[OS X TeX] Installing the powerdot and xkeyval packages - Mac newbie

[Maarten Sneep]

On Jan 20, 2007, at 18:19, Hans Marius Eikseth wrote:

> I dont' see the dvips->ps2pdf as a drawback - why do you? (I'm curious
> and/or ignorant).

1) not a drawback in itself, but with many frontends the default is  
to use pdftex, not dvips. Not a problem, but you have to remember to  
select the correct method.
2) a future drawback as pdftex 2.0 (now LuaTeX and under development)  
will probably no longer be able to produce dvi. OTOH pdftex 2 will  
have enough compelling features (Unicode support, opentype support,  
more flexible engine) that upgrading is something I want. I'm sure  
that the Lua in LuaTeX will be able to replace do much of what  
pstricks does today, and in due time powerdot will be able to run  
under pdftex as well, but I prefer my documents to be a little future  
proof, and right now that means at least pdftex in pdf-mode as a basis.

>> .
>> /Users/maarten/Library/texmf/tex/latex//
>> !!/usr/local/gwTeX/texmf.local/tex/latex//
>> !!/usr/local/gwTeX/texmf.pkgs/tex/latex//
>> !!/usr/local/gwTeX/texmf.gwtex/tex/latex//
>> !!/usr/local/gwTeX/texmf.texlive/tex/latex//
>> !!/usr/local/gwTeX/texmf/tex/latex//
>> …
>
> I got a couple of paths more, which I guess is unimportant. That  
> texmf.pkgs
> is a mystery I'll dig into. What nags me about that local (Users)  
> install,
> is a scenario where updated/bugfixed packages from a regular update  
> won't be
> seen b/c of packages installed in that first path. Am I correct in my
> understanding here?

Yes. Regular pruning of your private texmf tree is required.

> Being Scandinavian, I get those æøå's messed up going from Windows  
> Ultraedit
> to Mac's TeXShop. And - that pdf Previewer, it has no full screen  
> mode,
> correct?

Open the files in the correct encoding (don't drop those files on  
TeXShop, use the "Open…" item in the File menu instead. At the bottom  
of the dialog you can select the correct encoding. I think there is  
another item in the file menu which allows you to change the encoding  
used to interpret the encoding as read). The preferences allow you to  
select the default encoding when opening new files.

Another option is to used TextWrangler (www.barebones.com), which is  
a bit clearer in the encoding issues, IMHO. TextWrangler will also  
interpret the emacs like encoding tags that are present in many  
files, possibly in your files as well.

For the scandinavian languages UTF8 should be well supported, and is  
the most future proof.

HTMH,

Maarten
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