Error running pdflatex: I can't find the format file `pdflatex.fmt!'

Elizabeth · 2023-10-27 22:05:32

Hello, I have been trying to install TexLive for two days now, I have reinstalled it three times, and each time I get the same error if i run "pdflatex article.tex"
The error is as follows:

This is pdfTeX, Version 3.141592653-2.6-1.40.25 (TeX Live 2023/Arch Linux) (preloaded format=pdflatex)
 restricted \write18 enabled.

kpathsea: Running mktexfmt pdflatex.fmt
mktexfmt: mktexfmt is using the following fmtutil.cnf files (in precedence order):
mktexfmt:   /etc/texmf/web2c/fmtutil.cnf
mktexfmt: mktexfmt is using the following fmtutil.cnf file for writing changes:
mktexfmt:   /home/Elizabeth/.texlive/texmf-config/web2c/fmtutil.cnf
mktexfmt [INFO]: writing formats under /home/Elizabeth/.texlive/texmf-var/web2c
mktexfmt [INFO]: Did not find entry for byfmt=pdflatex skipped
mktexfmt [INFO]: not selected formats: 8
mktexfmt [INFO]: total formats: 8
mktexfmt [INFO]: exiting with status 0
I can't find the format file `pdflatex.fmt'!

I installed TexLive using the perl script from their quickinstall guide. I installed it as root with umask 022, so that other users can use LaTeX. The error appears even if the first thing I do after finishing the installation is running "pdflatex article.tex", it does not work if I run it as sudo either.
I have tried "sudo texconfig rehash" and "sudo fmtutil-sys --all", neither have worked. My "~/.texlive/texmf-var/web2c/" directory is completely empty, and I'm guessing it shouldn't be like that. However I am unsure of what to do to remedy that.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what might be going on? And if you don't, should I just switch to an alternative like MikTex?

arojas · 2023-10-28 06:28:36

Elizabeth wrote:

Does anyone have any ideas as to what might be going on? And if you don't, should I just switch to an alternative like MikTex?

No, install texlive from the official Arch repo instead.

Elizabeth · 2023-10-28 11:13:23

arojas wrote:

Elizabeth wrote:
Does anyone have any ideas as to what might be going on? And if you don't, should I just switch to an alternative like MikTex?
No, install texlive from the official Arch repo instead.

I was going to do that originally, but since the wiki says

The TeX Live snapshot packaged in the Arch Linux repositories should be fine for most users, especially if the goal is just to compile documents created by others. If, on the other hand, the user's goal is to create documents on their own; a native TeX Live installation could well turn out to be the most pain-free choice.

I though it would be best to get a native installation, as I'm actively making the documents.

Last edited by Elizabeth (2023-10-28 11:14:28)

seth · 2023-10-28 12:25:57

It's not pain-free right now, is it?
Install the repo version. The actual downside is

The wiki wrote:

The advantages of having a native and up-to-date TeX Live installation include having access … to the relevant documentation.
…
In contrast to native TeX Live, the packages in the Arch repositories tend not to include documentation, which is problematic as the documentation from CTAN is usually only available for the latest version of a TeX package.

https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/any/texlive-doc/

Elizabeth · 2023-10-28 12:56:01

Yeah that makes sense, gonna just remove the /usr/local/texlive directory and the local one and install the pacman version. Thanks for the recommendation.

arojas · 2023-10-28 17:37:07

Arch Wiki wrote:

The TeX Live snapshot packaged in the Arch Linux repositories should be fine for most users, especially if the goal is just to compile documents created by others. If, on the other hand, the user's goal is to create documents on their own; a native TeX Live installation could well turn out to be the most pain-free choice.

This is nonsense - why would it make any difference whether the documents being compiled have been created by oneself or by someone else?

Elizabeth · 2023-10-28 17:43:07

The wiki explains it better than I can

seth · 2023-10-28 18:14:15

@arojas, I initially thought the same, and figured the reason would be the missing documentation.

Arch Linux

#1 2023-10-27 22:05:32

Error running pdflatex: I can't find the format file `pdflatex.fmt!'

#2 2023-10-28 06:28:36

Re: Error running pdflatex: I can't find the format file `pdflatex.fmt!'

#3 2023-10-28 11:13:23

Re: Error running pdflatex: I can't find the format file `pdflatex.fmt!'

#4 2023-10-28 12:25:57

Re: Error running pdflatex: I can't find the format file `pdflatex.fmt!'

#5 2023-10-28 12:56:01

Re: Error running pdflatex: I can't find the format file `pdflatex.fmt!'

#6 2023-10-28 17:37:07

Re: Error running pdflatex: I can't find the format file `pdflatex.fmt!'

#7 2023-10-28 17:43:07

Re: Error running pdflatex: I can't find the format file `pdflatex.fmt!'

#8 2023-10-28 18:14:15

Re: Error running pdflatex: I can't find the format file `pdflatex.fmt!'

Board footer