JREF wiki needs LaTeX

[Diamond]

I think the JREF wiki experience would be enhanced if we could add math equations or even music notation.

However I don't know how to install LaTeX in order to allow the wiki software to use it.

Does anyone know how this is done?

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

From what I've seen, I suspect people use LaTeX offline and then create jpgs or gifs of the results.

~~ Paul

[ceptimus]

Physics Forums (http://www.physicsforums.com/index.php?) which runs vBulletin software, like this forum, has built in LaTeX. It's really easy to use, and works great!

Check out this thread (http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=8997) for examples and details.

[Diamond]

Originally posted by ceptimus
Physics Forums (http://www.physicsforums.com/index.php?) which runs vBulletin software, like this forum, has built in LaTeX. It's really easy to use, and works great!

Check out this thread (http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=8997) for examples and details.

I know what it does, but I don't know how to implement it!

[Donks]

If you're using Zwiki, you can use LatexWiki. (http://mcelrath.org/Notes/LatexWiki)
If you're using MediaWiki, you can use WikiTeX (http://sourceforge.net/projects/wikitex/) (Wikipedia page (http://wikisophia.org/wiki/Wikitex)).

[Diamond]

Originally posted by Donks
If you're using Zwiki, you can use LatexWiki. (http://mcelrath.org/Notes/LatexWiki)
If you're using MediaWiki, you can use WikiTeX (http://sourceforge.net/projects/wikitex/) (Wikipedia page (http://wikisophia.org/wiki/Wikitex)).

I've installed wikitex but this is the result:

/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/jrefwiki.org/httpdocs/wiki/extensions/wikitex/wikitex.sh: line 1: latex: command not found

I think LaTex has to be installed, but where and how?

[Donks]

Is the server linux, windows or other?

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

Well, silly me for not realizing that people had plugged TeX into their servers.

~~ Paul

[LW]

Originally posted by Diamond
I think LaTex has to be installed, but where and how?

There is probably a prepackaged teTeX (http://www.tug.org/teTeX/) distribution available for your system. Check through the package list of your configuration management tool or just google "teTeX <your system> package".

[Diamond]

Let me see if I've got this correctly:

In order to install and run teTeX I need root access to the webserver?

[Darat]

Originally posted by Diamond
Let me see if I've got this correctly:

In order to install and run teTeX I need root access to the webserver?

No you don't, I had TeTex set-up on the beta JREF Forum and it was working fine.

[Diamond]

Originally posted by Darat
No you don't, I had TeTex set-up on the beta JREF Forum and it was working fine.

Do you know how to set it up?

[Darat]

Originally posted by Diamond
Do you know how to set it up?

Should have realised that would be the next question. I know how to in vBulletin and I doubt it is more complex for the wiki software. I'll have a look tonight and let you know.

[Cleon]

Diamond,

Essentially what's happening is that wikitex is using a script to access the instantiation of LaTeX on the server to process the relevant tags. Problem is, LaTeX doesn't seem to be installed.

Your solution is to install LaTeX on the server. If you don't have root access, you can ask an admin. Failing that, however, you may be able to find the binaries online and just stick them in your user directory. (That might work; it's been some time since I messed around with LaTeX, and it often depends on your server config.)

[Diamond]

Originally posted by Darat
Should have realised that would be the next question. I know how to in vBulletin and I doubt it is more complex for the wiki software. I'll have a look tonight and let you know.

Darat e-mailed me and admitted he hadn't installed teTeX at all but something too restrictive to use on a wiki.

Back to square one...

[Donks]

Ok let's move to square two. Follow the instructions in this page (http://www.linux.com/howtos/TeTeX-HOWTO-9.shtml) and tell us how it all works out. You don't need root privileges.

[Diamond]

I'm waiting for Darat to tell me if I can telnet to jrefwiki.org ... *drums fingers*

[Diamond]

Originally posted by Donks
Ok let's move to square two. Follow the instructions in this page (http://www.linux.com/howtos/TeTeX-HOWTO-9.shtml) and tell us how it all works out. You don't need root privileges.

Donks,

The text indicates files (the install files in particular) which don't exist in the ftp archive.

Now what?

[Dogbreath]

It took a while to find this but you may want to try

TeX Users Group (http://www.tug.org/) which on the left hand side links to Getting Started (http://www.tug.org/begin.html)

[Diamond]

In the absence of telnet or ssh support from Darat's web service, I tried it on my personal one from fasthosts.co.uk.

Unfortunately, fasthosts don't allow compilation on their webservers at all.

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your email.

We do not currently support Xen or any Virtual Environments on our servers.

We do not allow permission / access to the compile tools on our servers - all applications should be compiled locally.

The alternative would be to purchase a Dedicated Server, then you can install any software you wish. We do not support the installation of 3rd Party Software with our Xtreme Technical Support.

We appologise we cannot be of any further assistance.

Xtreme Support Team
Fasthosts Internet Ltd.
http://www.fasthosts.co.uk
http://www.ukreg.com

A dedicated server is 49 quid a month! Bollocks to that.

I have now bought a virtual server from https://secure.netservers.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=28 which at 10 quid per month is pretty good. Lots of space and root access to do what I want. As soon as I receive a sign-on I'll set up a LAMP system and then install LaTeX and MediaWiki. If that all holds together, then I'll copy the JREFwiki from its current location and we'll change the DNS record.

[Darat]

Originally posted by Diamond
In the absence of telnet or ssh support from Darat's web service, I tried it on my personal one from fasthosts.co.uk.

...snip...

Try "In the absence of support from Darat's web service...."

Globat are now officially "Darat says they are crap..". A shame a year ago they had good customer service, good packages and quite speedy servers, now they don’t even respond to questions, packages aren’t cheap and there servers’ crawl!