.

8
 Figure 1.3: Local vs. systemwide Installation.

Figure 1.4: MiKTEX’s installation directory

Installation Directory
As is typical for Windows, choosen a systemwide installation, MiKTEX
is installed into the default location C:\Program Files. If you’ve de-
cided to install MiKTEX only for yourself, it will be installed in the
local user’s Program-directory.
In principle, you can install it anywhere you want, even if (in my
2
thanks to Dr. Klaus Höppner and his wonderful ideas :-)

9
 opinion) there is no good reason to do so.

Settings

Figure 1.5: Letter or A4?

In the final installation window, you must set the standard paper size.
→ Figure 1.5 You can choose either American letter or European A4.
→ Tip After installation, you can change the paper size at any time via
MiKTEX’s Console.
You’ll find the Console by going to the Windows menu and selecting
the MiKTeX 2.9-entry.

Update Check
→ Abbildung 1.6 on the next In a last step MiKTEX offers the possiblity to refresh your system
page and installed packages to the most current versions. Even if you
deny these upgrades, you can easily catch up on everything to a later
moment, using MiKTEX’s Console.

1.6.4 Problem: Installation fails

Some Users reported an unexpected installation failure, while the

installation process unhappily ends, producing a (not really helping)
message

The operation could not be completed for the following reason:

The operation failed for some reason.

10
 Figure 1.6: Erster Update Check

In nearly almost cases the error was caused by the local anti-virus-
software. Disabling the anti-virus-software during installation time
leaded finally to success.

1.6.5 Updates

Beginning with the current version, MiKTEX is equipped with the

new MiKTEX Console, which manages all system’s configuration, in-
cluding Update-Management, local package repositories, . . .
As shown above, you’ll find the Console via the Windows-Menu, in-
side the MiKTEX-Section.

1.6.6 Whither my own packages, classes, and configurations?

By default, MiKTEX provides you with two directories, in which

you may store local Class- and Style-Files. The concrete File- and
Directory-Path is shown by MiKTEX’s Console → Settings → Direc-
tories.
→ figure 1.7 on the following The directories, named C:\Users\, shown at the top, are prepared
page for your local Class- and Style-Files.
Attention! Never store or overwrite files inside the Install-directories
with local content.

11
Figure 1.7: Where to store your own TEXrelated material.

12
1.7 TEXstudio
As you already know from the introduction, in addition to the TEX
engine itself, you also need a text editor to create and modify your
documents. For quite some time, the TeXworks editor has been in-
cluded in MiKTEX. TeXworks is small, simple, and efficient, and
→ figure 1.8 is therefore perfect for newbies . However, its simplicity is also its
greatest disadvantage: in using it, you quickly reach the limits of its
ability.

Figure 1.8: TeXworks is a compact text editor for beginners.

For these reasons, we’ve included in proTEXt the TEXstudio editor.

TEXstudio is an editor that ‘supports TEX’. What that means is that
you still have to write the necessary code just like you did before, but
TEXstudio provides you with the ability to write certain constructs
like basic formating and superscripts, or to set up more complex con-
structs like formulas, tables, and so on, either by clicking on a button
or choosing a menu item.
proTEXt curently contains TEXstudio 2.12.4
Required disk space: 350 MB

1.7.1 Removing old versions

If you’ve already worked with an older version of TEXstudio, you

should remove it from your system before installing a new version.
You can do this in proTEXt’s setup by selecting the Uninstall button
→ figure 1.1 on page 5 next to the TEXstudio label.

1.7.2 Installation notes

There’s almost nothing that can go wrong with the installation as

long as you install MiKTEX first – which will of course be the case if
you follow the directions in this guide.

13
1.7.3 After the installation

The first time you run TEXstudio, it will automatically configure itself
→ figure 1.9 to run with the MiKTEX on your system . You can also choose a
different language, if you want.

Figure 1.9: TEXstudio’s first run.

1.7.4 Hints and Problems

Creating a corresponding Program-Icon on the computer’s desktop,

doesn’t seem to be part of the installation anymore. You can easily
fix this, by dragging it from the MiKTEX-section inside the Windows-
Menu.

1.7.5 Alternative editors

No other component of a TEX system is as personal as the choice of

an editor. If you feel that you and TEXstudio just aren’t made for
each other, try one of these other choices:

TeXniccenter : For years, the editor on Windows. Recently, it’s been somewhat
irregularly maintained. Nonetheless, if you’re used to it, see:
http://www.texniccenter.org/
WinEdt : In some sense, the progenitor of all Windows TEX editors. Very
capable, but unfortunately Shareware. As a consequence, if
after 30 days at the latest, you don’t pay, the editor won’t work
any more.
http://www.winedt.com

14
 2 Extensions

2.1 General
One of MiKTEX’s major advantages is its modularity, which means,
that you can extend the system by an uncountable number of addi-
tional packages. There seems to be nearly no layout-problem, which
isn’t already covered by someone’s created extra package, regardless if
its a special layout for your master-thesis, a presentation’s foil-class,
. . . Despite that, you may want to extend your document by inter-
active forms or some JavaScript-Programming there exist multiple
packages, which provider you with a solution.
A greater part of this packages is already included in proTEXt, and
there is a good chance at least, that they are usable directly, while
→ figure ?? on page ?? you’ve choosed a Complete MiKTEX installation.So, what do you’ll
still have to do for using an extra package?

2.2 on-the-fly-installation
The simplest way for using (and installing) an extra package is by
referencing it inside your document’s preamble. For example

\usepackage{aguplus}

would provide you with special styles, created by the American Geo-
physical Union. Even if its not already installed on your system,
MiKTEX would try an "on-the-fly"-installation, by dragging the miss-
→ figure 1.5 on page 10 ing parts from the internet.

2.3 Using MiKTEX’s console

MiKTEX’s Console is the central part of your installation. Inside
the section Packages you’ll find an overview of all extension available
(and installed) for your system. You may also (de-)install packages
on this way.
From time to time, it may also be worth to have a look inside the tab
Updates to keep your installation up-to-date.
 Figure 2.1: MiKTEX’s Console

2.4 Packages not controlled by the Update Wizard

What do you do when you need a package that isn’t in this distribu-
tion1 and you can’t find it in the Package Manager?
These and many other packages are distributed free of charge via
ctan,2 which you can also access (if you are connected to the Inter-
net).
A simple interface to ctan is via the TUG web site at http://www.
tug.org/ctan.html. From there you can search the archive and
choose a server to use for your download.

1
for example, one you read about in The LATEX Companion (cf. chapter 3.2 on
the following page)
2
The Comprehensive TEX Archive Network
16
3 Addresses/References

3.1 Getting off to a good start

If you have no experience whatsoever with TEX/LATEX, reading these
guides (included on the DVD) should help get you started:
Peter Flynn: Formatting Information; Silmaril, 2004
Tobias Oetiker et al.: The Not So Short Introduction to LATEX 2ε .
See http://www.tug.org/begin.html for more references and intro-
ductory information.

3.2 Further references

Through the TEX Users Group, you can order Addison-Wesley titles
at a discounted price. (You do not have to be a TUG member to
get the discount.) TUG has a page devoted to TEX books at http:
//www.tug.org/books. Selected titles:
Frank Mittelbach, Michel Goossens, Johannes Braams, David Carlisle,
and Chris Rowley: The LATEX Companion, 2nd edition; Addison-
Wesley; 2004. $59.99 (discounted to $41.99)
Helmut Kopka and Patrick W. Daly: Guide to LATEX, 4th edition;
Addison-Wesley; 2003. $49.99 (discounted to $34.99)
Donald E. Knuth: The TEXbook; Addison-Wesley; 1984. $42.95 (dis-
counted to $30.07)

3.3 Other addresses of relevance for TEX

Because it is free software TEX naturally has a world-wide user com-
munity. If you have Internet access, you can usually find answers to
your questions at the following addresses:

FAQ

The FAQ1 for English is available at http://www.tex.ac.uk/faq. It

has a wealth of practical information on virtually any TEX topic.
1
FAQ = Frequently Asked Questions, also with answers!
Mailing lists

[email protected]: One of several mailing lists that the TEX Users

Group runs. Perhaps the easiest way to subscribe is via the lists
section of the TUG web site at http://lists.tug.org/texhax

Newsgroups

comp.text.tex: The main TEX newsgroup.

TEX Users Group (TUG)

TUG is the international user group for English-speaking TEX users.

Membership includes a subscription to the TUGboat journal, soft-
ware distribution on DVD and CD (proTEXt, TEX Live, MacTEX,
the Comprehensive TEX Archive Network), as well as discounts on
conferences, publications, and software.
Like DANTE and other user groups, TUG supports the continued
development of TEX and friends (such as proTEXt!). You can find
out more information about the TEX Users Group on their web site
at http://www.tug.org.

Other TEX user groups

There are many more TEX user groups for other languages and locales.
Please see http://www.tug.org/usergroups.html for a list.
Happy TEXing!

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