Changes

In order to be able to run ConTeXt under Windows{{note | October 18, you will need the following2011:* a stand-alone ConTeXt distribution or any other TeX distribution (such as MikTeXThe contents of this page are partly obsolete. To start with, TeX Live, ... )* PerlMK IV is warmly recommended nowadays, Ruby and GhostScript (Perl and Ruby are script languagesthe command used for various operations is no longer <code>texexec</code>, GS in MK IV it is a PostScript and PDF interpreter(usually)* some [[Text editor]]* PDF viewer (Adobe Reader<code>context</code>. At least try the other Windows installation pages, linked to this page, GSview or any other)before following these instructions.}}

= Which = Requirements ==In order to be able to run ConTeXt under Windows, you will need:* a TeX distribution * some scripting languages: Ruby is absolutely required (unless you plan to choose? =use MK IV exclusively), Perl and GhostScript are highly recommended, the rest is optional.* your favorite [[Text Editors|text editor]] and [[#PDF Viewer|PDF viewer]]

You have If this was too many options to bear in mind that ConTeXt is being developed reasonably fast (see your taste, try the [[Release NotesSimple Windows Installation]]), so it's recommended to update it regularypage instead.

== Stand-alone ConTeXt distribution Updating ==

You have to bear in mind that ConTeXt is being developed reasonably fast (see [[Release Notes]]), so it's recommended to update it regulary. The command ctxtools --updateused to work OK, but is '''Please note:no more recommended''' The stand-alone distribution only works for newer versions of Windows, that . All the three distributions mentioned here have cmdtheir own way to update.exe instead of command.com as command interpreter. The batch files do not run under Windows 98 We'll come back to that later (or earlierand move this section to a better place).

Good reasons for choosing the stand-alone distribution are:* if you don't You first need LaTeX* if you always want to have the very latest ConTeXt choose a TeX distribution* ''... write some more''Options are:

# Install [[Windows Installation#Installing Perl and Ruby|Perl and Ruby]]# Download [http://www.pragma-ade.comnl/context/install/mswincontext.zip mswincontext.zip], unzip it and move/rename the <code>isoimage</code> folder to your favourite destination. The instructions to follow assume that you renamed <code>isoimage</code> to <pre>c:\Programs\context</pre> There should be one folder (<code>usr</code>) and a few files in it.

{{todo|review this these steps: change step numbers and join the information - notes about ruby, Acrobat, ... apply to all windows distributions.}}

* It is up to you to choose the location where you unzip the file in step #52, no magic there. Just that you know where the files are.* The actual location of the ConTeXt tree in step #6 tree 2 does not matter. I use <tt>c:\context</tt>, but you might use something else. However, I would not use anything with a space in the name (e.g. <tt>c:\Program Files\context</tt>), as that may confuse things. (Has anybody tried lately?)[Seems to work with an August 2006 stand-alone distribution.]* After you have verified everything works in step #93, you can toss <tt>cdemo.bat</tt> away and use <tt>cstart.bat</tt> to start everything. Make a link to it somewhere so that you can start the system by a shortcut or through the Start menu. ''Do not move the batch script anywhere,'' it has to be run in the root directory of the distribution (e.g. <tt>c:\Programs\context</tt>).* Make sure you have something Acrobatish (any decent PDF viewer) installed, otherwise you won't see the results in step #94.

Then, close the cmd, double -click in cdemo.bat

===Updating the installation=== {{todo|explain the best way for updating}} == MikTeX or ProTeXt == <i><font color="red">Do not install MikTeX 2.5 (yet) unless you're willing to help debugging it! ConTeXt doesn't seem to work there.</font></i> * http://www.miktex.org/* http://www.tug.org/protext/ (MikTeX-based distribution, includes TeXnicCenter, GhostScript and WinEdt) MikTeX is probably the easiest and most recommended solution for newbies or for those who have already been using LaTeX and don't want to install anything else. MikTeX is very user-friendly, updating is very easy. However, some more experienced users may not always be happy with it:* using fonts doesn't always work as expected (or at least different than in the stand-alone distribution)* ConTeXt format is usually recent, but not always the latest === Packages that you need === Try running texexec --versionIn most cases MikTeX should install the required package for ConTeXt automatically (if not installed yet). It's additionally recommended to download [http://www.pragma-ade.com/context/current/cont-win.zip cont-win.zip] and to copy <code>texmfstart.exe</code> from the zip file into <code>[MikTeX PATH]\miktex\bin</code>. === After you install or change something === * ''MikTeX Options -> General -> File name database -> Refresh Now''* ''MikTeX Options -> General -> Format Files -> Update Now''* ''MikTeX Options -> Roots -> [select one] -> Refresh FNDB'' ''(Don't forget to run the '''MikTeX Update Wizard''' regularly!)'' If you have any problems running ConTeXt, check* ''MikTeX Options -> TeX Formats -> <code>cont-en</codepre> -> Edit'' The following should be set: Compiler: pdfe-TeX (Exteded Mode) Input File Name: cont-en.tex Output File Name: ? (I've seen it empty & with name) Preloaded Format: [empty] Description: [anything] Exclude when updating: [unchecked] After ''Apply''-ing and ''Build''-ing, ''Refresh'' & ''Update'' as described above. This is the MikTeX way for doing texexec --make --enThe latter has no influence since MikTeX doesn't set any system variables and consequently ConTeXt doesn't know where to leave the created formats. === Additional settings === Some default "security settings" (not really relevant for you unless you run it on a server) may cause you troubles, esp. when using [[MetaFun]]. Do the followingcall C:* In <code>[MikTeX PATH]\texPrograms\context\userusr\cont-sys.tex</code> uncomment the following lines:<texcode>local\runMPgraphicstrue\runMPTEXgraphicstrue</texcode>* In case the file doesn't exist yet, copy the file <code>cont-sys.rme</code> (in the same folder) to <code>cont-sys.tex</code> first. <code>cont-sys.rme</code> may change every now and then, so check for major changes from time to time and update your <code>cont-sys.tex</code> accordingly.* Create a file <code>[localtexmf PATH]\miktex\config\miktex.ini</code> and add the following line to it: write18=enable''(Because of some unknown reason, <code>write18=enable</code> in <code>[localtexmf PATH]\miktex\config\miktex.ini</code> may be ignored on some computers. In that case make the change in <code>[MikTeX PATH]context\miktex\config\miktexpragmatex.ini</code>, but you may have to repeat this step every time you update MikTeX packages.)''bat  (<code>[MikTeX PATH]</code> and <code>[localtexmf PATH]</code> are chosen during the installation. If you don't know what they are, take a look at ''MikTeX Options -> Roots'') I don't know why and when exactly this is needed ([[MPtoPDF]] may cause problems), but set TEXSYSTEM=miktexmay help you solving some problems. == TeX Live or XEmTeX == * http://www.tug.org/texlive/* https://xemtex.groups.foundry.supelec.fr/ (TeX Live-based distribution including Perl, Emacs and GhostScript) [http://www.tug.org/texlive/doc/texlive-en/live.html#x1-200006 Installation instructions] are part of the documentation. {{todo|can someone with any experience write something about it?}} = Required and Useful Tools = == Installing Perl and Ruby == * http://www.activestate.com/Products/ActivePerl/* http://www.ruby-lang.org or http://rubyinstaller.rubyforge.org You need the two scripting languages in other operating systems as well, but installing them under Windows may be a bit less intuitive for a newbie than under Linux. You can download ActivePerl [http://www.activestate.com/Products/Download/Download.plex?id=ActivePerl here] and Ruby [http://rubyinstaller.rubyforge.org/wiki/wiki.pl here] or [http://ftp.ruby-lang.org/pub/ruby/binaries/mswin32/ here] (different one; might be better - you only need to extract files from zip). After installing them (remember the folder where you've put them!) you have to check if both executables are included in the PATH. Open the command line (''Start'' -> ''Run'' ... -> type '''<code>cmd</code>''' or '''<code>command</code>''') and check if perl --versionand ruby --versionwork OK. If windows complains about ''"Command not found"'', go to the ''Control Panel'' -> ''System'' -> ''Advanced'' -> click on the ''"Environment variables"'' and choose '''path''' in ''"system variables"''. Type in the path (e.g. D\Program Files\Perl\bin\;) where the ruby and perl *.exe files are installed. Generally, the installation is automatic. you may not need the above method. ''(Installing ruby is optional under Windows, but nevertheless recommended. Some scripts need ruby, although it may happen that you will never use those scripts.)'' === A note about cygwin === <b><i>(Skip this unless you know what you are doing!)</i></b> If you have a working perl and ruby under cygwin and if they are in <code>PATH</code>, this might already work for ConTeXt (although it's a better idea to use native Windows versions). However, if the inclusion of libraries in ruby fails (because of conversion of path names) and if you object to install ruby again, try setting the environmental variable <code>RUBYLIB</code>: set RUBYLIB=/cygdrive/c/[Path to MikTeX or other distr.]/scripts/context/ruby <!-- <i>My Computer -> Properties -> Advanced -> Environment Variables -> New</i><!-- * Variable name: <code>RUBYLIB</code><!--* Variable value: <code>/cygdrive/c/<i>[Path to MikTeX or other distr.]</i>/scripts/context/ruby</code> -->[http://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.ruby/browse_thread/thread/50b3c1b275cd0c6d] == Installing GhostScript == * http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/* http://www.ghostscript.com/ If you already worked with (La)TeX before, you probably already have it installed. Try gswin32 --version You have to download GhostScript (filename '''<code>gs851w32.exe</code>''' or a similar one) and preferrably GSview as well ('''<code>gsv47w32.exetex</codepre>''' or similar). Be sure to include the executables (folder where gswin32.exe is located) into the PATH variable. == Other useful software == Assuming that you already have Adobe Reader (if not, you can get it [http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html here]; you don't need it to compile your documents, but at least to see the results), there is still some software still worth mentioning. * [http://www.pstoedit.net/pstoedit/ PStoEdit] for Windows is only needed in order to be able to use some advanced features such as those mentioned in [[manual:mmakempy.pdf|METAPOST outlines]]* [[LilyPond]]* [[Font Tools]]* ... ? = Choosing a [[Text editor]] & compiling = == For newbies (like Word (ex)users) == {{todo|Explain the difference between GUI/text editor/compiler/PDF document; people often ask me: "ConTeXt - oh, you mean that program with a blue screen and colourful fonts?"}} * '''[http://scintilla.sourceforge.net/SciTE.html SciTE]''' or '''[http://www.winedt.com WinEdt]''' or [http://www.textpad.com/ Textpad] may be a good choice for a newbie. WinEdt has a rich graphical user-interface, but more support for LaTeX than for ConTeXt.ConTeXt support for SciTE was written by Hans Hagen (the ConTeXt developer himself) and also includes recognition and auto-completion of most frequent ConTeXt commands. ''(You need to install WinEdt AFTER the installtion of MikTeX, GhostScript and Adobe Reader for Windows.)'' {{todo|Someone should write how to install SciTE & ConTeXt support for it without installing the stand-alone ConTeXt.}} === For gurus (like (La)TeX users or programmers) ===

You probably already have If you place the <code>pragmatex</code> file in your favourite [[Text editor]] (or at least you know what we're talking about) and ConTeXt directory, this will allow you may skip this. If not, take a look at the [[Text editor]] page to help you choose call ConTeXt from anywhere on your computer with oneclick.* [[Vim]] or [http://www.emacswiki.org/cgi-bin/wiki Emacs] may be a good choice if youThe disadvantage is that it're willing s linked to invest some time into learning them - it may be worth the efforta specific .tex file.

== Compiling =Use the same .bat file to run ConTeXt with any .tex file===

After you've done all that, you # You can finally use your favourite editor to write your [[First Document|first document]]the .bat file above for any .tex file you have.Just do the following modification:<pre>call C:\Programs\context\usr\local\context\pragmatex.bat context %1</pre>

To compile and save itas ConTeXtthis.bat. Now, open the command line again (Start -you can use it this way:<pre> Run .ConTeXtthis.bat anyfile. -tex </pre> type '''cmd''' or '''command''') and run texexec yourfilename