What is the Difference Between a TeX Distribution and a TeX Editor?

[mech-eng]

To learn LaTex, I want to install MikTex but in installing it, I come across with a problem.

It appears when click next. What is the problem and how can I solve it?

Thank you.

 

[QuantumQuest]

First question is whether you install using administrator account. If you do, then have you another installation of MikTex there?

 

[mech-eng]

First question is whether you install using administrator account. If you do, then have you another installation of MikTex there?

There is folder named miktex under the folder Program Files (x86). But there are a lot of subfolder under miktex folder. So how will I proceed now?

Thank you.

 

[QuantumQuest]

There is folder named miktex under the folder Program Files (x86). But there are a lot of subfolder under miktex folder. So how will I proceed now?

From your answer, I assume that you use administrator rights - if you don't you have to do so. Now, what do you mean there are a lot of subfolders there? You are in the process of installing. Were these files created by the current installation process or they were already there i.e. there is a previous installation of MikTex on your machine?

 

[mech-eng]

From your answer, I assume that you use administrator rights - if you don't you have to do so. Now, what do you mean there are a lot of subfolders there? You are in the process of installing. Were these files created by the current installation process or they were already there i.e. there is a previous installation of MikTex on your machine?

Probably, yes there is a previous installation of MikTex on my machine as you suspected in #2.

Thank you.

 

[QuantumQuest]

Probably, yes there is a previous installation of MikTex on my machine as you suspected in #2.

If that's the case, then uninstall the previous version of MikTex, using the relevant section of the control panel and make sure that nothing is left in "Program Files" from the previous installation of MikTex. Then you have to do the installation for the version of MikTex you want, all over again.

EDIT: If you run Windows 10 you can uninstall programs by just using your start menu.

 

[mech-eng]

But if it is installed, isn't it better to use it, but I cannot start it orI cannot find its exe file to start. How I can try to start it?

Thank you.

 

[QuantumQuest]

But if it is installed, isn't it better to use it, but I cannot start it orI cannot find its exe file to start. How I can try to start it?

MikTex is a TeX distribution. In order to use it, you need a TeX editor or IDE to edit, compile and view TeX documents. I recommend TexStudio, which is a decent and free LaTeX IDE but there are other great TeX editors / IDEs as well. You can find it here. You can download and install it. It features syntax highlighting, autocompletion, inline spell and grammar checker and much more. It is best to install it having already a TeX distribution installation (like MikTex) on your machine, in order to be identified by TexStudio. If it won't, there is an easy configuration process you can easily find on the net.

 

[mech-eng]

I actually would like to learn LaTex and would like to try some operations such as this one at page 18, https://tobi.oetiker.ch/lshort/lshort.pdf

Thank you.

 

[mech-eng]

MikTex is a TeX distribution. In order to use it, you need a TeX editor or IDE to edit, compile and view TeX documents.

What is the difference between a TeX distribution and a TeX editor?

Thank you.

 

[DrClaude]

What is the difference between a TeX distribution and a TeX editor?

Thank you.

The same as the difference between a compiler and an IDE in programming.

The distribution is the set of programs and packages that allow your computer to process a TeX file into a finished document. It can be used by issuing some commands in a terminal window (as was always the case before windowing came around). To create the TeX file, you need some kind of editor (anything from Notepad to emacs).

A TeX editor or IDE serves as a windowing front end and will include an editor to create your TeX file and will display the finshed result (e.g., the PDF file), with everything running with button clicks instead of command lines.