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(web2c.info)initex invocation

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`initex' invocation
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  `initex' is the "initial" form of TeX, which 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):
     initex '\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.