MiKTeX and proTeXt ⇒ Newbie Question(s): Packages (classes?) needed for PhD thesis template

[tswsolar22]

Hello,

I would like to apologize right away if these questions are very obvious to many of you. I'm writing my PhD thesis, and I've decided to give LaTex a try. I've always used Word for everything (e.g., publications, assignments, etc.), but LaTex dissertations - I think - look very sharp.

I've never used LaTeX (or any of its related software, so hopefully I have my terminology correct), but I'm usually pretty good at picking up new software packages as long as I can make changes and see the results (trial and error).

I would like to use a dissertation template (https://www.overleaf.com/latex/template ... xQgnUgvy70), but I will need to make some slight adjustments for my department requirements.

I downloaded the template from Overleaf so I can work on it offline, and I downloaded MiKTeX (https://miktex.org/). I tried to compile (ctrl+t) the as-downloaded template, but received the following output:

"Sorry, but 'MiKTeX Compiler Driver' did not succeed.
The log file hopefully contains the information to get MiKTeX going again.
You may want to visit the MiKTeX project page, if you need help."

Is the issue that I need to download particular "packages" ("classes"?)? If so, do I need to do anything special with them, or just place the downloaded file(s) in the MiKTeX folder? Or, am I missing something even more basic and fundamental?

Thank you in advance for any help you can offer.

[Johannes_B]

The template should work with a full and complete MikTeX installation.

But, do you need a template? -> https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/LaTeX/Scientific_Reports

[Stefan Kottwitz]

Welcome to the forum!

Take a look at that .log file. As the error message said, it may contain the reason. The message should have printed the file name and location, such as C:/Users/.../AppData/Local/MiKTeX/2.9/miktex/log/texify.log. Read that file. You can post it here, as text or as attachment.

Stefan

[rais]

Hi there,
I'd run a simple test first, to see if it's a problem with your TeX installation.

Code: Select all

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
Hello, world!
\end{document}

If that doesn't compile (and if I didn't put any error into it), it doesn't make sense to look for trouble in a template...

KR
Rainer