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==Distributions For getting ConTeXt [[MkIV]] onto a Mac there are basically two routes to take. MacTeX (TeXLive distribution made especially for Mac OSX) and Tools==the ConTeXt Suite (Standalone), recommended for all those that want the most current versions or latest developments in ConTeXt.

The first stop for just about every ConTeXt user on the Mac should be [http://ii2.sourceforge.net/tex-index.html gwTeX] via [http://ii2.sourceforge.net iInstaller]Naturally, which is an auto-updatable (re-)distribution. This installs everything necessary for a basic TeX foundation. The i-Installer also includes a ConTeXt updater packagethere are other ways, but they are more for handling new releasesexperienced Mac users and those comfortable with using the command line.

Beyond this, there may be other tools that interest you:* [[XeTeX]]The simplest method is to use MacTeX, but as this is an alternative TeX engine that uses special typography features of OS X essentially TeXLive you will not have the most recent binaries (available via iInstallergenerally frozen for a year).* [http://www.uoregon.edu/~koch/texshop/texshop.html TeXshop]The advantage is that you get TeX et al, a simplefonts and some nice utilities, elegant including the editor TeXShop (highly recommended) which can run ConTeXt and TeX -Variants from within the editor and PDF viewerwithout any knowledge of the command line.* [[iTeXMac]]ConTeXt Suite (Standalone) is recommended for those that wish to have the latest stable version, a more fully featuredlatest developmental version, but sometimes more complex, TeX editor and PDF viewer* [http://wwwor wish to run several versions of ConTeXt side by side.ing.unipi.it/~d9615/homepage/texniscope.html TeXniscope] The downside to the side by side approach is an interesting, auto-updating PDF- and DVI viewer, especially helpful when that you're updating documents from need some knowledge of how to use the command line or otherwise outside of and how to set-up the above-mentioned integrated editor/viewerspaths in a Unix environment.

==InstallationMacTeX ==

* If you have The easiest way to install ConTeXt on Mac OSX is to use the the MacTeX distribution. MacTeX is a broad bandwith internet connection, TeXLive distribution modified especially for use Gerben Wierda's iInstaller on Mac OSX. It will install every thing you need to install the latest TeXlive tree and run ConTeXt, TeX, LaTeX, Xe(afterwardsLa) TeX, along with the latest ConTeXt betaeditors [http://www.uoregon.* You can also buy a TeXlive DVDedu/~koch/texshop/ TeXShop] and TeXWorks, the TeX Live Utility for managing updates, fonts and many other goodies.

==Configuration of texmfstart==Versions of ConTeXt later than April 2006, use As MacTeX is a new Ruby script (set up by Hans Hagen and Taco Hoekwater) called texmfstart.rb which has to be configured properly. Actually it is still possible to use the "old" script based on Perl, but TeXLive distribution all binaries are generally frozen for instance when one says texexec examplea year.texin order If you wish to typeset the file example.tex, you'll see in the log file have a warning like warning: use 'texmfstart texexec' insteadSince ConTeXt is developing very fast, it is likely that one day more current version or another the "old" script would become orphan. (Recall that according to some theoretician physicists the velocity latest beta version of ConTeXt development is a counter-example to you should consider, also installing the fact that the velocity of light is an upper limit for all velocities...). Since I (i.e. Otared K.) and many other Mac users had difficulties to do this (that is make texmfstart work), thanks to help and insights from Mojca M. and Taco H. I explain below how I did configure texmfstart on my machine. To be more precise, I should say that I have teTeX and "ConTeXt installed (and updated quite Suite" often...) with Gerben Wierda's i-Installer. Actually in what follows nothing is specific to Mac OS X: it is very likely that on any Unix like system texmfstart can be configured in the same waycalled "Standalone ConTeXt".

* In principle on your computer there After installing MacTeX all you need to do is a directory (or folder...) named /usr/local/teTeX/bin/ifset up TeXShop to use ConTeXt, as it is very likely, you have installed TeX in /usr/local. Otherwise with the command locate /teTeX/bin/in a Terminal window find the directory teTeX/bin/. In this directory there should be a subdirectory named powerpc-apple-darwin7.9.0or something like that (depending on the type of see the processor you have). Go there with the command cd (change directory): for instance in my case I would say: cd powerpc-apple-darwin7.9.0or even if you know already the path to this directory you can say cd /usr/local/teTeX/bin/powerpc-apple-darwin7.9[[TeXShop]] page.0/

* [http:/usr/local/teTeX/share/texmf.local/scripts/context/ruby/texmfstartwww.rb /usr/local/teTeX/share/texmftug.tetex/scripts/contextorg/rubymactex/texmfstart.rbDownload and follow the instructions from the MacTeX site] (Installer larger than 2GB, instructions for slower internet connections on the site of MacTeX)

the second one is old, while the first one is recent and has been installed by Gerben's i-Installer* You can also [http://tug. I assumed org/TeXLive/acquire.html buy a TeXLive DVD] (remember we if you are using ConTeXt...a member of a TeX user group you often get it for free) that the newer one is the right one...

#!/bin/sh ruby /usr/local/teTeX/share/texmfThe new [[LMTX]] distribution is also able to run [[MkIV]] files.local/scripts/context/ruby/texmfstartSee [[Installation]] or [[Installing ConTeXt LMTX on MacOS]] for details.rb $@

This means that using == Configuring ConTeXt-Aware Editors on the "shell sh" we create a new command executed with ruby (the last "$@" is a placeholder which is replaced by an argument when texmfstart is executed).Indeed you can create a file named texmfstart with any text editor provided you manage to put (or copy) it in the above mentioned directory powerpc-apple-darwin7.9.0.Mac ==

* At this point we have created a script named texmfstart... Now we have to make it executable, so in the Terminal window (while you are in the [[TeXShop]]directory powerpc-apple-darwin7.9.0) type* [[TeXworks]]* [[Texpad]]* [[BBEdit]]* [[TextMate]]

sudo chmod +x texmfstart== Skim ("chmod" stands for change mode, "+x" means add the executable bit to the file texmfstartPDF viewer).==

* Now if in any (other) Terminal window Unless you type, for instance texmfstartare using TeXshop or texmfstart TeXworks with built--versionyou should get in viewers, the version of texmfstart recommended PDF viewer with SyncTeX support and a series of example usage (more or less cryptic to the non specialist.auto-refresh on Mac OS X is [http://skim-app.sourceforge.)net/ Skim].

==MacOS 9 * [http://www.tug.org/mactex/ MacTeX Home Page] (ClassicMacTeX at TUG)== Unfortunately it's ''not possible'' to use ConTeXt on MacOS Classic. You can get as far as creating the ConTeXt formats with one of the * [http://www.esm.psuuoregon.edu/mac-tex~koch/texshop/versionstexshop.html Classical DistributionsTeXshop], but ConTeXt's Perl scripts won't work with MacPerl (I tried hard...)a simple, elegant TeX editor and PDF viewer. Perhaps the problems could be solved, but who'll put a lot of effort in a deprecated system? So everything else on this page refers to MacOS X* There are more [[Text Editors]] that support ConText. ==Links==