package biblatex warning

[Nathalie Thomauske]

Hello,
since I updated my packages I constantly get the following error:
package biblatex warning: filename.bbl is wrong format version -
expected 2.1
and filename.bbl: Undefined control sequence

I've checked but the package biblatex 2.1 is installed and there is no
other version installed. Does anybody know what could be the problem?

Thanks
Nathalie

[Lars Madsen]

did you try recreating the bbl file?

sounds like the file was created in the old format, and the newer
packages expect it to be in another format

--

/daleif (remove RTFSIGNATURE from email address)

Memoir and mh bundle maintainer
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[Nathalie Thomauske]

Am 16.08.2012 16:12, schrieb Lars Madsen:
> Nathalie Thomauske wrote, On 2012-08-16 16:06:
>> Hello,
>> since I updated my packages I constantly get the following error:
>> package biblatex warning: filename.bbl is wrong format version -
>> expected 2.1
>> and filename.bbl: Undefined control sequence
>>
>> I've checked but the package biblatex 2.1 is installed and there is no
>> other version installed. Does anybody know what could be the problem?
>>
>> Thanks
>> Nathalie
>
> did you try recreating the bbl file?
>
> sounds like the file was created in the old format, and the newer
> packages expect it to be in another format
>

Thanks for your answer. I tried to delete the file but then there is
apparently no connection to the bib source. I don't know how to recreate
a new bbl file.

[Joseph Wright]

What TeX system do you use? MiKTeX users something update only part of
their installation, ending up with mismatched Biber and biblatex files.
--
Joseph Wright

[Lars Madsen]

run bibtex or biber

how did you create the .bbl file in the first place?

[Nathalie Thomauske]

I use TeX Live and TeX studio. Since I updated my packages I can't
create a new bbl file. Do you know how I could solve this problem?

[Lars Madsen]

does it give you any errors? which errors?

are you using biber or bibtex?

A bit more information about your document would be helpful

[Nathalie Thomauske]

Am 17.08.2012 14:29, schrieb Lars Madsen:
> Nathalie Thomauske wrote, On 2012-08-17 14:22:
>> Am 17.08.2012 13:20, schrieb Joseph Wright:
>>> On 16/08/2012 15:06, Nathalie Thomauske wrote:
>>>> Hello,
>>>> since I updated my packages I constantly get the following error:
>>>> package biblatex warning: filename.bbl is wrong format version -
>>>> expected 2.1
>>>> and filename.bbl: Undefined control sequence
>>>>
>>>> I've checked but the package biblatex 2.1 is installed and there is no
>>>> other version installed. Does anybody know what could be the problem?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>> Nathalie
>>>
>>> What TeX system do you use? MiKTeX users something update only part of
>>> their installation, ending up with mismatched Biber and biblatex files.
>>
>> I use TeX Live and TeX studio. Since I updated my packages I can't
>> create a new bbl file. Do you know how I could solve this problem?
>>
>
> does it give you any errors? which errors?
>
> are you using biber or bibtex?
>
> A bit more information about your document would be helpful
>

I use biber but bibtex is also installed. Before, I created the bbl file
by compiling latex, biber, latex and it worked but after the update it
doesn't create the bbl file any more.
I tried to delete all the files except the tex file, and did the latex
compilation without any errors. When I do the biber compilation it says
that it starts processing biber but on the right hand side at the bottom
between UTF-8 and the normal mode, it says that I do a bibtex
compilation. The error tells me:
No file VEI.bbl.
There were undefined references.
Please (re)run Biber on the file:(biblatex) filename (biblatex) and
rerun LaTeX afterwards.
It doesn't create the bbl file any more and then doesn't connect to the
bibliography source. But when I leave the old version of the bbl file,
and do the compilations, an auxiliary bbl file opens and says that
filename.bbl - Undefined control sequence:
% $ biblatex auxiliary file $
% $ biblatex version 1.7 $
% $ biber version 0.9.9 $
% Do not modify the above lines!
%
% This is an auxiliary file used by the 'biblatex' package.
% This file may safely be deleted. It will be recreated by
% biber or bibtex as required.
%
\begingroup
\makeatletter
\@ifundefined{v...@biblatex.sty}
{\@latex@error
{Missing 'biblatex' package}
{The bibliography requires the 'biblatex' package.}
\aftergroup\endinput}
{}
\endgroup


the errors are: File 'filename.bbl' is wrong format version - expected 2.1.

[Lars Madsen]

are you runing these commands from TeXStudio or from a command prompt?

It can be useful to see what happens if one use the later. I don't use
biblatex by self (I'll get to it when time permits).

In a clean file (clean of any aux or bbl files), containing citattions
from the appropriate bib file.

what happens with

pdflatex file.tex
biber file % or how one calls biber, it does not work on our system)
pdflatex file.tex
pdflatex file.tex

or perhaps just (you are using TeXLive)

latexmk -pdf file.tex

then latexmk should be able to make all the runs

Otherwise, make the smalles possible example (including a sample
bib-file) that to the best of your knowledge SHOULD work, and post it
here. Then we'll see what we can do

[Joseph Wright]

It looks like you have mismatched versions of biblatex.sty (the main
style file) and biber (which creates the .bbl file). That points to a
'local installation' file or similar. You do not say which operative
system you use, but at the Command Prompt/Terminal what does

biber --version

give?
--
Joseph Wright

[Joseph Wright]

The reason for asking about the command prompt output is I wonder if
TeXstudio is picking up a different biber installation to the 'managed' one.
--
Joseph Wright

[Lars Madsen]

exactly, never underestimate the value of the command prompt when debugging

[Nathalie Thomauske]

I did a small example with a new file and it worked. It created a bbl
file and even printed a bibliography at the end of the pdf. It still
says that there are erros but doesn't say anything in the error box.
So I don't know which errors that could be. I run the commands from
TeXstudio and don't know how to do it otherwise, I just recently begun
learning how to use LaTeX.

[Lars Madsen]

So let us break things down

what operating system are you using?

[Nathalie Thomauske]

I use windows 7

[Lars Madsen]

>>> I did a small example with a new file and it worked. It created a bbl
>>> file and even printed a bibliography at the end of the pdf. It still
>>> says that there are erros but doesn't say anything in the error box.
>>> So I don't know which errors that could be. I run the commands from
>>> TeXstudio and don't know how to do it otherwise, I just recently begun
>>> learning how to use LaTeX.
>>
>> So let us break things down
>>
>> what operating system are you using?
>>
>>
> I use windows 7

Interesting

Do you know if there are more than one LaTeX installation on your computer?

for example perform a search for latex.exe

[Nathalie Thomauske]

I think it might by my bibliography.bib file which is bugged because I
created a new bibliography1.bib file to use it with the example and now
tried to use it with the other tex file, it created a bbl file but when
I use this bibliography.bib file it does not create a bbl file. So I
think I have to restart my bibliography.bib and try to find the error in
it.

[Joseph Wright]

On 17/08/2012 14:47, Nathalie Thomauske wrote:
>> So let us break things down
>>
>> what operating system are you using?
>>
>>
> I use windows 7

Okay, from the Search ... box on the Start menu, type

biber --version

and report back what you get.
--
Joseph Wright

[Joseph Wright]

On 17/08/2012 14:52, Nathalie Thomauske wrote:
> I think it might by my bibliography.bib file which is bugged because I
> created a new bibliography1.bib file to use it with the example and now
> tried to use it with the other tex file, it created a bbl file but when
> I use this bibliography.bib file it does not create a bbl file. So I
> think I have to restart my bibliography.bib and try to find the error in
> it.

Possible. Biber is more exacting about the .bib format than BibTeX is.
--
Joseph Wright

[Nathalie Thomauske]

When I search for TeX Live I get 1 programme from 2012 and when I search
for biber version I get biber 1.1 but the window disappears too fast, I
can't read what's next.

[Lars Madsen]

which window?

[Nathalie Thomauske]

Am 17.08.2012 16:12, schrieb Lars Madsen:
> Nathalie Thomauske wrote, On 2012-08-17 16:07:
>> Am 17.08.2012 15:53, schrieb Joseph Wright:
>>> On 17/08/2012 14:52, Nathalie Thomauske wrote:
>>>> I think it might by my bibliography.bib file which is bugged because I
>>>> created a new bibliography1.bib file to use it with the example and now
>>>> tried to use it with the other tex file, it created a bbl file but when
>>>> I use this bibliography.bib file it does not create a bbl file. So I
>>>> think I have to restart my bibliography.bib and try to find the
>>>> error in
>>>> it.
>>>
>>> Possible. Biber is more exacting about the .bib format than BibTeX is.
>>
>> When I search for TeX Live I get 1 programme from 2012 and when I
>> search for biber version I get biber 1.1 but the window disappears too
>> fast, I can't read what's next.
>
>
> which window?
>
>
>

When I search for a programme I press the 'window' button + R and a
window opens than I can enter biber -- version and press enter, than the
command window opens.

[Lars Madsen]

in that window, type 'cmd', instead, then you get the real command
promt, not just the run command. With the run command the command prompt
window disapears as soon as the command has returned successfully.

so do a

window + R
cmd + return

in the new window type the command Joseph was asking for

[Nathalie Thomauske]

ok, thank you. I get: biber version: 1.1

[Lars Madsen]

>>>>
>>> When I search for a programme I press the 'window' button + R and a
>>> window opens than I can enter biber -- version and press enter, than
>>> the command window opens.
>>
>> in that window, type 'cmd', instead, then you get the real command
>> promt, not just the run command. With the run command the command prompt
>> window disapears as soon as the command has returned successfully.
>>
>> so do a
>>
>> window + R
>> cmd + return
>>
>> in the new window type the command Joseph was asking for
>>
>>
>>
>
> ok, thank you. I get: biber version: 1.1

That is better

Now I guess, we need Joseph, because I don't use biber (and it will not
run on my system for various reasons) so I cannot test it.

[Lars Madsen]

>> ok, thank you. I get: biber version: 1.1
>
>
> That is better
>
> Now I guess, we need Joseph, because I don't use biber (and it will not
> run on my system for various reasons) so I cannot test it.
>

My test laptop just finished installing TL12. I get biber 1.1 as well
and biblatex version 2.1 (2012/08/02)

so the problem might be in your bib-file

[Nathalie Thomauske]

Am 17.08.2012 16:49, schrieb Lars Madsen:
>
>>> ok, thank you. I get: biber version: 1.1
>>
>>
>> That is better
>>
>> Now I guess, we need Joseph, because I don't use biber (and it will
>> not run on my system for various reasons) so I cannot test it.
>>
>
> My test laptop just finished installing TL12. I get biber 1.1 as well
> and biblatex version 2.1 (2012/08/02)
>
> so the problem might be in your bib-file
>
>

Ok, thank you all very much for your help! I will try to find the
problem in the bib file and hope that it's going to work out.

[Joseph Wright]

On 17/08/2012 15:43, Nathalie Thomauske wrote:
> ok, thank you. I get: biber version: 1.1

OK, so from the command prompt all is fine. That suggests that TeXstudio
is using another version of Biber, which is installed in the 'wrong' place.

From TeXstudio, what does Options -> Configure TeXstudio -> Commands
have for whatever you've set up to run Biber ('BibTeX', perhaps).
--
Joseph Wright

[Lars Madsen]

you might want to start with a fresh empty bib file, and then copy each
full entry from the problematic .bib, one at the time

i.e. one

@NAME{...,
...
}

at a time

rerunning pdflatex and biber each time

at least it will be good training in the art of debugging

[Axel Berger]

Joseph Wright wrote:
> Biber is more exacting about the .bib format than BibTeX is.

Doesn't it stop with an error to StdErr if the problem is so big that no
bbl can be written at all?

Axel