[Tex/LaTex] Installing the comicsans package to MiKTeX

fontsfuninstallingmiktexpackages

Consider this question theoretical in nature; an exercise to understand the TDS tree structure better. Assume one were attempting to install the comicsans package, which is part of neither of the two major distributions. (There's a question for TeX Live already.)

This is a summary of the tedious details that used to be part of this question. Since they turned out not to be relevant to the solution at all, I cleaned up this question a bit. You can see the details in this question's revision history.

Following comicsans's manual and various resources on TDS structure, I downloaded comicsans.zip, ran latex comicsans.ins, and then attempted to put all files in the right places in my user-managed TEXMF tree. There were a number of files that I don't know where to put, with extensions like .etx, .ff, .mtx or .NOTABS. Neglecting these files for the moment, I ran latex fontcomic, which gave me even more files, including .fd files, which seem to be crucial. I put these in \tex\latex\comicsans, updated my file database and the font maps, but it still doesn't work.

Do I have to put the remaining files in special places, or is there some other way to make comicsans work? Do they really expect someone who wants to use Comic Sans to understand the intricacies of the TDS system like that??

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Best Answer

Update: Meanwhile this package can be installed with the Package Manager of MiKTeX.

Why simple, when there is a complicated way?

Download comicsans.tds.zip. So no mess with where which file belongs. Not for you as the OP, but for potential unexperienced readers let me also link Create a local texmf tree in MiKTeX and Purpose of local texmf trees. That beside updating of the FNDB an entry into updmap.cfg followed by initexmf --mkmaps (as admin additionally with --admin) is necessary you’ve already mentioned.

But should I take this seriously? From comicsans.sty:

\renewcommand{\rmdefault}{comic}
\renewcommand{\ttdefault}{pcr}
\renewcommand{\sfdefault}{phv}

Sorry, but Comic Sans was developed for Comics and is in my eyes – depending on the context – sometimes also tolerable in headings, but not … as … the … main … font.

Going vomitting now

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