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I just downloaded first MiKTex 2.9 and then TeXmaker 4.0.2. However, I am having a hard time getting it to compile. I always get the info box saying Can't detect the file name followed by the info box saying Could not start the command.

In the Configure Texmaker -> Commands options box I have set the path in the bottom to:

"C:/Program Files (x86)/MiKTeX 2.9/miktex/bin"

I have also tried putting this file path in the specific command paths above (together with the filenames). But neither helps. I have been looking around at this and other Tex pages, and other people have asked the same question. I have tried to do, what they were advised to do, but is has not help.

I hope that somebody can help me.

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    Welcome to TeX.SX! You may have a look on our starter guide
    – texenthusiast
    Commented May 9, 2013 at 13:33
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    Have you done Verify a latex installation: Commandline/Terminal to see output.pdf
    – texenthusiast
    Commented May 9, 2013 at 13:39
  • for pdflatex in TeXmaker see if you have pdflatex -synctex=1 -interaction=nonstopmode %.tex in pdflatex command box. You might need to restart the windows to take the miktex bin path into effect
    – texenthusiast
    Commented May 9, 2013 at 13:45
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    Okay, now I got it to compile - unlike TeXworks, Texmaker does not force you to save when you are compiling, but instead comes up with the above mentioned message...
    – Marcus
    Commented May 9, 2013 at 19:13
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    @Marcus pdflatex or latex engine needs filename.tex file which is created by TeXmaker only when you save it with filename. there is no need to touch the "Add to PATH" commmand line in TeXmaker. Once MiKTeX is installed and Computer is restarted you will get miktex bin path automatically added to system PATH. So the default configuration works. Incase you need add pdflatex -synctex=1 -interaction=nonstopmode %.tex to pdflatex and latex -interaction=nonstopmode %.tex for latex in TeXmaker configure command box
    – texenthusiast
    Commented May 9, 2013 at 19:28

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
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Common newbie mistakes/errors Using TeXmaker

  1. From Version 4.1 onwards, A document must be saved with an extension (and without spaces or accents in the name) before being used by a command pops out when the file is compiled (Press QuickBuild) before saving it as file-name.tex.

    • Save the file as file-name.tex and then compile using QuickBuild or PDFLATEX.

2.cannot detect file-name and Could not start the command errors:

  • In TeXmaker one needs to save .tex code as file-name.tex before compiling otherwise above errors pop out. In TeXworks, it's better handled by suggesting the untitled-1.tex file name before compiling.

    1. Error: Log file not found! :Texmaker (Windows version) - first use - Error: Log file not found!.

      • when compiling a .tex document in TeXmaker without installing LaTeX distribution MiKTeX/TeXLive/MacTeX etc. Since TeXmaker is just like any LaTeX editor needs LaTeX distribution to compile .tex and output .pdf

      • "Note : a LaTeX distribution must be installed on the system to use TeXmaker" at TeXmaker Download page .

      • Verify a latex installation: Commandline/Terminal after installation and In MiKTeX, after installation,Computer needs a restart to get miktex bin path added to system PATH automatically.

    2. "File not found" error: TexMaker - "File not found" when viewing as pdf. when the file-name.pdf is not available/generated from file-name.tex during compilation due to following reasons:solutions

  • Wrong output file path :uncheck "build" subdirectory in Configure window

  • Lack of read/write output folder permissions : copy file-name.tex to another folder and compile

  • renamed file-name.pdf : file-name.tex and file-name.pdf names should be same

  • Missing file-name.pdf : Incase of latex compilation only -file-name.dvi is only available, one may need dvips and ps2pdf to get compiled-file.pdf

  • file-name.pdf locked by another pdf-viewer : Close the external pdf-viewer

  • Unable to generate file-name.pdf: Delete improper .aux files and why to Delete .aux file in order to successfully compile

  • Common newbie errors Unable to generate pdf encountered in TeXniccenter are are applicable to TeXmaker as well.

    1. Finally configure TeXmaker whenever necessary as defaults work fine.

      • Typical command line arguments to place in the configure TeXmaker window :adding flag -synctex=1 to enable synctex and -shell-escape to run external programs(when neccessary)

      • pdflatex -synctex=1 -interaction=nonstopmode %.tex

      • latex -interaction=nonstopmode %.tex

      • xelatex -synctex=1 -interaction=nonstopmode %.tex

Related Links:

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I faced the same problem and tried pretty much everything mentioned in the above answer with no luck. What worked for me though is uninstalling MiKTex and reinstalling a 64-bit version as administrator (for all users). I read this solution somewhere and it worked. I am sorry I don't know the reason why it worked.

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  • This has quite probably nothing to do with 32-bit vs. 64-bit version, but you did obviously a clean reinstallation. BTW perhaps also important for you: How can one install biber on miktex 64-bit?. And what I notice just now: Welcome to TeX.SX! You can have a look at our starter guide to familiarize yourself further with our format.
    – Speravir
    Commented Feb 6, 2014 at 2:00
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    This seems more appropriate as a comment, as it does not necessarily answer the question but suggests one way that the OP might troubleshoot the problem.
    – Adam Liter
    Commented Feb 6, 2014 at 2:12
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    @Adam However, that's what multiple answers are for: That people see the multiple options they have. And voting is for giving feedback as which asnwer is more correct, or which solution is preferable.
    – yo'
    Commented Feb 6, 2014 at 8:39
  • a clean install is an easy way to reset paths, perhaps reinstalling TeXMaker might have done the job in itself.
    – PatrickT
    Commented Oct 21, 2014 at 8:58
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It happens to me too, and I solved it, the reason is I have already opened MiKTeX, and try to use build function in TeXmaker, you just need to close MiKTeX, and try quick build again.

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I faced the problem of 'log file not found'. When I removed spaces in the file name of my tex document it compiled succesfully! I am baffled as previous documents compiled even with spaces in the file name.

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  • That should be better a comment ...
    – Mensch
    Commented Sep 8, 2022 at 16:29
  • Does anyone have an answer to this?
    – jalul
    Commented Sep 8, 2022 at 16:57

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