Subfiles package - not compiling subfile when main file name has spaces

Question

I am trying to make some linear algebra notes which will be comprised of a main file loading subfiles for each chapter. All of my files have spaces in the file names, which has worked fine for most things. I am even able to compile and view the main file while having spaces in both subfiles and the main file names. However, it seems that having spaces in the main file name is causing problems with compiling and viewing the subfiles (I'm pretty sure it's to do with spaces in the name of the main file, because I have tried renaming the main file to one work and I was able to compile the subfiles).

So my problem is: I would like to be able to keep spaces in the main file name and still compile the subfiles separately.

For example, here is a subfile

%!TeX root = Introduction - Linear Algebra Notes
\documentclass[Main - Linear Algebra Notes.tex]{subfiles}
\begin{document}
BLAH BLAH BLAH
\end{document}

where the subfile name is "Introduction - Linear Algebra Notes" and the main file name is "Main - Linear Algebra Notes". The error that I get is

File `Main-LinearAlgebraNotes.tex' not found. \subimport{\filename@area}{\filename@base}

and as I said above I don't get this error if I rename the main file to something like just "main" (i.e. with one word).

PS: I use TeXstudio 2.12.14.

Answer 1

It is best to avoid spaces in LaTeX filenames!

But there is, as often, a dirty workaround. Define the filename as a command:

\newcommand{\mainfile}{"Main - Linear Algebra Notes.tex"}
\documentclass[\mainfile]{subfiles}
\begin{document}
BLAH BLAH BLAH
\end{document}

But that you can do a thing does not mean, that you should do it. Please don't!