> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://overleaf-pro.ayaka.space/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://overleaf-pro.ayaka.space/latex/more-topics/44-tex-engine-command-line-options-for-pdftex-xetex-and-luatex.md). # TeX engine command line options for pdfTeX, XeTeX and LuaTeX ## pdfTeX Version 1.40.19 To access a summary of pdfTeX's commandline options, run the following command ``` pdftex --help ``` to see this list: ``` Usage: pdftex [OPTION]... [TEXNAME[.tex]] [COMMANDS] or: pdftex [OPTION]... \FIRST-LINE or: pdftex [OPTION]... &FMT ARGS Run pdfTeX on TEXNAME, usually creating TEXNAME.pdf. Any remaining COMMANDS are processed as pdfTeX input, after TEXNAME is read. If the first line of TEXNAME is %&FMT, and FMT is an existing .fmt file, use it. Else use `NAME.fmt', where NAME is the program invocation name, most commonly `pdftex'. Alternatively, if the first non-option argument begins with a backslash, interpret all non-option arguments as a line of pdfTeX input. Alternatively, if the first non-option argument begins with a &, the next word is taken as the FMT to read, overriding all else. Any remaining arguments are processed as above. If no arguments or options are specified, prompt for input. -draftmode switch on draft mode (generates no output PDF) -enc enable encTeX extensions such as \mubyte -etex enable e-TeX extensions [-no]-file-line-error disable/enable file:line:error style messages -fmt=FMTNAME use FMTNAME instead of program name or a %& line -halt-on-error stop processing at the first error -ini be pdfinitex, for dumping formats; this is implicitly true if the program name is `pdfinitex' -interaction=STRING set interaction mode (STRING=batchmode/nonstopmode/ scrollmode/errorstopmode) -ipc send DVI output to a socket as well as the usual output file -ipc-start as -ipc, and also start the server at the other end -jobname=STRING set the job name to STRING -kpathsea-debug=NUMBER set path searching debugging flags according to the bits of NUMBER [-no]-mktex=FMT disable/enable mktexFMT generation (FMT=tex/tfm/pk) -mltex enable MLTeX extensions such as \charsubdef -output-comment=STRING use STRING for DVI file comment instead of date (no effect for PDF) -output-directory=DIR use existing DIR as the directory to write files in -output-format=FORMAT use FORMAT for job output; FORMAT is `dvi' or `pdf' [-no]-parse-first-line disable/enable parsing of first line of input file -progname=STRING set program (and fmt) name to STRING -recorder enable filename recorder [-no]-shell-escape disable/enable \write18{SHELL COMMAND} -shell-restricted enable restricted \write18 -src-specials insert source specials into the DVI file -src-specials=WHERE insert source specials in certain places of the DVI file. WHERE is a comma-separated value list: cr display hbox math par parend vbox -synctex=NUMBER generate SyncTeX data for previewers according to bits of NUMBER (`man synctex' for details) -translate-file=TCXNAME use the TCX file TCXNAME -8bit make all characters printable by default -help display this help and exit -version output version information and exit pdfTeX home page: Email bug reports to pdftex@tug.org. ``` ## LuaTeX Version 1.08.0 To access a summary of LuaTeX's commandline options, run the following command ``` luatex --help ``` to see this list: ``` Usage: luatex --lua=FILE [OPTION]... [TEXNAME[.tex]] [COMMANDS] or: luatex --lua=FILE [OPTION]... \FIRST-LINE or: luatex --lua=FILE [OPTION]... &FMT ARGS Run LuaTeX on TEXNAME, usually creating TEXNAME.pdf. Any remaining COMMANDS are processed as luatex input, after TEXNAME is read. Alternatively, if the first non-option argument begins with a backslash, luatex interprets all non-option arguments as an input line. Alternatively, if the first non-option argument begins with a &, the next word is taken as the FMT to read, overriding all else. Any remaining arguments are processed as above. If no arguments or options are specified, prompt for input. The following regular options are understood: --credits display credits and exit --debug-format enable format debugging --draftmode switch on draft mode (generates no output PDF) --[no-]file-line-error disable/enable file:line:error style messages --[no-]file-line-error-style aliases of --[no-]file-line-error --fmt=FORMAT load the format file FORMAT --halt-on-error stop processing at the first error --help display help and exit --ini be iniluatex, for dumping formats --interaction=STRING set interaction mode (STRING=batchmode/nonstopmode/scrollmode/errorstopmode) --jobname=STRING set the job name to STRING --kpathsea-debug=NUMBER set path searching debugging flags according to the bits of NUMBER --lua=FILE load and execute a lua initialization script --[no-]mktex=FMT disable/enable mktexFMT generation (FMT=tex/tfm) --nosocket disable the lua socket library --output-comment=STRING use STRING for DVI file comment instead of date (no effect for PDF) --output-directory=DIR use existing DIR as the directory to write files in --output-format=FORMAT use FORMAT for job output; FORMAT is 'dvi' or 'pdf' --progname=STRING set the program name to STRING --recorder enable filename recorder --safer disable easily exploitable lua commands --[no-]shell-escape disable/enable system commands --shell-restricted restrict system commands to a list of commands given in texmf.cnf --synctex=NUMBER enable synctex (see man synctex) --utc init time to UTC --version display version and exit Alternate behaviour models can be obtained by special switches --luaonly run a lua file, then exit --luaconly byte-compile a lua file, then exit --luahashchars the bits used by current Lua interpreter for strings hashing See the reference manual for more information about the startup process. Email bug reports to dev-luatex@ntg.nl. ``` ## XeTeX Version 0.99999 To access a summary of XeTeX's commandline options, run the following command ``` xetex --help ``` to see this list: ``` Usage: xetex [OPTION]... [TEXNAME[.tex]] [COMMANDS] or: xetex [OPTION]... \FIRST-LINE or: xetex [OPTION]... &FMT ARGS Run XeTeX on TEXNAME, usually creating TEXNAME.pdf. Any remaining COMMANDS are processed as XeTeX input, after TEXNAME is read. If the first line of TEXNAME is %&FMT, and FMT is an existing .fmt file, use it. Else use `NAME.fmt', where NAME is the program invocation name, most commonly `xetex'. Alternatively, if the first non-option argument begins with a backslash, interpret all non-option arguments as a line of XeTeX input. Alternatively, if the first non-option argument begins with a &, the next word is taken as the FMT to read, overriding all else. Any remaining arguments are processed as above. If no arguments or options are specified, prompt for input. -etex enable e-TeX extensions [-no]-file-line-error disable/enable file:line:error style messages -fmt=FMTNAME use FMTNAME instead of program name or a %& line -halt-on-error stop processing at the first error -ini be xeinitex, for dumping formats; this is implicitly true if the program name is `xeinitex' -interaction=STRING set interaction mode (STRING=batchmode/nonstopmode/ scrollmode/errorstopmode) -jobname=STRING set the job name to STRING -kpathsea-debug=NUMBER set path searching debugging flags according to the bits of NUMBER [-no]-mktex=FMT disable/enable mktexFMT generation (FMT=tex/tfm) -mltex enable MLTeX extensions such as \charsubdef -output-comment=STRING use STRING for XDV file comment instead of date -output-directory=DIR use existing DIR as the directory to write files in -output-driver=CMD use CMD as the XDV-to-PDF driver instead of xdvipdfmx -no-pdf generate XDV (extended DVI) output rather than PDF [-no]-parse-first-line disable/enable parsing of first line of input file -papersize=STRING set PDF media size to STRING -progname=STRING set program (and fmt) name to STRING -recorder enable filename recorder [-no]-shell-escape disable/enable \write18{SHELL COMMAND} -shell-restricted enable restricted \write18 -src-specials insert source specials into the XDV file -src-specials=WHERE insert source specials in certain places of the XDV file. WHERE is a comma-separated value list: cr display hbox math par parend vbox -synctex=NUMBER generate SyncTeX data for previewers according to bits of NUMBER (`man synctex' for details) -translate-file=TCXNAME (ignored) -8bit make all characters printable, don't use ^^X sequences -help display this help and exit -version output version information and exit Email bug reports to xetex@tug.org. ``` --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. 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