[OS X TeX] OS X TeX newbie needs help installing TeX on non-boot volume

[Gerben Wierda]

On Sep 11, 2005, at 14:59, Rowland McDonnell wrote:

>> On Sep 10, 2005, at 12:01 PM, Rowland McDonnell wrote:
>>
>>>> On Sep 10, 2005, at 8:41 AM, Rowland McDonnell wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>
>>>>> My subject line says it all.  I've been using OzTeX for a while
>>>>> (since System 6.0.7 was the latest and greatest) and I've got
>>>>> CMacTeX for pdfTeX these days.  I've looked at what one can
>>>>> apparently do with a modern OS X TeX setup and thought `I want
>>>>> some of that'. So I tried to install a teTeX based TeX and hit a
>>>>> brick wall: I can't work out how to install things in
>>>>> non-standard places.
>> <snip>
>>
>> You are in better hands than I now...
>
> Mmm.  Not sure of that at all.  I've managed to glean a little
> information - Gerben has (finally!) told me a little bit about using
> i-installer to install in non-standard locations.  He's been reluctant
> to tell me anything at all before now (what it's added up to so far is
> that he thinks I don't want to do it my way, I ought to want to do it
> his way, everything is better if you do it his way, there is no sanity
> in doing it my way so I mustn't do it my way, and I'm stupid because I
> can't use his software which is easy to use because he knows it's easy
> to use...  Frustrating and annoying rather than helpful, but there you
> go: this is the brave new world of exclusion that we live in.)

Hmm ,  this triggers me. Looking back in my email archive I notice that 
we had quit a bit of communication on i-Installer and the TeX i-Package 
in May. I tried to help you then as well as I could, but I was unable 
to. I think this is roughly the second time in four years that I had to 
give up helping someone. I tried finding someone else to help him, but 
I was unable to find a volunteer.

I generally find critical remarks very helpful for me to find points of 
improvements, and most improvements have come from critical remarks by 
users, so I do not recognize myself in Rowland's comments above nor do 
I think they are factual. Around the end of May I did try to explain 
that certain software at the unix level is not relocatable after it has 
been compiled (e.g. ghostscript) and some is (e.g. TeX). There is no 
"my way" involved, here, I just redistribute stuff, not invent it.

Maybe some volunteer wants to try to help Rowland now? If you do, and 
only with Rowland's permission of course, I can send our private 
communication off list to the volunteer so you know what has already 
been tried.

For me, having recognized the person I tried to help earlier and 
knowing I was unable to help, I will refrain from further comments.

G

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