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SISSA Computing FAQ: about LATEX
It sometimes happens that you need a new version of some macro package or font; the correct approach is to create a private installation of (La)TeX which includes the new stuff you need.
Create in your home directory a subdirectory named texmf, using the following command:
mkdir ~/texmf
Install your new package (or whatever) in a directory structure like this:
| File extension | Directory | Description |
|---|---|---|
| .sty, .cls or .fd | ~/texmf/tex/latex/<package_name>/ | Style file, Document class file or Font Definition files |
| .mf | ~/texmf/fonts/source/public/<font_name>/ | METAFONT outline |
| .tfm | ~/texmf/fonts/tfm/public/<font_name>/ | TeX Font Metrics for METAFONT and Type 1 fonts |
| .vf | ~/texmf/fonts/vf/public/<font_name>/ | TeX virtual fonts |
| .afm | ~/texmf/fonts/afm/public/<font_name>/ | Adobe Font Metrics for Type 1 fonts |
| .pfb | ~/texmf/fonts/type1/public/<font_name>/ | PostScript Type 1 outline |
| .ttf | ~/texmf/fonts/truetype/public/<font_name>/ | TrueType font |
| .otf | ~/texmf/fonts/opentype/public/<font_name>/ | OpenType font |
| .bst | ~/texmf/bibtex/bst/<package_name>/ | BibTeX style |
where:
- <package_name> refers to the name of macro package you are installing. (p.e. beamer)
- <font_name> refers to the name of font you are installing (p.e gothic)
and generate an index of that tree
mktexlsr ~/texmf
You can use this approach for updates to packages installed in the SISSA workstations, as well as for installing new versions of things.