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#1186 Dependencies not configured or mentioned

None
fixed
nobody
None
1
2014-12-21
2014-12-18
Michael Erskine
No

This is a genuine user experience: -

  1. download texstudio2.8.8_win_qt5.3.1.exe on Windows 7 and install following typical install wizard instructions.
  2. Wizard ends with "Launch TeXstudio" checked: OK. TeXstudio runs up - all is good.
  3. Create an article from a template, type in some stuff, save, "I guess it's OK but I wonder how it looks"
  4. Preview tab is empty so look around on toolbar for how to preview the file - find "Build & View" button - "This should do it"
  5. Empty pane appears on right with message at bottom 'Failed to find file "name of file.pdf"; perhaps it has been deleted"
  6. Messages tab is empty, Log tab is empty
  7. Poke around in the help file - find "Before using TeXstudio, you should configure the editor and latex related commands via the "Configure TeXstudio" command in the "Options" menu ("Preferences" under Mac OS X)."
  8. Realise there is a bunch of other software that is required in order to make TexStudio usable.
  9. Under "Configure TeXstudio", "commands", there are 24 boxes for dependent programs - "Do I need all of these?" "What won't work if I don't have this particular one?"

What should happen: If the software has dependencies (and they are not present) then the installer (or the application at first launch) should notify the user.

What shouldn't happen: Silent failure.

Discussion

  • Tim Hoffmann

    Tim Hoffmann - 2014-12-18

    Thanks for the suggestion. W've added a notification if compilation does not work due to a missing LaTeX installation.

    Note: TXS is just an editor. While we try to provide a seamless integration with existing latex installations, it's beyond the scope of the project to provide a latex distribution. Depending on your operating system, you can choose among several alternatives: MikTeX (Win), TeX Live (Win, Linux, OSX), MacTeX (OSX) ... You have to separately install them.

     

  • Tim Hoffmann

    Tim Hoffmann - 2014-12-18
    • status: open --> fixed
    • Group: -->
     

  • Michael Erskine

    Michael Erskine - 2014-12-18

    Thanks for the rapid fix. Most impressive!

    About TXS being just an editor - I'm sure it's much more; the website currently says: "TeXstudio is an integrated writing environment for creating LaTeX documents". It might be appropriate to mention that it requires a functional TeX installation and perhaps suggest a distribution to try alongside TXS.

     

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