## MiKTeX 2.1 FAQ

### Christian Schenk

Copyright © 2001 Christian Schenk

Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are preserved on all copies.

Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided that the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a permission notice identical to this one.

Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions, except that this permission notice may be stated in a translation approved by the Free Software Foundation.

## About this document

This is the official MiKTeX FAQ list. Visit the MiKTeX Project page at www.miktex.org to view the latest version of this document.

Please feel free to contribute more questions (and answers) by sending an email to `<faq@miktex.org>`.

## Chapter 1. General

1.1 What is MiKTeX?
1.2 Which Windows version is required for running MiKTeX?}
1.3 Who maintains MiKTeX?
1.4 Is MiKTeX Year 2000 compliant?

1.1 What is MiKTeX?

MiKTeX is a software distribution for Windows, which includes TeX and TeX-related applications.

1.2 Which Windows version is required for running MiKTeX?}

MiKTeX requires a 32-bit Windows:

- Windows 95

- Windows 98

- Windows ME

- Windows NT

- Windows 2000

1.3 Who maintains MiKTeX?

MiKTeX is maintained by Christian Schenk (`<cs@miktex.org>`).

1.4 Is MiKTeX Year 2000 compliant?

MiKTeX is Year 2000 compliant to the extent that it has been designed and tested to be compliant. But remember that MiKTeX comes with no warranty, and this applies to Y2K compliance.

## Chapter 2. Getting Started

2.1 How do I install MiKTeX?
2.2 I have installed MiKTeX. How do I use it?How do I use it?
2.3 Which program should I use to edit TeX documents?

2.1 How do I install MiKTeX?

The MiKTeX distribution includes a setup wizard (setupwiz.exe). It should be sufficient to start the wizard and then clicking the @samp{Next} button until the installation process concludes.

2.2 I have installed MiKTeX. How do I use it?How do I use it?

MiKTeX is mostly a collection of command-line oriented utilities. You should install a TeX shell/editor if you are a TeX novice (see Q: 2.3).

2.3 Which program should I use to edit TeX documents?

See http://www.germany.net/teilnehmer/100/122054/texwin.htm for a list of TeX shells. The most popular shell seems to be WinEdt (ShareWare, http://www.winedt.com). Emacs users may prefer AUC-TeX (http://sunsite.auc.dk/auctex/).

## Chapter 3. Net Resources

3.1 Is there a home page?
3.2 Is there a mailing list?
3.3 How can I join the mailing list?
3.4 How can I read old articles?
3.5 How can I leave the mailing list?

3.1 Is there a home page?

Yes. The official project page is http://www.miktex.org.

3.2 Is there a mailing list?

Yes (see Q: 3.3).

3.3 How can I join the mailing list?

Send an email to `<miktex-request@dsts.dk>`. The message body must contain one line:

    subscribe

You will receive instructions (via email) on how to use the mailing list.

3.4 How can I read old articles?

Old articles are accessible via http://www.egroups.com/group/miktex/.

3.5 How can I leave the mailing list?

Send an email to `<majordomo@dsts.dk>`. The message body must contain one line:

    unsubscribe miktex

## Chapter 4. Maintenance

4.1 Which is the best directory to keep .sty files where MiKTeX can find them?
4.2 How do I add new languages to the LaTeX format file?

4.1 Which is the best directory to keep `.sty` files where MiKTeX can find them?

Each new LaTeX `package` should be installed in the folder `tex\latex\`package``} relative to the local TEXMF folder (usually `C:\localtexmf\`).

Example: suppose you want to install the package thesis-ex which consists of the style file `thesis-es.sty`:

1. Create a new folder:

       C:\> mkdir C:\localtexmf\tex\latex\thesis-ex
       C:\>

2. Copy all files (only one in our case) to the new folder:

       C:\> copy thesis-ex.sty C:\localtexmftex\latex\thesis-ex
       C:\>

3. Refresh the file name database so that MiKTeX finds the new files:

       C:\> initexmf -u
       C:\>

4.2 How do I add new languages to the LaTeX format file?

You can use MiKTeX Options to add new languages.