Building format files

A format file contains a pre-compiled set of macros which TEX can load in very quickly. To build a format file you need to run INITEX (in the TEX menu). You may need to rebuild all format files if you edit a configuration file and change certain TEX parameters to suit your typesetting needs or your Mac's memory capacity. Building a format file is quite easy; here are the steps used to create Plain.fmt:
  1. Run INITEX, wait for the ``**'' prompt, type ``Plain\dump'' and hit the Return key. INITEX will begin reading plain.tex from the Plain sub-folder in TeX-inputs.
  2. You'll eventually get a standard dialog box allowing you to save the format information in the file and folder of your choice. The default file shown will be Plain.fmt. The best location for format files is the TeX-formats folder.
  3. Note that Plain.log is created in the current folder. It's not needed, so delete it.
The steps needed to create LaTeX.fmt are very similar:
  1. Run INITEX, wait for the ``**'' prompt, type ``LaTeX.ltx'' and hit Return (you don't need to add \dump). INITEX will read latex.ltx from the LaTeX sub-folder in TeX-inputs.
  2. The dialog box will show LaTeX.fmt, so just save this file in the TeX-formats folder.
  3. Delete LaTeX.log if you want to.
If you decide to rename one of the existing formats, or add a completely new format, then remember to update your configuration file(s).

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