How does MikTex work(?):
While installing MikTeX you have to decide where the default tree of all
(Mik)TeX files will be placed.
By default this is 'C:\Program Files\MikTeX\texmf'.
BTW: I do recommend to install MikTeX into C:\MikTeX instead of 'C:\Program
Files\MikTeX' because that path does not include a space character! (Some
programs can't handle a PATH with space characters included.) I will use
this PATH in the following short description.
The second thing you have to decide is where all local files could be found
by MikTeX, i.e. files which are not part of MikTex itself like any specific
style file. By default those files have to be placed in a directory called
'localtexmf' which lives beside the directory 'texmf'.
Therefore you should use 'C:\MikTeX\localtexmf' to install your personally
needed latex files!
If you want to install any latex style file or package, then do the
following:
1. Ensure that the directory tree C:\MikTeX\localtexmf\tex\latex does
exist
2. Download the package from any CTAN server like www.dante.de (If you
append a suffix .zip to the directory name in your browser, than the CTAN
server will send you the complete directory as a zip file ;-)
3. Extract that zip file into C:\MikTeX\tex\latex (a new pacage
directory will be created)
4. Check if any file with suffix '.ins' is available (the install file)
If not, there should be any .sty-file and you can step to (6)
5. Open a command prompt and change into that directory. Call latex
yourPackageName.ins. Watch the screen output. You may have to call this
again until you're told all was done correcrtly. Exit your command shell..
6. Call StartMenu->Programs->Miktex2.1->MikTexOptions and press the
'Refresh Now'-Button to referesh the filename database
7. You need to backup only the localtexmf directory tree!! That's what
you have installed and what will not be available if you have to re-install
MikTex (or your system)
If you do follow these hints you will never touch/change any MikTeX
installed file. Therefore you can remove and re-install or upgrade/update
MikTex at any time. After you've restored your localtexmf tree and do what's
described in (6) MikTeX (and LyX ;-) behaves as before!
Claus
