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

# texconfig(1)

configures teTeX or TeX Live texconfig-sys - configures teTeX or TeX Live system-wide

## NAME

texconfig - configures teTeX or TeX Live

texconfig-sys - configures teTeX or TeX Live system-wide

## SYNOPSIS

**texconfig**

**texconfig** \[ **commands** ...\]

**texconfig-sys**

## DESCRIPTION

*texconfig* allows one to configure and maintain TeX in an easy and convenient manner, offering a series of dialog boxes to the user.  The directory in which *texconfig* is found is also preferentially used to find subprograms.

The *tlmgr* program has subsumed this function for TeX Live.  This program is still supported, but the tlmgr interface is much more actively developed and tested.

After choosing settings or options, the appropriate files are changed automatically and the new settings are applied for the user.  If needed, copies of files in *TEXMFDIST* or *TEXMFMAIN* will be made in the user's *TEXMFCONFIG* tree.

*texconfig* uses either the [*whiptail*(1)](/whiptail/1.md) or [*dialog*(1)](/dialog/1.md) program to communicate with the user, so must be run in a terminal.

For making system-wide changes, which will apply to all users of TeX (for example, default paper size and so on), run *texconfig-sys* instead.  Changed or generated files will be placed in *TEXMFSYSCONFIG*. (You may need to be root to do this.)

*texconfig* also offers a non-interactive batch mode which can be accessed with the following commands

## COMMANDS

Commands that accept further options usually display available options if called without them.  For example, **texconfig dvipdfm paper** will inform about valid paper settings.

- conf

  **Display the system configuration.**

- **dvipdfm paper \[letter\|legal\|ledger\|tabloid\|a4\|a3\]**

  Set up dvipdfm to use papersize PAPER by default.

- **dvips add PRINTERNAME**

  Create a new (empty) configuration file *TEXMFCONFIG/dvips/config/config.PRINTERNAME.* This file can later be filled with the **mode, offset** or **printcmd** options

- **dvips del PRINTERNAME**

  Remove *config.PRINTERNAME*

- **dvips mode**

  List available Metafont modes.

- **dvips \[-P PRINTER\] mode MODE**

  Change the Metafont mode to *MODE* for *PRINTER* or for all output files *(config.ps),* if no **-P** option is given.

- **dvips \[-P PRINTER\] offset x-OFFSET,y-OFFSET**

  Set printer offset for *PRINTER* or for all output files *(config.ps),* if no **-P** option is given.  Offsets must be given with units, e.g. *0pt,10pt* You can use testpage.tex from the LaTeX distribution to find these numbers.

- **dvips \[-P PRINTER\] printcmd CMD**

  Set the printing command for *PRINTER* or for all output files *(config.ps),* if no **-P** option is given.  Commands might be **lp** or **lpr.** See the description of the *o* option in **info dvips** or the *-O* option in **[dvips(1)](/dvips/1.md).**

- **faq**

  Display the list of Frequently Asked Questions about **teTeX** (and their answers).

- **font vardir DIR, font ro, font rw**

  - **formats**

  This command allows to edit **[fmtutil.cnf(5)](/fmtutil.cnf/5.md)** and (re)creates any new or changed formats afterwards.

- **hyphen FORMAT**

  This command allows to edit the hyphenation configuration file for formats that support this, and recreates the formats afterwards to enable the new languages.  Available formats are shown when no *FORMAT* is given.

-

  Note that for formats that use LaTeX's *language.dat,*\
    e.g. *(pdf)jadetex* and *latex* itself, this change is not persistent, since this file is a generated file.  You should not use this command in these cases, read **[update-language(1)](/update-language/1.md)** for alternatives.

- **init \[format\]**

  Recreate *format* or all formats if none is given, and the font information.  This is the same as calling **fmtutil --byfmt format** or **fmtutil --all,** respectively, followed by **updmap.**

- **mode-list**

  List available printer modes, together with the printers they were developed for, and their DPI resolution

- **mode MODE**

  Set the default printer mode in */etc/texmf/web2c/mktex.cnf* or the respective user file in *$TEXMFCONFIG/web2c* to **MODE.**

- **paper \[a4\|letter\]**

  Set the default papersize for **dvips, dvipdfm, pdftex** and **xdvi.** The set is restricted because not all programs understand all sizes.

- **pdftex paper \[a4\|letter\]**

  Set the default paper size for **pdftex.**

- **rehash**

  Call **mktexlsr.**

- **xdvi paper PAPER**

  Set the default paper size for **xdvi.** The (long) list is available with **texconfig xdvi paper.**

## ENVIRONMENT

To let you change files, **texconfig** will open the editor specified in the VISUAL or EDITOR variables, or **sensible-editor** if both are unset.

## SEE ALSO

[*whiptail*(1)](/whiptail/1.md), [*dialog*(1)](/dialog/1.md), [*tlmgr*(1)](/tlmgr/1.md), [*tex*(1)](/tex/1.md), [*mf*(1)](/mf/1.md), [*vi*(1)](/vi/1.md), *EDITOR* environment variable.

## AUTHOR

Thomas Esser