ExOmatiK.net

1.  USBTEX: LATEX portable environnment

Install a LATEX distribution, Ghostscript, Ghostview software, install a text editor, configure it all ... These instructions can be a problem for newbies who then feel lost and discouraged before even starting to discover LATEX.

For other LATEX users, it is frustrating to work on a computer where no LATEX environment is (or perhaps can be) installed.

It contains LATEX and Texmaker, in a portable setup. To make it work:

1. Download and unzip the distribution on a USB stick (or on your hard disk)
2. Run the program -- no configuration needed
3. Write and compile your documents!

Admin rights are not required so the software can be run in a normal user Windows session.

2.  Download (Version 1.7 updated on 03 jan 2012 )

 
Download the self-extracting archive USBTeX.exe
Zipped archive ~155Mo and about 525Mo unzipped.
(58150 downloads since 05/23/07)

3.  Using USBTEX

After downloading, uncompress the archive. The program asks you where you wish to place the folder, choose, for instance, your USB stick. Be patient, it can take several minutes.

To make it work well, it is important to have a good USB stick, meaning high speed. A lot of data will be read and written to the stick while the software executes. A stick and a computer that are USB-2.0 compliant are highly recommended.

1. Now go to the uncompressed folder. Just double-click on TexMaker.

2. Start writing your LATEX document or open the example file located in the Documents folder.
   You can compile your document clicking on the arrow or pressing [F1] key :

4.  Add a package

1. Double-click on MikTeX in USBTEX directory;
2. A MiKTeX icon appears in the taskbar : right-click on it ;
3. Click on MiKTeX Package Manager ;
4. Choose your package, install it (clicking on +).

There you are, your new package is ready to use.

5.  License and links

The USBTEX-specific work in the distribution downloadable on this page is placed under GPL license.
The author has no responsibility in case of any problems or damage caused by the use of this distribution.

See also

• This article (in French) about USBTEX on the Framasoft.net website.
• The pack Framakey “LATEX edition” inspired from USBTEX that provides several softwares and additive documents.

Thanks to Karl Berry for his help on the translation.