(web2c.info)Initial TeX

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4.2 Initial TeX
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The "initial" form of TeX is invoked by 'tex -ini'.  It does lengthy
initializations avoided by the "virgin" ('vir') form, so as to be
capable of dumping '.fmt' files (Note: Memory dumps).  For a detailed
comparison of virgin and initial forms, Note: Initial and virgin.

   For a list of options and other information, Note: tex invocation.

   Unlike Metafont and MetaPost, many format files are commonly used
with TeX.  The standard one implementing the features described in the
'TeXbook' is 'plain.fmt', also known as 'tex.fmt' (again, Note: Memory
dumps).  It is created by default during installation, but you can
also do so by hand if necessary (e.g., if an update to 'plain.tex' is
issued):
     tex -ini '\input plain \dump'
(The quotes prevent interpretation of the backslashes from the shell.)
Then install the resulting 'plain.fmt' in '$(fmtdir)'
('/usr/local/share/texmf/web2c' by default), and link 'tex.fmt' to it.

   The necessary invocation for generating a format file differs for
each format, so instructions that come with the format should explain.
The top-level 'web2c' Makefile has targets for making most common
formats: plain latex amstex texinfo eplain.  Note: Formats, for more
details on TeX formats.