[Tex/LaTex] ny way to have a LaTeX compiler on a Mac without root access

installingmac

Long story short, I have limited install rights on my Mac. I believe the only limitation is that I can only write files inside my user directory. I also have limited read rights to files outside my user directory. So, is there a way to install LaTeX on a Mac without root access? I do know about online alternatives such as ShareLaTeX, but my internet coverage is spotty on occasion and I compile frequently to see what the final result is since I'm not very good at using LaTeX.

Best Answer

according to this tutorial it should be possible, you just need to manually install files in your home directory:

intalling TeXLive without root access

Since installing MacTeX without root access requires some non trivial cutomizations, I sugget you to install TeXLive instead, with this easy method (I'll add a tutorial for MacTex when I have more time):

1) Download the TeXLive install script
2) extract the tar archive with your preferred software
3) run the install script with ./install-tl
4) you'll be prompted with this screen 

======================> TeX Live installation procedure <=====================

=======> Note: Letters/digits in <angle brackets> indicate menu items <=======
=======>       for commands or configurable options                   <=======

 Detected platform: <your platform>

 <B> platforms: 1 out of 18

 <S> installation scheme (scheme-full)
     84 collections out of 85, disk space required: 3739 MB

 Customizing installation scheme:
   <C> standard collections
   <L> language collections

 <D> directories:
   TEXDIR (the main TeX directory):
     !! default location: /usr/local/texlive/2012
     !! is not writable, please select a different one!
   TEXMFLOCAL (directory for site-wide local files):
     /usr/local/texlive/texmf-local
   TEXMFSYSVAR (directory for variable and automatically generated data):
     /usr/local/texlive/2012/texmf-var
   TEXMFSYSCONFIG (directory for local config):
     /usr/local/texlive/2012/texmf-config
   TEXMFVAR (personal directory for variable and automatically generated data):
     ~/.texlive2012/texmf-var
   TEXMFCONFIG (personal directory for local config):
     ~/.texlive2012/texmf-config
   TEXMFHOME (directory for user-specific files):
     ~/texmf

 <O> options:
   [ ] use letter size instead of A4 by default
   [X] allow execution of restricted list of programs via \write18
   [X] create all format files
   [X] install macro/font doc tree
   [X] install macro/font source tree

 <V> set up for portable installation

Actions:
 <I> start installation to hard disk
 <H> help
 <Q> quit

the most interesting part is <D>, you need to move all the directories starting with /usr in a convenient place in your home folder. To do this, just type d and press enter, you'll be prompted with this second screen:

===============================================================================
Directories setup:

!! The default location as given below is forbidden or
!! can't be written to.
!! Either change the destination directory using <1> or create it
!! outside this script.
 <1> TEXDIR:       /usr/local/texlive/2012
     support tree: /usr/local/texlive/2012/texmf

 <2> TEXMFLOCAL:     /usr/local/texlive/texmf-local
 <3> TEXMFSYSVAR:    /usr/local/texlive/2012/texmf-var
 <4> TEXMFSYSCONFIG: /usr/local/texlive/2012/texmf-config

 <5> TEXMFVAR:       ~/.texlive2012/texmf-var
 <6> TEXMFCONFIG:    ~/.texlive2012/texmf-config
 <7> TEXMFHOME:      ~/texmf

 Note: ~ will expand to $HOME (or to %USERPROFILE% on Windows)

Actions:
 <R> return to main menu
 <Q> quit

just type 1 and enter the directory where you want to install texlive, e.g. <your home>/Library/texlive/2012. After you change the first directory, all the other will be moved accordingly. After setting the directories return to the main installation screen R and the start the installation with I. Done.

Related Question