MiKTeX 'Invalid argument' error
Ahmed Musa
Please is there an alternative to MiKTeX for Windows OS users?
Joseph Wright
> Please is there an alternative to MiKTeX for Windows OS users?
--
Joseph Wright
Ulrike Fischer
> Please does anyone know the meaning of MiKTeX's 'invalid argument'
> error.
It means what it says: Somewhere is an invalid argument.
> My file compiles fine but the DVI viewer reports this
> error and says its a 'MiKTeX problem'. Acrobat viewer doesn't
> give this error and displays well. There is no help forthcoming
> from the MiKTeX mailing list.
How should someone be able to help you if you don't offer any
sensible information like a minimal example, how you compile and
which application gives the error? You didn't even say that you are
trying to use YAP!
Sorry but your question was like "I get an '! Undefined control
sequence.' error, what should I do?". I answer such questions only
if I have a lot time (which I haven't currently) and feel pity with
a real newbie (which you are not, you are a package writer, you
should be able to make better problem reports.)
Btw: If it is not a problem with your document but with the
application you will probably have to make a trace:
http://www.miktex.org/bugs
--
Ulrike Fischer
Ahmed Musa
> sequence.' error, what should I do?".
Interesting analogy. Thanks, I will check further.
Dan Luecking
<amu...@gmail.com> wrote:
>Please does anyone know the meaning of MiKTeX's 'invalid argument'
>error. My file compiles fine but the DVI viewer reports this error
>and says its a 'MiKTeX problem'. Acrobat viewer doesn't give this
>error and displays well. There is no help forthcoming from the
>MiKTeX mailing list. I can't find any error list/glossary in the
>MiKTeX manual.
>
(1) The tex executable has a bug.
(2) The DVI viewer has a bug.
(3) The DVI viewer's configuration file (if any) contains
an error (this is really a subitem of (1) unless one
edits that file oneself).
(4) The DVI file has become corrupted.
(5) The DVI file contains a \special not recognized
by the DVI viewer (or not in the format expected).
I have encountered all of these. I see (5) on a regular
basis and ignore it. But I have also induced (3) more
than a few times through experimentation (with an old
viewer called windvi). I have seen (4) in downloaded
files, and have reported bugs in class (1) and (2) a couple
of times over the years.
However, with all the different TeX engines around now,
I suppose it is also possible a "non-standard" DVI file
could be created by one of them, and that a viewer might
have a problem with that.
Finally, if a viewer needs to read a .map file for fonts,
it might encounter an invalid line in it. It is also
conceivable mktexpk might be reporting an error in bitmap
font generation.
Dan
To reply by email, change LookInSig to luecking
Ahmed Musa
> Here are a few possible explanations:
>
> (1) The tex executable has a bug.
> (2) The DVI viewer has a bug.
> (3) The DVI viewer's configuration file (if any) contains
> an error (this is really a subitem of (1) unless one
> edits that file oneself).
> (4) The DVI file has become corrupted.
> (5) The DVI file contains a \special not recognized
> by the DVI viewer (or not in the format expected).
>
Dan, thanks. This has been useful.
dilee...@gmail.com
happ...@gmail.com
> Please does anyone know the meaning of MiKTeX's 'invalid argument' error. My file compiles fine but the DVI viewer reports this error and says its a 'MiKTeX problem'. Acrobat viewer doesn't give this error and displays well. There is no help forthcoming from the MiKTeX mailing list. I can't find any error list/glossary in the MiKTeX manual.
>
> Please is there an alternative to MiKTeX for Windows OS users?