pandoc/pdflatex: pdflatex.fmt made by different executable version

terrydavisfan · 2024-01-31 05:16:45

While trying to compile a markdown to a pdf using pandoc, I get the following error:

Error producing PDF.
This is pdfTeX, Version 3.141592653-2.6-1.40.25 (TeX Live 2023/Arch Linux) (preloaded format=pdflatex)
 restricted \write18 enabled.
---! /var/lib/texmf/web2c/pdftex/pdflatex.fmt made by different executable version, strings are different
(Fatal format file error; I'm stymied)

Looking at the .fmt file creation date, I see it was created in february of 2023 while I've done a full system update several times since, so suspecting the file is simply outdated with respect to the newer installation of texlive.

I tried (deleting) moving pdflatex.fmt from /var/lib/texmf/web2c/pdftex in order to make

sudo fmtutil -sys --all 
sudo fmtutil-sys --missing

regenerate pdflatex.fmt (hoping the newer file generated matches with the current executables) but doing so raises the following few warnings:

fmtutil [WARNING]: you have a shadowing format dump in TEXMFVAR for luajithbtex/luajithbtex!!!
fmtutil [WARNING]: you have a shadowing format dump in TEXMFVAR for luatex/luatex!!!
fmtutil [WARNING]: you have a shadowing format dump in TEXMFVAR for luajittex/luajittex!!!
fmtutil [WARNING]: you have a shadowing format dump in TEXMFVAR for tex/tex!!!
fmtutil [WARNING]: you have a shadowing format dump in TEXMFVAR for pdftex/pdftex!!!
fmtutil [WARNING]: you have a shadowing format dump in TEXMFVAR for luahbtex/luahbtex!!!
fmtutil [WARNING]: you have a shadowing format dump in TEXMFVAR for etex/pdftex!!!
fmtutil [WARNING]: you have a shadowing format dump in TEXMFVAR for pdfetex/pdftex!!!
fmtutil [WARNING]: you have a shadowing format dump in TEXMFVAR for dviluatex/luatex!!!
fmtutil [WARNING]: you have a shadowing format dump in TEXMFVAR for mf/mf-nowin!!!

(full stdout message)

and subsequently pdflatex.fmt is not generated. Doing however:

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/aissy/.texlive/texmf-config/web2c/fmtutil.cnf
mktexfmt [INFO]: writing formats under /home/aissy/.texlive/texmf-var/web2c
mktexfmt [INFO]: Did not find entry for byfmt=pdflatex skipped
mktexfmt [INFO]: disabled formats: 1
mktexfmt [INFO]: not selected formats: 10
mktexfmt [INFO]: total formats: 11
mktexfmt [INFO]: exiting with status 0

It complains with "Did not find entry for byfmt=pdflatex" and generation of pdflatex.fmt does not follow. This is something I have no idea as to what it means nor where to look into solving it.

I searched the web and so far haven't found anything helpful apart from this one post which suggests that I need pdflatex.ini and pdftexconfig.tex. I do not know where to obtain these from, any clues? (Also I was able to generate this file using fmtutil yesterday but it still errored out for the same reason: different executable version and I'm no longer being able to generate it now as I had deleted that one.)

alfredopalhares · 2025-05-05 20:21:54

Did you happen to resolve this issue ? I am having exactly the same error.

alfredopalhares · 2025-05-05 22:28:46

While I have not solved this issue directly, I have started using tectonic and it works like a charm for big documents, its packaged on extra even

cfr · 2025-09-06 03:21:20

You get the errors because you previously generated formats for your personal use and these take precedence over the one generated system-wide. That is what it means by 'shadowing': the new format you generate is not seen.

When you try to generate them as a user, rules are missing for the format you need.

I would do something like this

mv -n /home/aissy/.texlive /home/aissy/texlive-backup-2025-05-05

If that is not sufficient, regenerate the formats for the system i.e. with --sys as root/with sudo. But it should be sufficient if the texlive packages are not corrupted or whatever.

In general, it is problematic to generate formats or install fonts on a per-user basis. Once done, they must be updated every time to keep them current. For this reason, it is (much) preferable to only generate formats and install fonts system wide. And it is better not to run tlmgr as a user.

If Arch's packages don't provide TeX Live which meets your requirements, use upstream's installer and install vanilla TeX Live. But probably you have no need to do this as most people do not need the latest versions.

[I was not sure if this would necro-bump this thread or not. It is old, but not that old. And the answer is still correct. At least, if it isn't correct, it isn't because it is outdated.]

Last edited by cfr (2025-09-06 03:23:07)

Arch Linux

#1 2024-01-31 05:16:45

pandoc/pdflatex: pdflatex.fmt made by different executable version

#2 2025-05-05 20:21:54

Re: pandoc/pdflatex: pdflatex.fmt made by different executable version

#3 2025-05-05 22:28:46

Re: pandoc/pdflatex: pdflatex.fmt made by different executable version

#4 2025-09-06 03:21:20

Re: pandoc/pdflatex: pdflatex.fmt made by different executable version

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