[tex-live] TEXINPUTS on windows

[Robin Fairbairns]

Vladimir Lomov <lomov.vl at gmail.com> wrote:

> (I have colleagues that came to MikTeX after emtex and they didn't think
> that miktex has user-friendly interface, many new users even don't know
> what "TeX roots" means, they're simply latex users, they want to typeset
> documents but not to know about directory the strcture, if they need help
> I always can help them but I always explain why they should in that way
> not another).

miktex _is_ less easy to deal with, in a "raw" sort of way.  but if you
factor in what it does for you, you find it's better overall.  imo.

> What you want is already in TeX Live, (texmflocal and texmfhome). If an
> user don't know about them they should read the manual (!) (Off-topic:
> most modern techinal devices are very complicated so before use it an
> user have to read MANUAL, do you read them? Then what's wrong with TeX
> Live? Why one shouldn't read MANUAL? If something it not in manual or
> one want something special the ML and CTT are good places to ask).

in both places, there are many people who'll tell you not even to try,
but to do what you want in a quite different (and often more elliptical,
though "standard") way.

> @Ulrike Fichser: your example is much more far from 'an average
> user practice', IMO, but even for you purpose the TL is capable (after
> reading the documentation).

it may be out of the ordinary, but it seems a neat trick for what she's
doing.

> Actually you example is very interesting. I don't try but I think that
> anyone could define its own TEXMF tree (for example TEXMFLOCAL2, not the
> TEXMF variable as in texmf.cnf) and add it to TEXMF _variable_ in
> texmf.cnf.

no need; assuming the person in question is happy with setting up an
environment variable for TEXMFHOME (or something).

> P.S. For me this thread is good point and source for new topic in FAQ to
> to expand existed topic in FAQ, if users read it.

i've had the idea in mind, and tbh, i'm not sure i've seen anything
useful i could add.  i would welcome any direct suggestion (indeed any
suggestion about anything).

(are there other people out there writing faqs?  i know there's a german
and a french one, but i never see announcements, so don't know if
they're under development.  i could subscribe to lists, but though i
read french quite fluently i really struggle with german and russian,
both of which i supposedly also "know".)

robin