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Previous tex files used bibtex as a backup. I wanted to update this to biber to use a certain cite-style (apa). I have checked the download/updated on Tex Live Utility and changed the settings for commands etc in TexMaker. But when I try to run the file I get the following error message:

Error : could not start the command : "biber.exe" "abc"

MWE:

\documentclass[11pt]{article}
\usepackage[backend=biber,citestyle=apa,bibstyle=apa]{biblatex}
\bibliography{xyz}
\usepackage{endnotes}

\let\footnote=\endnote


\begin{document}


text text text... \cite{citekey}


\theendnotes
{\singlespacing\printbibliography}
\end{document}

I have tried various strategies recommended in other posts---checking downloads, settings for compiler etc---to no avail.

Update: running biber as a standalone command works normally. The problem arises when running the LaTex/biber/LaTex cycle.

Marmitrob
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    Can you check that you have installed Biber in the TeX Live Utility? Can you try running biber --version in the command line? (Some more first-aid hints: https://tex.stackexchange.com/q/286706/35864) – moewe Dec 18 '20 at 20:11
  • I have checked some first-aid hints. As per the top answer: biber is installed correctly and the terminal returns the help page. I am not sure if I am running biber correctly, but I don't get the question-mark errors. I was initially get an error because I was running biblatex as a backend but I have fixed this. I have configured TexMaker to run biber. Perhaps my biblatex and bibtex don't match? I just wasn't expecting this error message in that case. ETA: I am running biber version 2.14. – Marmitrob Dec 18 '20 at 20:19
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    Can you try to compile your document from the command line (assuming your document is called mydoc.tex navigate to the directory in the command line, then run pdflatex mydoc, biber mydoc, pdflatex mydoc, pdflatex mydoc)? Double check your editor settings with https://tex.stackexchange.com/q/154751/35864. The message your are getting either comes from your OS or your editor. It does not appear to be from Biber or a TeX-related component. – moewe Dec 18 '20 at 20:22
  • I cannot compile from the command line. I get the following error: 
     restricted \write18 enabled.
entering extended mode
! I can't find file `mydoc,'.
<*> mydoc, 
           biber mydoc, pdflatex mydoc, pdflatex mydoc```

I think my editor settings are as required.
    – Marmitrob Dec 18 '20 at 20:33
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    You need to be in the correct folder for this to work (navigate to the folder with cd in the command line) and you need to use the name of your main .tex file. So pdflatex mydoc only works if your document is indeed called mydoc.tex. – moewe Dec 18 '20 at 20:36
  • I don't understand the use of cd in the command line. It does not seem to generate any output, just a new line. I have renamed the file mydoc.tex for simplicity, so I don't think that is the issue. – Marmitrob Dec 18 '20 at 20:49
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    "tex live utility" is on a Mac? is your biber executable really biber.exe not biber ? – David Carlisle Dec 18 '20 at 20:50
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    When you open the command line, you are usually not in the folder/directory, where your TeX file is. So you have to move there. This is usually done by typing cd followed by the a folder path. (I don't know your operating system, so I can't link to any more specific guide. But if you search for your OS and "terminal" on the web you should find many helpful guides telling you about basic terminal usage, cd, etc.) – moewe Dec 18 '20 at 20:50
  • @DavidCarlisle Ah, I removed the ".exe" from the settings and it now runs without an error message. – Marmitrob Dec 18 '20 at 20:55

1 Answers1

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It sounds as if you are on a Mac but have an incorrectly ported Windows configuration where the biber executable would be biber.exe. executables on Mac and Linux are usually extension-less, so biber.

David Carlisle
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