[Tex/LaTex] Texmaker / TeXstudio does not compile XeLaTeX with MiKTeX portable

compilingmiktextexmakertexstudioxetex

I am trying to migrate from TeXworks to Texmaker (just for the fact that it is better for handling multi-files projects). I am using portable versions of both MiKTeX and Texmaker, so, in Texmaker I went to Options > Configure Texmaker > Commands and point every command available to the current path of MiKTeX. And it works just fine with PDFLaTeX, but at the moment I try to compile some XeLaTeX document it just do not generate any PDF output.

For a brief moment, in the log frame says that it can not recognize xdvipdfmx as a program or a command. So I figure that it is trying to find it in the default installed MiKTeX directory (because xdvipdfmx.exe indeed exist in the same folder than xelatex.exe and TeXworks never has a problem finding it). There is an option to set the path to dvipdfm (which —I am guessing— works with PDFLaTeX), but not for xdvipdfmx.

So, a concise question would be, Is there a way to change (or add) the default directory for Texmaker to look for? Or is the problem another?

[Addendum] [edited] So, I decided to put a xdvipdfmx.bat file into the Windows folder (which only contains one line: E:\LaTeX\MiKTeX\miktex\bin\xdvipdfmx.exe), and now it appears that compiles as it should, BUT it does not produce any PDF file, even tho the log file ends saying “Output written on satre-merleau-ponty-levinas.pdf (175 pages)” or, if I add an \includeonly sentence, “Output written on satre-merleau-ponty-levinas.pdf (9 pages)”. Every auxiliar file is also created, just not the PDF. Any thoughts?

A minimal example (not PDF output generated) is

\documentclass[11pt,twoside,book]{memoir}
\usepackage{lipsum}
\usepackage{fontspec}
\begin{document}
\lipsum
\end{document}

Under this conditions: MiKTeX portable 2.9, Texmaker portable 3.5.2 (or TeXstudio portable 2.5)

It indeed generates a PDF output if I compile it from TeXworks OR if I comment out the \usepackage{fontspec} line and compile it with pdfLaTeX.

Best Answer

This is not the optimal response, but it is an answer. You have to edit the path enviromental variable to add, at the end of it, the path to the bin MiKTeX folder (thanks to Speravir for pointing it out). In this case, just add ;E:\LaTeX\MiKTeX\miktex\bin (the semicolon is the separator). A guide to do that is in http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000549.htm.

The compiling worked in TeXworks because it sets one folder to look for all the programs, while Texmaker and TeXstudio set the path individually. So, I’m not sure if the fault is in MiKTeX or in the editors just mentioned.

So, what if I wanna use Texmaker from an usb in a computer with no admin rights? Well, just be sure to carry TeXwork (which comes with MiKTeX anyway), then work and save in Texmaker, and then compile from TeXworks.

Related Solutions

[Tex/LaTex] Configuration of Texmaker to work with MiKTeX Portable

I've had the same problem. I've found two ways to make it work:

Solution 1. Add miktex portable to the environment variable PATH.

Even if you don't have administrative privileges on the machine, you can usually set the variable just for your account. I wouldn't use it while keeping miktex on a USB drive but if you copied it onto the disk it should be alright.

Go the folder with miktex and find the subfolder miktex\bin. Copy its full path (C:\...\miktex\bin).
Go to the Start menu, type variable, select Edit environment variables for your account.
On the upper list find PATH and double-click it. Add a semicolon (;) at the end of the text in the box and after that paste the previously copied path. Close everything with OKs. If you relaunch TexMaker, it should work now. Sometimes you need to log out of your Windows account and log back in, or restart your computer, before it works.

Solution 2. Launch TexMaker from within Miktex.

This solution has the benefit of not changing anything in the computer settings but it's not permanent - you need to do this every time you start TexMaker.

Launch Miktex portable - double click the miktex-portable file.
An icon appered in the system tray, next to the clock. Right-click it and select Command Prompt.
Navigate to the folder with TexMaker using cd command (e.g. by typing cd C:\...\texmakerwin32usb, wherever you put it). Launch TexMaker by typing texmaker. It should be able to compile tex files now.

[Tex/LaTex] TeXmaker (MikTeX) using pythontex

I found a solution based on the comment of @UlrikeFischer.

This is a solution for Texmaker.

First of all, you go to the menu User>>User Commands>>Edit User Commands. Here you select Command 1. Then you rename the Menu Item to PyTex (or something other that you like). Below is a command line click on the wizard button and add Pdf Viewer and hit the Ok button.

Now, the next thing that we have to do is to add the following commands into the Command line in front of the path that was input for your pdf viewer.

pdflatex -shell-escape %.tex|pythontex %.tex|pdflatex -shell-escape %.tex|

Finally, you can use this function as a way to build your documents. In order to run this, you will need to go to User >> User Commands >> PyTex (or what you entered). There is also a shortcut that you can use.