additional texmf tree for all users (was Re: [OS X TeX] Beginner help with TeXshop/MacTex needed)

[William Adams]

On Aug 28, 2006, at 7:37 AM, Peter Dyballa wrote:
(re: my thought of adding a texmf tree at /Users/Shared/texmf or  
linking one's personal tree at ~/Library/texmf to it)

> Both would make it necessary that all participants have write  
> access and that best only the installing one has easy delete  
> permission. I.e. you need to create a new group and add these  
> participants to it and you need to give the directories quite  
> unusual permissions (directories 3775, file 664).
>
> Which could be achieved in texmf.local, too.

Is there a specific reason why a typical user would need write  
access? (Presumably to further customize? I'm envisioning a working  
environment where a small group of people is responsible for  
maintaining the localtexmf while a number of users make use of it, so  
no need for the typical user to be able to add, change or delete stuff.)

> Is the real world still not complicated enough?

I was hoping this would be a simplification.

> And who'll get blamed when /usr/local/teTeX/texmf.cnf was changed?  
> Who'll be responsible for administering /usr/local/teTeX/texmf.cnf?  
> And when this person is on holidays?

As I noted, my idea was of a workplace where a couple of people  
maintain the installation, and a larger group of people use single  
machines (shift work --- my new workplace only closes down for  
Christmas Day).

William

-- 
William Adams
senior graphic designer
Fry Communications



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