---
name: "clxelatex"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "texlive-doc"
version: "2026.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/cluttex"
---

# clxelatex(1)

a tool for processing TeX files

Part of [cluttex(1)](/cluttex/1.md).

## NAME

**cluttex** – a tool for processing TeX files

## SYNOPSIS

**cluttex** **-e** *ENGINE* \[options\] \[**--**\] *FILE.tex*

## DESCRIPTION

Process TeX files without cluttering your working directory.

The following options are accepted:

- **-e**, **--engine**=*ENGINE*

  Specify which TeX engine to use. *ENGINE* is one of the following: pdflatex, pdftex, lualatex, luatex, luajittex, xelatex, xetex, latex, etex, tex, platex, eptex, ptex, uplatex, euptex, uptex,

- **--engine-executable**=*COMMAND+OPTIONs*

  The actual TeX command to use. \[default: *ENGINE*\]

- **-o**, **--output**=*FILE*

  The name of output file. \[default:*JOBNAME* .pdf or*JOBNAME* .dvi\]

- **--fresh**

  Clean intermediate files before running TeX. Cannot be used with --output-directory.

- **--max-iterations**=*N*

  Maximum number of running TeX to resolve cross-references. \[default: 4\]

- **--start-with-draft**

  Start with draft mode.

- **--change-directory**, **--no-change-directory**

  Change directory before running TeX. \[default: no\]

- **--watch**\[=*ENGINE*\]

  Watch input files for change. Requires fswatch or inotifywait to be installed. *ENGINE* is one of ‘fswatch’, ‘inotifywait’ or ‘auto’. \[default: auto\]

- **--tex-option**=*OPTION*

  Pass *OPTION* to TeX as a single option.

- **--tex-options**=*OPTIONs*

  Pass *OPTIONs* to TeX as multiple options.

- **--dvipdfmx-option**=*OPTION*, **--dvipdfmx-options**=*OPTIONs*

  Same for dvipdfmx.

- **--makeindex**=*COMMAND+OPTIONs*

  Command to generate index, such as ‘makeindex’ or ‘mendex’.

- **--bibtex**=*COMMAND+OPTIONs*

  Command for BibTeX, such as ‘bibtex’ or ‘pbibtex’.

- **--biber**\[=*COMMAND+OPTIONs*\]

  Command for Biber.

- **--makeglossaries**\[=*COMMAND+OPTIONs*\]

  Command for makeglossaries.

- **-h**, **--help**

  Print this message and exit.

- **-v**, **--version**

  Print version information and exit.

- **-V**, **--verbose**

  Be more verbose.

- **--color**\[=*WHEN*\]

  Make ClutTeX's message more colorful. *WHEN* is one of ‘always’, ‘auto’, or ‘never’. \[default: ‘auto’ if Fl -color is omitted, ‘always’ if *WHEN* is omitted\]

- **--includeonly**=*NAMEs*

  Insert ‘\\includeonly{*NAMEs*}’.

- **--make-depends**=*FILE*

  Write dependencies as a Makefile rule.

- **--print-output-directory**

  Print the output directory and exit.

- **--package-support**=*PKG1*\[,*PKG2*,...\]

  Enable special support for some shell-escaping packages. Currently supported: minted, epstopdf.

- **--check-driver**=*DRIVER*

  Check that the correct driver file is loaded. *DRIVER* is one of ‘dvipdfmx’, ‘dvips’, ‘dvisvgm’.

- **--source-date-epoch**=*TIME*

  Set ‘SOURCE\_DATE\_EPOCH’ variable to *TIME*. *TIME* can be ‘now’ to auto-detect.

- **--config-file**=*FILE*

  Use the specified config file.

- **--shell-escape**, **--no-shell-escape**

  - **--shell-restricted**

  - **--synctex**=*NUMBER*

  - **--fmt**=*FMTNAME*

  - **--file-line-error**, **--no-file-line-error**

  \[default: yes\]

- **--halt-on-error**, **--no-halt-on-error**

  \[default: yes\]

- **--interaction**=*STRING*

  \[default: nonstopmode\]

- **--jobname**=*STRING*

  - **--output-directory**=*DIR*

  \[default: somewhere in the temporary directory\]

- **--output-format**=*FORMAT*

  *FORMAT* is ‘pdf’ or ‘dvi’. \[default: pdf\]

## EXIT STATUS

The **cluttex** utility exits 0 on success, and \>0 if an error occurs.