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

# texmfstart(1)

ConTeXt TDS Runner Tool

## NAME

 mtxrun - ConTeXt TDS Runner Tool

## SYNOPSIS

**mtxrun \[** *OPTIONS ...* **\] \[** *FILENAMES* **\]**

## DESCRIPTION

**ConTeXt TDS Runner Tool**

## OPTIONS

- **--script**

  run an mtx script (lua prefered method) (--noquotes), no script gives list

- **--evaluate**

  run code passed on the commandline (between quotes) (=loop) (exit\|quit aborts)

- **--execute**

  run a script or program (texmfstart method) (--noquotes)

- **--direct**

  run a program

- **--resolve**

  resolve prefixed arguments

- **--ctxlua**

  run internally (using preloaded libs)

- **--internal**

  run script using built in libraries (same as --ctxlua)

- **--locate**

  locate given filename in database (default) or system (--first --all --detail)

- **--tree=pathtotree**

  use given texmf tree (default file: setuptex.tmf)

- **--path=runpath**

  go to given path before execution

- **--ifchanged=filename**

  only execute when given file has changed (md checksum)

- **--iftouched=old,new**

  only execute when given file has changed (time stamp)

- **--makestubs**

  create stubs for (context related) scripts

- **--removestubs**

  remove stubs (context related) scripts

- **--stubpath=binpath**

  paths where stubs wil be written

- **--windows**

  create windows (mswin) stubs

- **--unix**

  create unix (linux) stubs

- **--addbinarypath**

  prepend the (found) binarypath to runners

- **--verbose**

  give a bit more info

- **--trackers=list**

  enable given trackers

- **--progname=str**

  format or backend

- **--platform=str**

  show platform as seen by script

- **--systeminfo=str**

  show current operating system, processor, etc

- **--edit**

  launch editor with found file

- **--launch**

  launch files like manuals, assumes os support (--all,--list)

- **--associate**

  launch files like manuals, assumes os support via suffix association

- **--timedrun**

  run a script and time its run

- **--autogenerate**

  regenerate databases if needed (handy when used to run context in an editor)

- **--usekpse**

  use kpse as fallback (when no mkiv and cache installed, often slower)

- **--forcekpse**

  force using kpse (handy when no mkiv and cache installed but less functionality)

- **--prefixes**

  show supported prefixes

- **--generate**

  generate file database

- **--variables**

  show configuration variables

- **--configurations**

  show configuration order

- **--directives**

  show (known) directives

- **--trackers**

  show (known) trackers

- **--experiments**

  show (known) experiments

- **--expand-braces**

  expand complex variable

- **--resolve-path**

  expand variable (completely resolve paths)

- **--expand-path**

  expand variable (resolve paths)

- **--expand-var**

  expand variable (resolve references)

- **--show-path**

  show path expansion of ...

- **--show-details**

  show details of configuration

- **--var-value**

  report value of variable

- **--find-file**

  report file location

- **--find-path**

  report path of file

- **--format-path**

  report path where format files end up

- **--pattern=string**

  filter variables

- **--all=string**

  report all (when applicable)

- **--format=string**

  filter by file format (when applicable)

- **--selfclean=string**

  remove libraries (maintainance)

- **--selfmerge=string**

  embed libraries (maintainance)

- **--selfupdate=string**

  move to bin path (maintainance)

- **--help=string**

  show help info

- **--version=string**

  show version info

- **--gethelp=string**

  launch the given help info (--url)

## AUTHOR

More information about ConTeXt and the tools that come with it can be found at:

**maillist:** ntg-context@ntg.nl / http://www.ntg.nl/mailman/listinfo/ntg-context

**webpage:** http://www.pragma-ade.nl / http://tex.aanhet.net

**wiki:** http://contextgarden.net