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If you cannot find an answer to your question on this page please click here to fill out a help request form.

You may also to consult the following helpful PDF files which can be read with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader (click here to download):

BTXDOC.PDF

BibTeXing: Documentation for BibTeX.

BTXHAK.PDF

Designing BibTeX Styles: Documentation on designing your own BibTeX styles.

MAKEINDX.PDF

Documentation for MakeIndex.

MULTI.PDF

Using graphics in the multi-column environment by Anita Hoover, consultant for Personal TeX, Inc.

This will update your PCTeX 4.2 program to the latest version.  Download the file and place it on your Desktop.  Double-click on the icon to perform the update.  The update program will ask you to verify that it has found the correct PCTeX folder.  Click Open and the update will be applied.

To update a network copy of PCTeX 4.2, you must run the update program from a client which has full access to the PCTeX folder on the server. When you are asked to verify the correct PCTeX folder, direct the update program to the PCTeX folder on the server.

Click here to download the PCTeX 4.2.05 update.

This will update your PCTeX 4.0 program to version 4.01.  Download the file and place it on your Desktop.  Double-click on the icon to perform the update.  The update program will ask you to verify that it has found the correct PCTeX folder.  Click Open and the update will be applied.

To update a network copy of PCTeX 4.0, you must run the update program from a client which has full access to the PCTeX folder on the server. When you are asked to verify the correct PCTeX folder, direct the update program to the PCTeX folder on the server.

 Click here to download the PCTeX 4.01 update.

This will update your PCTeX 4.0 editor, making it operate faster on large files, and eliminating the bug with extra line spaces.  Download the file and place it on your Desktop.  Double-click on the icon to perform the update.  The update program will ask you to verify that it has found the correct PCTeX folder.  Click Open and the update will be applied.

To update a network copy of PCTeX 4.0, you must run the update program from a client which has full access to the PCTeX folder on the server. When you are asked to verify the correct PCTeX folder, direct the update program to the PCTeX folder on the server.

 Click here to download the PCTeX 4.0 editor update.

The latest version of LaTeX is dated December 2001.

If you already have this version you can ignore errors about LaTeX being out-of-date. Simply press the Proceed Button and ignore the error message at the end of typesetting. Your LaTeX format file will have been created and is usable without further warning messages.

Otherwise download the basic LaTeX distribution (1.1MB) here.

This download will copy the LaTeX files into your PCTeX folder.  To complete the installation, you must initialize a new format file.  To do this, start PCTeX and choose Typeset..INITeX.  In the INITeX window, choose LaTeX.

In the "Path to input files" box, enter <path>\LATEX, where <path> is the location of your PCTeXv4 installation -- on our system <path> is C:\PCTeXv4, and the entry in the "Path to input files" box is C:\PCTeXv4\LATEX.

Click the INITeX button and the format file will be created.  The next time you typeset a LaTeX document the latest LaTeX version will be used.

To install Babel (for multiple language usage) install the above LaTeX download and then click here for the additional Babel files (2.0MB).

To complete the installation of Babel, do the following:

1. Copy the hyphenation patterns in the folder \LaTeX\Babel\hyphen you will be using into the folder \LaTeX.  For example, to use Italian and Finnish, copy the files ithyph.tex and fihyph.tex from \LaTeX\Babel\hyphen and place them in the \LaTeX folder.

 
2. Modify the file \LaTeX\language.dat.  Use this file as a model.  Add the entries for the languages you will be using.  For example, to specify Italian and Finnish, the file should have the two lines:

italian    ithyph.tex
finnish    fihyph.tex
 
3. Initialize LaTeX as described above.  The languages you have selected will be preloaded in your LaTeX format.  See the file \LaTeX\Babel\babel.dvi for further usage details.

Click here to install REVTeX v4 (August 2001).  Once the files have been copied REVTeX is ready for use.

See pctexv4\latex\revtex4\ for documentation and samples.

The following instructions show you how to set up REVTeX 3.1 for use with PCTeX32 for Windows and LaTeX2e.

1. Create a C:\REVTEX directory and copy all REVTeX files into it.
2. REVTeX was originally written for LaTeX 2.09 (included in PCTeX v1.x for Windows). To use REVTeX 3.1 with LaTeX2e, save the following as REVTEX.CLS, and place it in your C:\REVTEX subdirectory:

%%%%  Start of file revtex.cls %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%%
%% This file allows REVTeX v3.1 to function correctly under
%% any releases of LaTeX2e. Put this file wherever
%% revtex.sty is. Continue to use \documentstyle{revtex}
%% (with the correct options) and REVTeX will run normally
%% in compatibility mode. Thanks to David Carlisle for
%% pointing out this fix. 
                  
\ifx\every@math@size\undefined\else              
  \let\old@expast\@expast
  \def\@expast#1{\old@expast{#1}\let\@tempa\reserved@a}
\fi

\input{revtex.sty}
%%%%  End of file revtex.cls %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

This will allow you to run REVTeX 3.1 in LaTeX2e's compatibility mode.
3. Run PCTeX for Windows and select "INITeX" from the "Typeset" menu.
4. In the "INITeX" dialog box, check "LaTeX" and then append ";C:\REVTEX" to the end of your existing "Path to input files", and then click INITeX.
5. Then using REVTeX is as simple as using \documentstyle{revtex}. For more information on the use of REVTeX, please refer to the included documentation and sample files.

Important Note: This information and link are shown here as a courtesy to our customers only. Personal TeX, Inc. neither gives nor implies support of any kind for REVTEX. Download and use at your own risk. Please read all the "readme" files very carefully before downloading.

K-Talk Communications, Inc. develops software to convert between popular word processing documents and TeX.

I installed PCTeX into a long filename directory (such as "C:\Program Files\PCTEX"), but the typesetter can't find any of my documents.

You should uninstall and reinstall your product into an appropriately named directory.  Also make sure that your TeX documents are not in a directory with spaces such as "C:\My Documents" or "C:\Documents and Settings".

I just installed version 4.2, and when I export PDF files the fonts are incorrect and equations do not display or print properly. What should I do?

When I attempt to upgrade my version of PCTeX I receive the following error: "Old file not found. However, a file of the same name was found. No update done since file contents do not match."

Please make sure that the version that you're updating is supported by the patch (i.e. you can't use the 4.2.05 update on a 4.0 version).

When you run the upgrade program there is an "Change Options" button, click this and choose the "Error File" option, and then click "OK". Run the upgrade and when it fails in the PCTeX directory there will be a file named patch.err which tells what happened.

Note:On some systems if the 4.0 to 4.2 upgrade is run from a CD-ROM it causes some long filenames to become truncated. Please copy the upgrade to your hard disk and run it from there.

I am using PCTeX version 4.0 or 4.01, and when I open my TeX documents some of the lines come out double-spaced causing the file to typeset incorrectly.

If you are using a later version the file most likely was saved in a 4.0 version. You will need to remove the double-spacing with an editor that supports searching for carriage returns. Simply search for two consecutive carriage returns and replace them with one. In Microsoft Word you can search for "^p^p" and replace it with "^p".

When I typeset my documents symbols like $\leq$ come out incorrectly.

I'm having trouble printing to my PostScript printer from PCTeX. Nothing happens when I try to print, but I am able to print with other applications.

I am using PCTeX version 4.0 or 4.01 and my EPS figures in my documents are displaying incorrectly.

When I view a DVI document the text appears green on my screen or PCTeX32 tells me "... Font is missing or corrupted ...". Furthermore, equations aren't recognizable and ligatures (such as 'fi', 'ffi') show up strangely.

You should correct this condition in one of two ways:

• Open the Windows Control Panel, then open the Fonts folder. In the fonts folder, make sure you are viewing Details. Push the button at the top named Size. Delete all fonts with Zero (Ok) byte size. Close the Fonts window and the Control Panel window, and restart PCTeX.

 

 
 
 

ONLY IF THE ABOVE HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM, DO THE FOLLOWING:
 

• PCTeX version 3.x: Since this version uses dynamic font loading, the fonts are not permanently installed in Windows. Font substitution could result if the dynamic font list (stored in the PCTEXW32.INI file) was lost or damaged. A backup of the vital section is stored in your installation directory as PCTEXW32.SAV. To repair your INI file:
1. Open PCTEXW32.SAV from your installation directory in a text editor (use Notepad, Wordpad, or the PCTeX editor). Choose Select All and Copy from the edit menu.
2. Open PCTEXW32.INI from your Windows directory, and scan through the file for a section starting with either "[ttfonts]" or "[FontList]". If such blocks exist, remove the block up until the next empty line.
3. Place the cursor at the bottom of the file, press return once to generate a blank line, then Paste in the block copied from the SAV file.
4. Save this file. Your problem should be resolved the next time you start PCTeX.

I need to get the latest AMS macro packages!

Is it OK to install a newer version of PCTeX in the same folder as the previous version?

Why am I unable to use the PostScript fonts that I installed on my computer in PCTeX32 v.3.x?

I'd like to use the typesetter from a command prompt. What is its usage for INITeXing and Typesetting?

ptitex &format documentfile -pi=inputpaths -pt=tfmpaths

Where format is either plain, amsplain or latex,
and documentfile is the directory and name of your document (.TEX extension optional).

Examples:
Typeset the MATHTEST.TEX sample:

ptitex &PLAIN C:\PCTEX32\SAMPLES\MATHTEST

ptitex &LATEX C:\PCTEX32\SAMPLES\ARTICLE

ptitex "&LATEX" C:\PCTEX32\SAMPLES\ARTICLE

ptitex plain \dump -i -pt=c:\pctex32\wintfms;c:\pctex32\amstfms

ptitex latex.ltx -i -pi=c:\pctex32\latex2e;c:\pctex32\amsltx12 -pt=c:\pctex32\wintfms;c:\pctex32\amstfms

ptitex amsplain \dump -i -pi=c:\pctex32\amstex -pt=c:\pctex32\wintfms;c:\pctex32\amstfms

I'm using PCTeX32 v3.x and when I try to initialize LaTeX, the typesetter can't find the LCIRCLE10 and LCIRCLEW10 fonts.

You may circumvent this problem by renaming the following files within your TeX and LaTeX format files. Rename LCIRCLE10.TFM to LCIRCLE1.TFM
Rename LCIRCLEW10.TFM to LCIRCLEW.TFM

Once this is completed, you should be able to typeset as normal.

I've installed PiCTeX or Table into PCTeX32, but the typesetter can't find their files.

Example copying using the command prompt:

copy \PCTEX\TEXINPUT\*.* \PCTEX32\TEXINPUT

I'm using PiCTeX under Windows 95 or NT. Even after I've installed it correctly (see previous entry) the typesetter can't find the PREPICTEX or POSTPICTEX files.

Example using the command prompt:

cd\pctex32\texinput
ren prepicte.tex prepictex.tex
ren postpict.tex postpictex.tex

When I use PiCTeX with LaTeX2e the typesetter claims \fiverm is an Undefined control sequence.

 
• If you are using LaTeX in compatibility mode (i.e. you use \documentstyle), include rawfonts in the options list:

\documentstyle[rawfonts]{article}

If you already have options listed, append it to end of the list

\documentstyle[11pt,fleqn,rawfonts]{article}

 
• If you are using LaTeX in 2e mode, add a package statement as follows:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{rawfonts}

Help with BibTeX

For complete instructions on the use of BibTeX typeset the document "btxdoc.tex" in PCTeX's TEXINPUT directory or acquire the book "LaTeX - A Document Preparation System" by Leslie Lamort \ Addison Wesley

I'd like to set up BibTeX as a tool, but can't figure out the proper parameter string to invoke it.

I'm using BibTeX under Windows 95 or NT, and it doesn't behave correctly on long filenames or in long filename directories.

 
Open a New Document in PCTeX (by selecting New from the File Menu.
Type the following (replacing C:\PCTEX32 by your installation directory, if different, and C:\TEMP by an appropriate TEMP directory):

COPY %1.AUX C:\TEMP\BIB.AUX
C:\PCTEX32\BIBTEX.EXE C:\TEMP\BIB
COPY C:\TEMP\BIB.BBL %1.BBL
COPY C:\TEMP\BIB.BLG %1.BLG
DEL C:\TEMP\BIB.*

Choose Save from the File Menu. Specify C:\PCTEX32\BIBTEX.BAT as the filename.
Configure this Batch file as a tool with the following entries:

Menu Text:	&BibTeX
Program File Name:	C:\PCTEX32\BIBTEX.BAT
Parameters:	%d\%f
Working Directory:	C:\PCTEX32

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I would like to download the PostScript versions of the TeX fonts.

How do I stop the PCTeX logo from displaying, on startup?

I'd like to convert my LaTeX files to Excel, or Excel document into LaTeX - How can I do that?

For information, click here for Excel2Latex.

Why does PCTeX uses the English keyboard mapping?

 In Windows 2000, from the Start Menu, select "Settings" then "Control Panel". Select "Keyboard" and select the "Input Locales" tab. You should remove or change any layouts that don't match the keyboard you are using. If you need to use more than one layout you may want to select "Enable indicator on taskbar".

 In Windows XP go to the Control Panel in the Start Menu and select "Regional and Language Options". Select "Languages" and then "Details". You should remove or change any layout that is different from your keyboard. If you need to use more than one layout you might want to turn on the "Language Bar" to make switching layouts easier.
 

Why doesn't the mouse wheel work?

Color figures in document appear black and white.

How to export PDF files with version 4.2.

Once in the PostScript rendering mode you can export by selecting "Export PDF" from the "File" menu while viewing the DVI output.

Using JPG, PCX, TGA, and TIF files in PCTeX.

The BMP commands can be found by going to the "Help" menu, selecting "PCTeX Helper", selecting the "Graphics" menu, and then selecting "BMP".

Note for users of 4.0 and 4.2: PCTeX must be in the PostScript rendering mode (go to the "Settings" menu, select "Default Settings", click on the "Advanced" tab, under "Method for rendering DVI" select "PostScript", and then close and reopen PCTeX) to use these graphic formats.

Increasing memory in BibTeX.

Using the hyperref package with PCTeX.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[dvips, bookmarks, colorlinks=true, plainpages = false,
citecolor = green, urlcolor = blue, filecolor = blue]{hyperref}
\begin{document}
\url{http://www.pctex.com}
\end{document}