Hi Hilmar, thanks for pointing out this side of the problem. I removed /var/lib/texmf/web2c/fmtutil.cnf and it resolved the issue.
altogether my /etc/texmf needs TLC, I have a lot of remains from post year 2K!... I will cruft it. -- ------------------------------------------------------- Christian Montanari FYI the trace indicates... > > fmtutil: fmtutil is using the following fmtutil.cnf file for writing > > changes: > > fmtutil: /etc/texmf/web2c/fmtutil.cnf so this '/etc/texmf/web2c/fmtutil.cnf' used for "writing" results indeed, is non existent on my system. but found in the /var/lib/texmf/web2c/fmtutil.cnf:"... # ## From file: /etc/texmf/fmt.d/10texlive-base.cnf # 10texlive-base.cnf # You can change/add entries to this file and changes will be preserved # over upgrades, even if you have removed the main package prior # (not if you purged it). You should leave the following pseudo comment # present in the file! # -_- DebPkgProvidedMaps -_- # luatex luatex language.def,language.dat.lua luatex.ini tex tex - tex.ini pdfetex pdftex language.def -translate-file=cp227.tcx *pdfetex.ini mf mf-nowin - -translate-file=cp227.tcx mf.ini dviluatex luatex language.def,language.dat.lua dviluatex.ini pdftex pdftex language.def -translate-file=cp227.tcx *pdfetex.ini etex pdftex language.def -translate-file=cp227.tcx *etex.ini #! luajittex luajittex language.def,language.dat.lua luatex.ini # End of file: /etc/texmf/fmt.d/10texlive-base.cnf ..." which is wrong since '/etc/texmf/fmt.d' disappeared from "my" deb-system! other relevant fmtutil.cnf are then from ... texlive-base: /usr/share/texlive/texmf-dist/web2c/fmtutil.cnf texlive-base: /usr/share/texmf/web2c/fmtutil.cnf /usr/share/texlive/texmf-dist/web2c/fmtutil.cnf:"... ### This file was automatically generated by update-fmtutil. # # Any local change will be overwritten. Please see the documentation # of updmap on how to override things from here. # ### #! mflua mflua-nowin - mf.ini dvilualatex luatex language.dat,language.dat.lua dvilualatex.ini latex pdftex language.dat -translate-file=cp227.tcx *latex.ini #! luajitlatex luajittex language.dat,language.dat.lua lualatex.ini lualatex luatex language.dat,language.dat.lua lualatex.ini mptopdf pdftex - -translate-file=cp227.tcx mptopdf.tex pdflatex pdftex language.dat -translate-file=cp227.tcx *pdflatex.ini xelatex xetex language.dat -etex xelatex.ini xetex xetex language.def -etex xetex.ini amstex pdftex - -translate-file=cp227.tcx *amstex.ini dviluatex luatex language.def,language.dat.lua dviluatex.ini etex pdftex language.def -translate-file=cp227.tcx *etex.ini #! luajittex luajittex language.def,language.dat.lua luatex.ini luatex luatex language.def,language.dat.lua luatex.ini mf mf-nowin - -translate-file=cp227.tcx mf.ini pdfetex pdftex language.def -translate-file=cp227.tcx *pdfetex.ini pdftex pdftex language.def -translate-file=cp227.tcx *pdfetex.ini tex tex - tex.ini jadetex pdftex language.dat *jadetex.ini pdfjadetex pdftex language.dat *pdfjadetex.ini pdfxmltex pdftex language.dat *pdfxmltex.ini xmltex pdftex language.dat *xmltex.ini ..." On Mon, Jul 25, 2016 at 10:49:06AM +0200, Preuße, Hilmar wrote: > On 25.07.2016 09:11, cp.montan...@tiscali.co.uk wrote: > > Hi, > > > this tex-common does not install on my system, > > here is the end of the fmtutil log...: > > > > "... > > Running mktexlsr. This may take some time... done. > > Running updmap-sys. This may take some time... done. > > Running mktexlsr /var/lib/texmf ... done. > > Building format(s) --all. > > This may take some time... > > > And this is the head: > > > --- fmtutil full log...: > > > > *** /tmp/fmtutil.5xBG5aqo > > fmtutil: fmtutil is using the following fmtutil.cnf files (in precedence > > order): > > fmtutil: /var/lib/texmf/web2c/fmtutil.cnf > > fmtutil: /usr/share/texmf/web2c/fmtutil.cnf > > fmtutil: /usr/share/texlive/texmf-dist/web2c/fmtutil.cnf > > fmtutil: fmtutil is using the following fmtutil.cnf file for writing > > changes: > > fmtutil: /etc/texmf/web2c/fmtutil.cnf > > > That file /etc/texmf/web2c/fmtutil.cnf is not delivered w/ Debian, instead > normally the files in /var are used. I guess that file contains a reference > to the context formats, although context is not installed. > > Try two things: > 1. Does installing context solves your problem? > 2. Please send a copy of the file /etc/texmf/web2c/fmtutil.cnf. > > Hilmar