tlmgr-check
Check for updates to LaTeX packages
TLDR
Check the consistency of the whole TeX Live installation
Check the consistency of the whole TeX Live information in verbose mode
Check for missing dependencies
Check if all TeX Live executables are present
Check if all files listed in the local TLPDB are present
Check for duplicate filenames in the runfiles sections
SYNOPSIS
tlmgr check [options]
PARAMETERS
--all
Check all repositories, not just the main one.
--file
Check a local file for updates. Value must be a filename.
--gui
Operate with a graphical interface.
--json
Output results in JSON format.
--list
List available updates, rather than a summary.
--reinstall-forcibly
Reinstall packages forcibly if there are issues. Use with caution!
--repository <URL>
Use the specified repository instead of the default. The URL is the path of repository.
--verify-file-size
Verify the file size to ensure integrity.
DESCRIPTION
The tlmgr-check
command is a crucial utility within the TeX Live distribution that serves to identify and report available updates for installed packages. It connects to the TeX Live repository, compares the versions of your locally installed packages with those available online, and presents a summary of any outdated packages. This allows users to keep their TeX Live installation up-to-date, ensuring access to the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches.tlmgr-check
is particularly important because TeX Live is a large and complex system, and updates are released regularly. By running this command periodically, users can maintain a stable and functional environment for typesetting documents. While tlmgr
encompasses other functionalities like installing and removing packages, tlmgr-check
specifically focuses on providing information regarding available updates. When updates are available, the user can then utilize tlmgr update
to apply those changes.
The tool reduces issues that may appear if your installation is too old, especially when building shared projects or use environments with many packages.
CAVEATS
Running tlmgr-check
requires network connectivity to access the TeX Live repository. If you are behind a firewall or proxy, you may need to configure tlmgr
with the appropriate settings. Results can vary depending on the chosen TeX Live repository and network speed.
EXIT CODES
tlmgr-check
returns 0 if there are no updates available, and a non-zero value if updates are available or an error occurred.
REPOSITORY CONFIGURATION
The default TeX Live repository is automatically configured during installation, but you can change it using the tlmgr repository
command. This can be useful if you want to use a local mirror or a specific archive.
HISTORY
tlmgr
, including the check
subcommand, was introduced as part of TeX Live to provide a unified and flexible package management system. It replaced older methods of managing TeX distributions, offering a more robust and user-friendly approach. Over time, tlmgr
has evolved with new features and improvements, reflecting the ongoing development of TeX Live.