Warning: SyncTeX not installed

[s1913388]

IDE gives warning:

SyncTeX not installed: Forward search and inverse search need the synctex command line tool to be installed.

Is there a method to specify a path to synctex as in my case the command line is inside custom path such as ~/bin/synctex installed by Miktex.

[slideclimb]

I think you should be fine if it's in your PATH?

[s1913388]

Excuse me, how do I use synctex with tectonic? I just uninstalled Miktex and switch to tectonic.
As far as I know tectonic has --synctex argument.

[PHPirates]

Forward search with Tectonic works for me, you need to provide more details if you want help.

[Edit] If you're not using Tectonic, make sure you have added your texlive installation to your PATH as described in https://github.com/Hannah-Sten/TeXiFy-IDEA/wiki/Installation#-installing-tex-live

[PHPirates]

Ah yes, if you have it installed as snap there are indeed problems with using environment variables from the host. This is by design from snap if I recall correctly (installing in classic mode could help?), so that's working as intended.

[cslominski]

My PyCharm snap is installed in classic mode so that's not the answer.

[PHPirates]

Does it pick up variables from ~/.profile? I put my variables there and works fine when PyCharm is not installed as snap. I use zshrc only for my zsh-specific configuration.

[cslominski]

.profile works for both the snap and terminal launch after restart. Thank you.

[PHPirates]

Great! I will add this to the wiki.

[mike-a]

More feedbak... I regularly update my MiKTeX install. On 11Dec22 I have an update with miktex-synctex.exe filename in Windows ~Local\Programs\MiKTeX\miktex\bin\x64 folder with correct path setting. Same SyncTeX error report as others identify since then. I use JetBrains Toolbox Intellisense IDEA Ultimate with TeXiFy IDEA and PDF Viewer installed. Has the recent MiKTeX update created an issue?

[mike-a]

Yes, IntelliJ popup.
TeXiFy v 0.7.25.1.
PDF Viewer plugin, v0.14.0.

[PHPirates]

Thanks, that clarifies: the error message is from the pdf viewer. I think your MiKTeX installation is defective if it is missing the synctex binary. Could you please try reinstalling MiKTeX?
If it turns out MiKTeX removed the synctex binary we would need to adjust the pdf viewer plugin, but that maintainer is unresponsive so then I'd just symlink the synctex binary manually.

[mike-a]

I shall reinstall MiKTeX and revert back. Is there an alternative PDF viewer pluging for IntelliSense in the maintainer is responsive?

[mike-a]

I think I discovered what's happening.

Background: I've developed computer systems and projects over 50 years. I like to use old operating systems because a) wrinkles are mostly resolved, b) for SecOps purposes, and c) older systems are so much easier to use (for my ancient brain). I use Windows 7 on my main machine and other OSs on various computers and servers. And yes, I have old CP/M and MS-Dos equipment. I have no intention of upgrading on this computer. I shall do that on a new computer soon.

I updated MiKTeX before Christmas, during annual maintenence. MiKTeX stopped supporting Win 7. It's developers did not bother to mention this during upgrade. I cannot reinstall it on my system. My synctex binary disappeared. Lord knows what else has disappeared. I noticed upgrades for other software taking this approach: TeXStudio, for example, which is why I moved to Texify (an excellent replacement). I am not changing my systems to appease TeXStudio, or any other software (backward compatibility maintainers and suppliers to third-world countries please note).

Accordingly, I am stuck. Others will be too. I wonder if it is possible to distribute the standalone synctex binary. I've had a look at MiKTeX files on GitHub and see no reason why it should change proxy to miktex-synctex for distributions.

...and with that I shall do what all professionals developers should do: get a beer!

[PHPirates]

Interesting, I don't know either but the good news is, if you're just missing the synctex link to miktex-synctex, all you should have to do is create a symlink manually with mklink.

I think TeX Live still supports Windows 7. You might even be able to install an older MiKTeX release, but not sure if downloading packages will work (advantage of TeX Live: you can install all packages at once and won't need to rely on internet for it to keep working).

[mike-a]

Thanks for the assistance with this. All worked reasonably well with TeXiFy-IDEA. I throroughly recommend it over other TeX IDEs. Unfortunately, with MiKTeX stopping support for Win 7 I've had to upgrade Windows against my wish.[1] Having used Windows since it's 1985 launch it still impresses me with it's ability to impose upon people and waste their time... but that's another issue.

Thanks again!

[1] Add here a huge stream of naughty words.

[PHPirates]

Absolutely, even though the Free Software Foundation has been trying its best with GNU/Linux since its formation in 1985. Maybe it will help in the future that this website is now owned by Microsoft, who knows.