Decision Guidance ⇒ No PDF output! How to fix? Install anew?

[esozo]

Hi there,

I am in a big trouble and would appreciate your help.

I have used ProText + MikTech 2.7 + Technic Center for about two years. Everything went just fine until today. What the situation looks like: Either of Technic Center or LED now writes .pdf docs that are empty (damaged) or does not produce any output at all. The error message in LED:
"New.dvi -> New.pdf
dvi_init: Specified DVI file doesn't exist
Output file removed."
The error message in the damaged .pdf:
"Adobe Reader could not open 'filename.pdf' because it is either not a supported file type or because the file has been damaged."

What could be the possible cause? It was a hectic day indeed and I only can think of two changes: First, I was cleaning a bit in my C:\ directory and I moved and then placed back the ProText folders.

Another change, I updated Options / Directiories in Technic Center to include up-to-date folders there.

As LED appears to have the same problems as Technic Center, I suspect that the problem must be related to ProText or a sort of fundamental cause (not related to Technic Center). I have not touched Acrobat Reader or anything related to it, so...

Any idea what I should check out and reset?
Or, do you think I should install everything anew? Anyway I considered instaling up-to-date stuff. How to proceed? I don't remember the installation process any well. First, ProText, then MikTech, then Technic Center? I need to fix this urgently, have a deadline!

If this sounds chaotic and desperate, well, yeah, it is! Please just write some questions for me which I have not answered if necessary. THANKS for helping!!!!

[frabjous]

You can't just move around folders and update the location in TeXnicCenter. LaTeX has its own way of storing where to find various stuff. Still, it's very hard to suggest a particular course of action without knowing more about the situation. Can you post the .log file that results when you try to compile/build a .tex file?

[esozo]

Hi there,

thanks for your reply.

No, it is not my hobby activity to move folders around, don't worry. It happened as I assumed those folders belong to an old installation which is not used anymore and intended to clean them. Just to be safe, I made a backup before that. After I realized there is a problem, I just placed exactly the same folders back where they were. That's it.

As for the log files: I attach three sorts of log files for you to preview:
succesfulbutcompiledalreadybefore = I went back to one of .tex files that were created, compiled and produced pdf a few days ago. In TechnicCenter I clicked on the Build Current File button and it went fine, .pdf produced. (BTW, no worry, I made a copy of the .tex file, saved under a new name to be sure that I did not confuse with the previously created .pdf in that directory).

didntcreatepdfatall.log = a new file, created after the problem started; I used elsarticle class in this file which I was not using before, but is a part of my MikTex 2.7 distribution;

createdpdfbutdamaged.log = this one creates .pdf, but Acrobat says the file is damaged

I hope I have explained it well enough. Please rescue me

[frabjous]

Apart from using the outdated utopia package (--I'd use mathdesign with the utopia option--), it isn't obvious to me what the problem is from the .log files, though it is clear that there are "no pages of output" from the one you call "corrupted", so the fault isn't the PDF reader.

Maybe someone else can tell.

Can you compile a simple document like:

Code: Select all

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
Hello world!
\end{document}

?

But if it were me, I'd go ahead and install MikTeX 2.8 anyway, just to get the newest version, and try that.

[esozo]

Hi there,

thanks. Downloading MikTex 2.8 is precisely what I am trying to do. I have two computers here, but only one internet connection.

I chose the germany berlin mirror for a complete download and it stopped at 75 per cent. I unplugged the cable. What shall I do now, don't you know? Can I continue with another mirror or will it start again? I only have about 50 minutes, the campus will close. Sorry, it's panic.

[frabjous]

If you have an internet connection, I'd try compiling your source with an online LaTeX server, e.g.:

http://sciencesoft.at/latex/?lang=en

http://www.verbosus.com/

http://docs.latexlab.org/

You don't have time to both fix your installation and manage your project.

(Oops, noticed this probably isn't in time. Well, I hope you got it sorted.)

[esozo]

Hi there,

no, no, you are right, I'm not in time with my work at all. But I already installed 2.8 + Technic Center anew. It writes simple hello world article but also a simple elsarticle. Tomorrow, I will try more difficult files. Let us hope.

Thanks for your support and suggestions. If it won't work, I will certainly try to see the alternative downloads you proposed, etc, etc.

Thanks again, it means a lot to one, receiving prompt support in such a horror situation!!!

[frabjous]

Ok, but just to be clear. Those aren't downloads. Those are working LaTeX installations that you can use on the internet without downloading anything to your own computer.