Minimum toolset need to run latex makefile and generate Sphinx PDF on Windows?

[Ramon]

Hi all --

How are folks generating PDF via LaTeX on Windows? I have Sphinx and
MikTex installed but that still leaves me stuck with how to execute
the Makefile that is generated as part of the latex build. Is there a
straightforward way to do this without installing cygwin? Is there a
minimum subset of GNU tools that need to be installed on a Windows 7
machine to minimally be able to build the LaTeX into PDF?

Ramon

[Kathy Tolbert]

---------------------

We use Windows for our Sphinx projects. Here is the short list of the
steps we use to get started. I can send the full document (with screen
shots & detailed descriptions) if you like (please provide your direct
email). It may be Step 4 that you need to do. I've provided the details
for Step 4 below the bulleted list.

SECTION I: SOFTWARE INSTALLATION AND SETUP
Setup required
. LaTeX (Step 1)
pdflatex on Linux / MiKTeX for Windows (MiKTeX shown in these
instructions)
. Python (Step 2)
. Python setuptools (Step 3)
. Set path (Step 4)
. Sphinx documentation generation software (Step 5)
. Text editor (with syntax highlighting for reStructured Text
recommended) (Step 6)
Sublime Text 2 for Windows was used for these instructions (also available
for Linux)
. Install any additional extensions required (see Section II).

--

Details for Step 4:

Step 4: Set Path
1. Open Control Panel
2. Search for 'System' using the Search field in the upper-right
corner, and choose option:
'Edit the system environment variables'
3. Click 'Environment Variables.' (in lower-right corner)
4. Add a new environment variable called 'PATH'


NOTE: This step assumes that there is not one set for this user. Example
shows only TEMP and TMP has variables set).

Click 'New.' under the 'User variables for (username)' and use values
shown below.

Variable name: PATH
Variable value:
C:\Python27;C:\Python27\Scripts;C:\Program Files (x86)\MiKTeX
2.9\miktex\bin


Click OK in each screen to save settings.

NOTE: The 'Variable value' shown assumes only default settings were chosen
during the installation setup of software.

Kathy

[Kathy Tolbert]

Another note in my instructions (sent in previously sent email)...

... see below ...

---

In Step 2: Install Python: For Windows users only --

NOTE: For most Windows machines, you will need to add a 'make.exe' file to
your 'Python27' directory after you install Python. This allows for the
PDF build ('make latexpdf' command).

I have a make.exe file that each user copies over to their local
directory.

Kathy

[Ramon]

Thanks Kathy --  very helpful. Is that make.exe part of MikTex or do you install it separately, e.g. from a GNU download?

Ramon

[Kathy Tolbert]

Yes, from a GNU download. Though, I got mine from someone sharing the file. Let me know if you further assistance.

 

You can can get “make.exe” from the MSYS/Mingw tools at:http://www.mingw.org/wiki/MSYS

Kathy

[Kathy Tolbert]

I can also just send my make file to you directly' just email me at ka...@tolbert.org & I'll attach it (with a '.txt' suffix).

[David]

For me: Python, Sphinx, MikTex.

1. Run the make batch file for your Sphinx project: make.bat latex
2. Open Texworks
3. File > Open > myproject.tex
   
4. Choose pdflatex+makeindex+bibtex from the dropdown menu.
5. Press the green "play" button.
6. Press enter to continue processing any stops/errors.
   
7. A preview of the PDF will be displayed.
   
8. Check the content. I've noticed that the TOC, index and bibliographic footnotes may not be updated. Just click the green play button again to regenerate the PDF.
   
9. In the preview window choose File > Save... myproject.pdf
   

[Ramon]

I didn't know about TexWorks. Works great -- thank you!

Ramon