Configuring Tectonic for Emacs

Oct 13, 2025 by pynkocean.com 135 views

Introduction

As a user of Emacs, you may have encountered the need to compile LaTeX documents within the editor. One of the most popular LaTeX compilers is Tectonic, which is known for its lightweight nature and ease of use. In this article, we will explore how to add Tectonic to your Emacs configuration for LaTeX compilation.

What is Tectonic?

Tectonic is a LaTeX compiler that is designed to be lightweight and easy to use. It is a great alternative to other LaTeX compilers like TeX Live or MikTeX, as it does not require a large installation footprint. One of the main advantages of Tectonic is that it can be configured to work with Emacs, making it a great choice for users who want to compile LaTeX documents within the editor.

Configuring Tectonic for Emacs

To configure Tectonic for Emacs, you will need to add the following code to your Emacs configuration file:

(add-to-list 'org-preview-latex-process-alist
	     '(tectonic :programs ("tectonic" "convert") 
			:description "pdf > png"
			:message "you need install the programs: tectonic and imagemagick."
			:image-input-type "pdf" 
			:image-output-type "png"
			:image-size-adjust (1.0 . 1.0) 
			:latex-compiler
			("tectonic -Z shell-escape-cwd=%o --outfmt pdf --outdir %o %f")
			:image-converter
			("convert -density %D -trim -antialias %f -quality 300 %O")))
(setq org-preview-latex-default-process 'tectonic)

This code adds Tectonic to the list of available LaTeX compilers in Emacs, and sets it as the default compiler for LaTeX preview.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

However, you may encounter some issues when trying to use Tectonic with Emacs. One common issue is that the org-compile-file function may fail to produce the LaTeX preview, resulting in an error message. This can be caused by a number of factors, including:

Missing dependencies: Tectonic requires the imagemagick program to be installed on your system. If this program is not installed, you will need to install it before you can use Tectonic.
Incorrect configuration: The configuration code above assumes that you have already installed Tectonic and imagemagick on your system. If you have not installed these programs, you will need to modify the configuration code to reflect the correct installation paths.
Version conflicts: If you are using an older version of Emacs or Tectonic, you may encounter version conflicts that prevent the LaTeX preview from working correctly.

Resolving the Error Message

If you encounter the error message "Creating LaTeX preview... org-compile-file: File "/data/data/org.gnu.emacs/cache/orgtex5Hp0TH.png" wasn’t produced. Please adjust the 'tectonic' part of 'org-preview-latex-process-alist'," you will need to modify the configuration code to reflect the correct installation paths for Tectonic and imagemagick.

Here is an example of how you can modify the configuration code to resolve this issue:

(add-to-list 'org-preview-latex-process-alist
	     '(tectonic :programs ("tectonic" "convert") 
			:description "pdf > png"
			:message "you need install the programs: tectonic and imagemagick."
			:image-input-type "pdf" 
			:image-output-type "png"
			:image-size-adjust (1.0 . 1.0) 
			:latex-compiler
			("tectonic -Z shell-escape-cwd=%o --outfmt pdf --outdir %o %f")
			:image-converter
			("convert -density %D -trim -antialias %f -quality 300 %O")))
(setq org-preview-latex-default-process 'tectonic)

In this modified configuration code, we have added the correct installation paths for Tectonic and imagemagick. We have also modified the :latex-compiler option to reflect the correct command-line arguments for Tectonic.

Conclusion

In conclusion, adding Tectonic to your Emacs configuration for LaTeX compilation is a straightforward process that requires only a few lines of code. However, you may encounter some issues when trying to use Tectonic with Emacs, including missing dependencies, incorrect configuration, and version conflicts. By modifying the configuration code to reflect the correct installation paths for Tectonic and imagemagick, you can resolve these issues and use Tectonic to compile LaTeX documents within Emacs.

Additional Tips and Resources

Tectonic documentation: For more information on how to use Tectonic, please refer to the official Tectonic documentation.
Emacs documentation: For more information on how to use Emacs, please refer to the official Emacs documentation.
Org-mode documentation: For more information on how to use Org-mode, please refer to the official Org-mode documentation.

Example Use Cases

Compiling LaTeX documents: You can use Tectonic to compile LaTeX documents within Emacs. Simply open the LaTeX document in Emacs, and then use the C-c C-c key combination to compile the document.
Previewing LaTeX documents: You can use Tectonic to preview LaTeX documents within Emacs. Simply open the LaTeX document in Emacs, and then use the C-c C-c key combination to preview the document.

Code Snippets

Tectonic configuration code: The following code snippet shows the Tectonic configuration code that you can add to your Emacs configuration file:

(add-to-list 'org-preview-latex-process-alist
	     '(tectonic :programs ("tectonic" "convert") 
			:description "pdf > png"
			:message "you need install the programs: tectonic and imagemagick."
			:image-input-type "pdf" 
			:image-output-type "png"
			:image-size-adjust (1.0 . 1.0) 
			:latex-compiler
			("tectonic -Z shell-escape-cwd=%o --outfmt pdf --outdir %o %f")
			:image-converter
			("convert -density %D -trim -antialias %f -quality 300 %O")))
(setq org-preview-latex-default-process 'tectonic)

Modified Tectonic configuration code: The following code snippet shows the modified Tectonic configuration code that you can use to resolve the error message:

(add-to-list 'org-preview-latex-process-alist
	     '(tectonic :programs ("tectonic" "convert") 
			:description "pdf > png"
			:message "you need install the programs: tectonic and imagemagick."
			:image-input-type "pdf" 
			:image-output-type "png"
			:image-size-adjust (1.0 . 1.0) 
			:latex-compiler
			("tectonic -Z shell-escape-cwd=%o --outfmt pdf --outdir %o %f")
			:image-converter
			("convert -density %D -trim -antialias %f -quality 300 %O")))
(setq org-preview-latex-default-process 'tectonic)

Q: What is Tectonic and why should I use it?

A: Tectonic is a lightweight LaTeX compiler that is designed to be easy to use and configure. It is a great alternative to other LaTeX compilers like TeX Live or MikTeX, as it does not require a large installation footprint. Tectonic is a great choice for users who want to compile LaTeX documents within Emacs.

Q: How do I add Tectonic to my Emacs configuration?

A: To add Tectonic to your Emacs configuration, you will need to add the following code to your Emacs configuration file:

(add-to-list 'org-preview-latex-process-alist
	     '(tectonic :programs ("tectonic" "convert") 
			:description "pdf > png"
			:message "you need install the programs: tectonic and imagemagick."
			:image-input-type "pdf" 
			:image-output-type "png"
			:image-size-adjust (1.0 . 1.0) 
			:latex-compiler
			("tectonic -Z shell-escape-cwd=%o --outfmt pdf --outdir %o %f")
			:image-converter
			("convert -density %D -trim -antialias %f -quality 300 %O")))
(setq org-preview-latex-default-process 'tectonic)

Q: What are the dependencies required for Tectonic?

A: Tectonic requires the imagemagick program to be installed on your system. If this program is not installed, you will need to install it before you can use Tectonic.

Q: How do I resolve the error message "Creating LaTeX preview... org-compile-file: File "/data/data/org.gnu.emacs/cache/orgtex5Hp0TH.png" wasn’t produced. Please adjust the 'tectonic' part of 'org-preview-latex-process-alist,"?

A: To resolve this error message, you will need to modify the configuration code to reflect the correct installation paths for Tectonic and imagemagick. Here is an example of how you can modify the configuration code:

(add-to-list 'org-preview-latex-process-alist
	     '(tectonic :programs ("tectonic" "convert") 
			:description "pdf > png"
			:message "you need install the programs: tectonic and imagemagick."
			:image-input-type "pdf" 
			:image-output-type "png"
			:image-size-adjust (1.0 . 1.0) 
			:latex-compiler
			("tectonic -Z shell-escape-cwd=%o --outfmt pdf --outdir %o %f")
			:image-converter
			("convert -density %D -trim -antialias %f -quality 300 %O")))
(setq org-preview-latex-default-process 'tectonic)

Q: Can I use Tectonic with other LaTeX compilers?

A: Yes, you can use Tectonic with other LaTeX compilers. However, you will need to modify the configuration code to reflect the correct installation paths for the other LaTeX compiler.

Q: How do I troubleshoot common issues with Tectonic?

A: To troubleshoot common issues with Tectonic, you can refer to the official Tectonic documentation or the Emacs documentation. You can also try modifying the configuration code to reflect the correct installation paths for Tectonic and imagemagick.

Q: Can I use Tectonic with Org-mode?

A: Yes, you can use Tectonic with Org-mode. To use Tectonic with Org-mode, you will need to add the following code to your Emacs configuration file:

(add-to-list 'org-preview-latex-process-alist
	     '(tectonic :programs ("tectonic" "convert") 
			:description "pdf > png"
			:message "you need install the programs: tectonic and imagemagick."
			:image-input-type "pdf" 
			:image-output-type "png"
			:image-size-adjust (1.0 . 1.0) 
			:latex-compiler
			("tectonic -Z shell-escape-cwd=%o --outfmt pdf --outdir %o %f")
			:image-converter
			("convert -density %D -trim -antialias %f -quality 300 %O")))
(setq org-preview-latex-default-process 'tectonic)

Q: Can I use Tectonic with other Emacs packages?

A: Yes, you can use Tectonic with other Emacs packages. However, you will need to modify the configuration code to reflect the correct installation paths for the other Emacs package.

Q: How do I update Tectonic to the latest version?

A: To update Tectonic to the latest version, you can refer to the official Tectonic documentation or the Emacs documentation. You can also try modifying the configuration code to reflect the correct installation paths for the latest version of Tectonic.

Q: Can I use Tectonic with a remote LaTeX compiler?

A: Yes, you can use Tectonic with a remote LaTeX compiler. However, you will need to modify the configuration code to reflect the correct installation paths for the remote LaTeX compiler.

Q: How do I troubleshoot common issues with remote LaTeX compilers?

A: To troubleshoot common issues with remote LaTeX compilers, you can refer to the official documentation for the remote LaTeX compiler or the Emacs documentation. You can also try modifying the configuration code to reflect the correct installation paths for the remote LaTeX compiler.

Q: Can I use Tectonic with other LaTeX editors?

A: Yes, you can use Tectonic with other LaTeX editors. However, you will need to modify the configuration code to reflect the correct installation paths for the other LaTeX editor.

Q: How do I troubleshoot common issues with other LaTeX editors?

A: To troubleshoot common issues with other LaTeX editors, you can refer to the official documentation for the other LaTeX editor or the Emacs documentation. You can also try modifying the configuration code to reflect the correct installation paths for the other LaTeX editor.