WinEdt ⇒ Compilation impossible

[tabenda]

I am a good LaTeX user and using it for almost five years.

But this is the most frequent, weird and incomprehensible problem that I could find ever. Now I have to write my thesis but any of my LaTeX files (even the sample/example documents) are not beeing compiled. I've a full installation of MiKTeX and I'm using WinEdt. The error snapshot is attached with the message. Any help in this regard will highly be appreciated.

A quick solution is needed as I'm not able to compile any single document. Thanks in advance.

[localghost]

Did you change something significantly in your system configuration? Did you try to compile on the command line?


Thorsten

[tabenda]

yes I tried but no use.....
showing undefined 'control sequence \documentclass'
kindly see the snapshot

[localghost]

[…] showing undefined 'control sequence \documentclass' :? […]

Are you sure that you compiled with PDFLaTeX and not only with PDFTeX? At least the first line of the resulting log would be important.

[…] kindly see the snapshot

The quality of your screen captures is rather bad. They don't let me recognize the relevant details. It would be better if you provide only captures of the concerned window and not a complete screen dump. Furthermore you should check the quality before posting.

[Johannes_B]

I'm with Thorsten on that matter. I guess you used PDFTeX instead of PDFLaTeX. This happens. And the quality of your screenshots really is bad, it's hard to say, if there are Latin glyphs in the picture.

You can open your log file and append the concerning details to your posts, or even attach your complete log to your post.


Best regards
Johannes

[tabenda]

well, I get the error shown in my first post when use PDF texify or PDF Latex icons directly.
No other window appears.
The command window or error shown in my second post appears when I use to compile it using TEX icon.
Sorry for poor quality snapshots kindly see the attached.
I am not sure that I am running it using command window. I just complied it using TEX icon.
Is there any other way to run it from command window???

[localghost]

well, I get the error shown in my first post when use PDF texify or PDF Latex icons directly. […]

The seems to indicate some problems with the WinEdt settings. So ask I again whether you did any modifications to these settings.

The command window or error shown in my second post appears when I use to compile it using TEX icon. […] I just complied it using TEX icon. […]

And that's the crucial mistake. You have to use the "PDFLaTeX" button. I'm surprised that as an advanced user you don't know that.

Is there any other way to run it from command window???

Open a command line via "Start" menu. If I remember correctly, pressing "Win+R", typing "cmd" and confirming with "Enter" should start it. Navigate to the folder with your document and type in the following.

Code: Select all

pdflatex document

Replace "document" with the real name of the code to be compiled.

By the way, after finishing your thesis you should think about upgrading your TeX system. MiKTeX is seven years old and has reached its end of life with the end of 2008. This won't allow you to install updates.

[tabenda]

oh well I was using PDFLatex icon and getting the discussed error, however, now i 've run it from command line as guided by you. See the snapshot, you may be able to suggest something now, i think,

[localghost]

As suggested in my last response you need to upgrade your TeX system now. This is inevitable. Either upgrade to the current MiKTeX 2.9 or install TeX Live 2013 instead. Be prepared for other problems because the new system will bring new package versions.

[tabenda]

Ok I try to get and install it.
Thank you so very much for your prompt response.
Regards