Windows Installer for MsWinContext
Hello, I'm back with my idea of installer for mswincontext distribution. I successfully use my local (post-install) version , which simply sets env. vars, but I feel there is need for more. Anticipating new mswincontext build, I can implement the installer for it using free Inno Setup software. The controversy is about setup file content. I see it as whole mswincontext, because it is declared as minimal distribution (so, nothing can be thrown away). However, I was suggested on this list to make some parts downloadable on demand, so I need to ask: what parts to make? In general, I believe that if classical Windows installer for ConTeXt were available, it would gain more popularity and appreciation. Of course, I'd like to hear from Hans and Taco what they think about it, and whether they dare to facilitate this. Best, Vyatcheslav Yatskovsky
Hi,
On Sun, 16 Sep 2007 14:41:16 -0600, Vyatcheslav Yatskovsky
Hello,
I'm back with my idea of installer for mswincontext distribution. I successfully use my local (post-install) version , which simply sets env. vars, but I feel there is need for more. Anticipating new mswincontext build, I can implement the installer for it using free Inno Setup software.
Good project!
The controversy is about setup file content. I see it as whole mswincontext, because it is declared as minimal distribution (so, nothing can be thrown away). However, I was suggested on this list to make some parts downloadable on demand, so I need to ask: what parts to make?
I believe you should just support the whole mswincontext, and install it in C:\ConTeXt etc. Please do not use C:\Program Files ;-) Perhaps the docs should be an install option, as they are quite huge. Some things like the complete TeX-Gyre font suite need to be added to mswincontext or given as an option. There are other modules as well that might make good options for the installer.
In general, I believe that if classical Windows installer for ConTeXt were available, it would gain more popularity and appreciation.
A true stand-alone ConTeXt has been a goal I have pushed for a number of years now, and from what I understand Hans has heading more and more in that direction.
Of course, I'd like to hear from Hans and Taco what they think about it, and whether they dare to facilitate this.
My only real question is how to also support a minimal LaTeX distribution side-by-side. I hardly use it, but many of us still have legacy documents we need to process now and then. Maybe we can take the LaTeX portion of XemTeX and make it an install option as well. A couple years back I actually dumped the XemTeX LaTeX files into my C:\ConTeXt\tex\texmf tree and it worked (and mswincontext is closer to fpTeX/Fabrice's way than to the MiKTeX way AKAIK). Since ConTeXt always uses \texmf-local there was no conflict. OTOH there may be other issues... maybe a dedicated \texmf-latex tree branch is called for... Good luck and all the Best Idris -- Professor Idris Samawi Hamid Department of Philosophy Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO 80523 Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/
participants (2)
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Idris Samawi Hamid -
Vyatcheslav Yatskovsky