LaTeX Installation Tips

MiKTeX Installation Methods

Here are two methods. You can follow either of them. I use the latter one. Method 1 1. For this, you will need an internet connection at various stages. Please make sure the connection you're using is stable to avoid any possible download/installation problem. 2. Visit MiKTeX and download 'MiKTeX 2.9 Net Installer' from there. 3. Now execute the .exe file and then select 'Complete installation'. 4. You should see a list of ftp server, one of which you'll need to download all the files from. Select a server that is close to you or a country where it's faster. It'll provide you a directory where it'll save all the files. Keep it as it is. 5. Depending on the internet connection speed, it will take a while to finish downloading it. Once it's done, exit. 6. Now execute the '.exe' again and choose to install from your computer. Then show the directory where you've saved all the files. MiKTeX should be able to detect it automatically. If not then change accordingly. 7. In the next stage, the installer will ask you if you want to download MORE stuffs on the fly or not. If you're not sure what you need then it's safer to download everything. If you do know (what you do not need) then you can avoid downloading all. 8. Restart if necessary. Done. 9. You can always install other necessary packages as and when required by going to 'Start' menu > MiKTeX Package Manager [but this requires you to know what you need, which might not be the case if you're not a very advanced LaTeX user. Therefore, as mentioned before, it's better if you install the entire MiKTeX system]

Method 2 1. You'd still need to download the Net Installer. Always get the latest but STABLE VERSION [, now it's 2.9]. 2. If you ever need to download all the packages seperately for archive purposes (also it's faster, if you donwload fast and then install) then you could download the main files straight from the ftp server of CTAN, that maintains MiKTeX, from ftp://ftp.tex.ac.uk/tex-archive/systems/win32/miktex/tm/packages/

3. For that please use FireFox and FireFTP (http://fireftp.mozdev.org/) combination. Once you've installed the FTP plugin, simply go that TeX package depository and right click to use FireFTP. 4. Once all downloaded, simply use the Net Installer to show the source folder [, where you have saved the downloaded files]. Install and done!

Important General Notes Every time you update your packages, you must do the followings to avoid any possible inconsistency/error during final file compilation (- .pdf, .ps, .dvi, etc.). 1. Start > All Programs > MiKTeX > Maintenance (admin) > Update (admin) > select the nearest repository > select all and update them. 2. Once the updated packages are installed you need to remap them so that the compiler know that you have something new. other wise, in some cases they may not work. 3. Start > All Programs > MiKTeX > Maintenance(admin) > Setting (admin) 1. First click Refresh FNDB and 2. then click Update formats

Text Editor Installation Now install WinEdt (shareware), TexNicCentre (freeware) or something else (that you fancy). This is your Text editor - i.e., the one that you'll be using for writing. Once it is done please download 'The Not So Short Introduction to LaTeX' (lshort.pdf) from http://tug.ctan.org/texarchive/info/lshort/english/.

Online Help There is accompanied help file as pdf with each package. However they can be overwhelming sometimes. So one alternative is to use online forum. There are many. I use LaTeX Community forum regularly. The best way of learning LaTeX would be to visit the side daily and read the new posts as much as possible.