Tinytex: windows debugging - tinytex::install_tinytex()

[libjohn]

FWIW: I find that running tinytex::install_tinytex() after step 2, and before step 3, works. I've tested this on several Windows 10 builds (10.0.17763). This is the case where:

• bookdown and tinytex packages are already installed,
• debugging steps 1 & 2 are complete,
• _Build Book_ still doesn't work,
• Bookdown still prompts with debugging information in the RStudio_Build_ tab.
• Rather than follow on to the next step, step 3. install_tinytex() solves the problem.

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[cderv]

Thank you for the feedback !

Is this for a specific issue ?

Glad it works at the end. Not sure what happened because the two functions should be equivalent - reinstall_tinytex will call install_tinytext()

[libjohn]

I'm developing a workshop for the Statistics department. They want senior honors papers to produce an e-book and optionally PDF. They are recommending bookdown as the package to enable that.

In any case, while developing/testing a protocol to share with students, I discovered my experience doesn't seem consistent with the documentation. So, I am providing this feedback because my replicable experience is that reinstall_tinytext and install_tinytext are not equivalent, in my case. Maybe it's of use. If not, s'all good.

The scenarios I'm using is as follows.

• create new Windows image - virtual
• install R\RStudio\Git
• install tidyverse, and bookdown
• Get started with procedures found in steps 1 & 2: https://bookdown.org/home/about/
• Build book
• Get error messages in Book tab (Environment quadrant) where there is a message to follow the troubleshooting (see above)
• (skipping back to original message...) the recommended procedure in step two tinytex::reinstall_tinytex() does not solve the problem ; But, before going to step 3, install_tinytex() does solve the problem

This suggest, to me, at least

• on windows, installing bookdown does not have a required dependency to install tinytex
• tinytex::reinstall_tinytex() is not equivalent to install_tinytex() ... and so, whatever prompts the package to remmend the bebugging guide, might want an update between steps 1 and 2.

Anyway, if this is not useful information for you, please feel free to close the issue.

Love bookdown/tidytext/R markdown, and more. Thanks for all the great work

---

From: Christophe Dervieux [e-mail]
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2020 9:06 AM
To: yihui/tinytex [e-mail]
Cc: John Little [e-mail]; Author [e-mail]
Subject: Re: [yihui/tinytex] windows debugging - tinytex::install_tinytex() (#258)

Thank you for the feedback !

Is this for a specific issue ?

Glad it works at the end. Not sure what happened because the two functions should be equivalent - reinstall_tinytex will call install_tinytext()

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[cderv]

Thanks a lot for the detailed steps !

As you are started from a fresh environment, I believe you are encountering this error when you are running reinstall_tinytex(): "TinyTeX does not seem to be installed." right ?

The path you followed is not a common one. Bookdown does have a dependency on the tinytex R package but not on the TinyTeX distribution. If you want to build a pdf_book, you would need to have a LateX distribution installed, TinyTeX or any other. As you have none, that is why install_tinytex() is working for you.

This kind of information in this the Get Started session of the documentation: https://bookdown.org/yihui/bookdown/get-started.html that points toward how to get TinyTeX distribution https://yihui.org/tinytex/. The link to the book is on the page you consulted.

More recently we redocument this in the Rmarkdown cookbook: https://bookdown.org/yihui/rmarkdown-cookbook/install-latex.html

Hope this resources will be useful for your workshop.

We will try to improve the feedbacks and docs for people following the same path as you, going through bookdown.org

[libjohn]

That's very helpful feedback. Thank you, Christopher.

I'm sure you're right. I cannot disagree: my protocol is not so common.

For some selfish reasons, I started at this "get started" page: https://bookdown.org/home/about/, rather than here: https://bookdown.org/yihui/bookdown/get-started.html. That alone may be the key to all this. I guess there are several get started pages, and all for good reasons -- I'm sure -- because, basically, I am also developing a "get started" option for my students.

So, in my "get started" protocol, I'll include the note about TinyTex. Maybe your TinyTex note would also want to live in the bookdown-about "get started" page ( https://bookdown.org/home/about ). I'm sure you've thought more deeply about this than I have.

I guess all of this makes me wonder how many people are as confused, as I am. OMG for nuances of this reality _depencency on the R tinytex package is not equivalent to the TinyTex distribution when install_tinytex()_

Thanks for working it through. Best of luck.

---

From: Christophe Dervieux [e-mail]
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2020 10:19 AM
To: yihui/tinytex [e-mail]
Cc: John Little [e-mail]; Author [e-mail]
Subject: Re: [yihui/tinytex] windows debugging - tinytex::install_tinytex() (#258)

Thanks a lot for the detailed steps !

As you are started from a fresh environment, I believe you are encountering this error when you are running reinstall_tinytex(): "TinyTeX does not seem to be installed." right ?

The path you followed is not a common one. Bookdown does have a dependency on the tinytex R package but not on the TinyTeX distribution. If you want to build a pdf_book, you would need to have a LateX distribution installed, TinyTeX or any other. As you have none, that is why install_tinytex() is working for you.

This kind of information in this the Get Started session of the documentation: https://bookdown.org/yihui/bookdown/get-started.htmlhttps://urldefense.com/v3/__https://bookdown.org/yihui/bookdown/get-started.html__;!!OToaGQ!4m9OwtYJ-garkXRU9iywiTTwOiirjKZ6dmr570fxFiJUzMCSbHshpAPCmNvmt96js3Y$ that points toward how to get TinyTeX distribution https://yihui.org/tinytex/https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://yihui.org/tinytex/__;!!OToaGQ!4m9OwtYJ-garkXRU9iywiTTwOiirjKZ6dmr570fxFiJUzMCSbHshpAPCmNvm1nUNF08$. The link to the book is on the page you consulted.

More recently we redocument this in the Rmarkdown cookbook: https://bookdown.org/yihui/rmarkdown-cookbook/install-latex.htmlhttps://urldefense.com/v3/__https://bookdown.org/yihui/rmarkdown-cookbook/install-latex.html__;!!OToaGQ!4m9OwtYJ-garkXRU9iywiTTwOiirjKZ6dmr570fxFiJUzMCSbHshpAPCmNvmAedJ30Q$

Hope this resources will be useful for your workshop.

We will try to improve the feedbacks and docs for people following the same path as you, going through bookdown.org

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[libjohn]

Hey @cderv

Before I go. Sorry for piling on. Can you confirm that Mac users also need to install_tinytex() ?

I'm not a Mac person but sometimes have to advise. I wouldn't want to force them to change a LaTex installation unnecessarily.

Again, Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[cderv]

You don't have to use TinyTeX distribution to work with R markdown or bookdown or else.
You need a LateX distribution to render to PDF. The tinytex R 📦 will work with other distribution too: https://yihui.org/tinytex/r/#other-latex-distributions

tinytex::install_tinytex()

is only required if someone wants to use the TinyTeX distribution. One main advantage for R users is that it works well with Rmarkdown ecosystem, and also it will install prebuilt binary that have been tested againt some examples.

Does it clarify ?

[libjohn]

I appreciate your response. It is clear, yes: there are multiple
distributions; TinyTeX works best with R Markdown.

Many thanks.

On Wed, Nov 18, 2020 at 12:19 PM Christophe Dervieux <
[email protected]> wrote:

You don't have to use TinyTeX distribution to work with R markdown or
bookdown or else.
You need a LateX distribution to render to PDF. The tinytex R 📦 will
work with other distribution too:
https://yihui.org/tinytex/r/#other-latex-distributions
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://yihui.org/tinytex/r/*other-latex-distributions__;Iw!!OToaGQ!4Tf9v0cpT3gRO9tema_SiPBSBvZi2BsFYSQcvmGE_WuGBNlsPBSb8kMbY4W6s0gxssc$

tinytex::install_tinytex()

is only required if someone wants to use the TinyTeX distribution. One
main advantage for R users is that it works well with Rmarkdown ecosystem,
and also it will install prebuilt binary that have been tested againt some
examples.

Does it clarify ?

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[yihui]

I've added a note on the page https://bookdown.org/home/about/ about the requirement of LaTeX. Thanks!