[Edited 2019 to show latest number of files (3) needed]
miktex-zzdbl1-2.9.tar.lzma is one of the currently three "database" packages needed by the package management of the miktex console. It contains the actual list of packages. If miktex can't download miktex-zzdbl1, miktex-zzdbl2 and miktex-zzdbl3 the package installation of the console and the on-the-fly installation can't work.
The failure can be temporary (that happens) but it also can be due to something in your system (firewall e.g.). Try in the miktex console a different repository. If this doesn't work: You can also download the three miktex-zzdbl-files and the packages you want to install from CTAN (tex-archive/systems/win32/miktex/tm/packages). Put them all in an empty folder and use this folder as local repository.
Another solution is to download TeX Live 2011 from here. After having installed it, and having performed the post-installation step, you can then use tlmgr
to list the packages that are available for download or have been updated as follows:
sudo -i tlmgr update --list
You can also use the following command, for example, to get all the packages available for download/update:
sudo -i tlmgr update --all
To select a particular package for download/update, type the following command:
sudo -i tlmgr update <package-name>
This requires you to know the name of the package you want to download/update.
Alternatively, you may run the tlmgr
in GUI mode by typing the following command:
sudo -i tlmgr --gui
This will allow you to select the packages that you want to install/update/remove.
Note that, in order to run tlmgr
in GUI mode, you will need to install perl-tk
.
P.S. Yes, I am using Ubuntu, and have not had a problem thus far....
P.P.S. The post installation step requires that you add the path to your TeXLive 2011 binaries in $PATH. To do this for all users, create a file called zzz-texlive.sh
in /etc/profile.d/
:
export PATH=/usr/local/texlive/2010/bin/`uname -i`-linux:$PATH
export MANPATH=/usr/local/texlive/2010/texmf/doc/man:$MANPATH
export INFOPATH=/usr/local/texlive/2010/texmf/doc/info:$INFOPATH
unset TEXINPUTS
unset TEXMFCONFIG
Note that you will have to be logged in as root
to do this. If you can't log in as root
, create the file using the following command:
sudo vi zzz-texlive.sh
vi
is a text editor that will allow you to create the file. You may, however, use other editors if vi
is not your thing. Once you set up the paths correctly, and reboot your system, you can then run tlmgr
as indicated above.
Note that the above post-installation solution was proposed by @Herbert here.
Best Answer
If you are using a TeX Live based distribution, such as MacTeX, I am aware of no "on-the-fly" installation of packages. This is a feature of the Windows-based MikTeX distribution.
ACUTeX may provide some functionality to remedy this- those emacs users are crafty. However I cannot speak authoritatively on the subject as I don't use emacs.
TeX Live does indeed have a package manager though- the command you want is
tlmgr --help
for general usage notes andtlmgr install <pkgname>
to install a package. You may also want to check out the TeX Live Utility which provides a nice GUI fortlmgr
on OS X.