General ⇒ LATEX stopped generating PDF files!

[Singularity]

LATEX has stopped producing an output PDF file. It was working fine, then it just stopped creating output files. I am not getting any errors.

The problems started when I added a package (fancyvrb), so I removed the package. LATEX still created no output and gave me no errors.

I tried deleting the .log, .aux, etc. files and restarted TeXnicCenter, but still no output file is created (in fact, it's only creating a .log file - there are no .aux, .bbl, .blg, or anything else being created).

I tried taking just the .tex file (as a text file) and copying it into a new one (as if that would make a difference), but I still get no errors and no output PDF.

I even tried restarting my PC (hey, it's Windows!), but no effect.

I have no idea what could be wrong. Is it the LATEX that's not working or the TeXnicCenter installation that was corrupted? Where do I even begin to look to find this problem (and I'm a little pressed for time, here)? Thanks for your help.

I've attached the .log file, but I don't see anything unusual in there.

[sommerfee]

See http://www.miktex.org/2.9/issues, section "TeXnicCenter compatibility"

[Singularity]

See http://www.miktex.org/2.9/issues, section "TeXnicCenter compatibility"

Thanks sommerfee.

The solution was to change MiKTeX Options for "Install missing packages on-the-fly" to either "Yes" or "No" (but not "Ask me first").

At first, I didn't know what you were suggesting or why that link applied to me: I do not have a "GUI framework cannot be initialized" message in my log file and this error seems to be for people trying to create DVI output (which I don't even know what that is). I am trying to make PDF output.

But I see that the solution at the link says to make the option change I bolded above, and that almost fixed the problem (after that I got something about appendix.sty missing, and then I got a bunch of warnings which was probably just because I had deleted the .bbl files). Anyway, it's working now.

Question: Why didn't it ask me to install the package?

Also, even the board probably hates when someone asks two different questions in a thread, you seem knowledgeable in an area I have a question about (and you probably receive emails whenever I respond, so it's kind of like I have you buttonholed - sort of), so I'm gonna break the rule.

When I installed Miktex and TexnicCenter, I had to create a huge directory of libraries or something (and I can't even remember where I put the directory, ATM). Can I get rid of that directory? Do I need it available whenever I'm running TexnicCenter and Miktex? I have limited space on my HDD and (if I can remember where it is) I would like to get rid of it. I searched all over the net at the time and could not find a satisfactory answer to what was in that directory and if I still needed it or not.

If I don't, is there some setting or something which will tell me where that directory is?

Thanks. I know it's a little off topic, and it's not a clearly stated question. But if you can help, thanks.

[sommerfee]

I do not have a "GUI framework cannot be initialized" message in my log file

This message does not appear in the log file. Where have you read it should?

and this error seems to be for people trying to create DVI output

No. Where have you read that?

after that I got something about appendix.sty missing

I guess this is because you set "Install missing packages on-the-fly" to "No". Set it either to "Yes" or install the appendix package manually, using the MikTeX package manager.

Question: Why didn't it ask me to install the package?

Because TeXnicCenter 1.0 is not able to handle that. It you want this feature, remove TeXnicCenter from your PC and use TeXnicCenter 2.0 instead, or use a different LaTeX editor, e.g. TeXworks or TeXmaker.

When I installed Miktex and TexnicCenter, I had to create a huge directory of libraries or something (and I can't even remember where I put the directory, ATM).

Why do you had to create a huge directory? Usually you just get the install application (for either MikTeX or TeXnicCenter) and execute it.

I searched all over the net at the time and could not find a satisfactory answer to what was in that directory and if I still needed it or not.

If you don't know where you have put the directory and what do you have placed in it, why should anybody else know?

If you have limited HDD space, use a graphical tool which shows you the directories which occupy the most space, e.g. as pie chart. Since I'm not using Windows I'm not aware of such tool for Windows, but I'm sure it exists.