How to use paths with space in usepackage?

Question

I need to use an absolute path for my package. One of the folder I use contains a space. I cannot change the name of this folder.

So, how can I use paths containing the space character in usepackage ?

EDIT

I tried to put my path between double quotes (") but then, Latex tries to open the "<my path>".sty !!

I am using pdftex (I don't know if this info is relevant).

It doesn't work. The error :! LaTeX Error: \File "".sty' not found.` — Colas, Jun 10 '13 at 14:28
The argument to usepackage is a package name not a file path. It sometimes half works (but usually gives a warning) if you use a path (whether or not there is a space) but it is always incorrect usage. — David Carlisle, Jun 10 '13 at 14:48
@DavidCarlisle So, how should I do if my package is not in the directory of the .tex file (and the path includes space characters). Thanks ! — Colas, Jun 10 '13 at 14:52
@Colas What method do you use for running LaTeX on your file? The terminal or a front end such as TeXworks or TeXStudio or whatever? — egreg, Jun 10 '13 at 14:54
I use terminal for this problem. And I also use a front end (TeXShop). — Colas, Jun 10 '13 at 14:55
@Colas The proper place for local packages in MacTeX is in ~/Library/texmf/ with the proper internal structure. Anything you put there will be found automatically. See How do I add a .sty file to my MacTeX/TeXShop installation? Do you have some reason for not putting local packages there? — Alan Munn, Jun 10 '13 at 15:05
I'm quite surprised that no-one has stated the (for me) obvious answer: *Never* use file of directory names with spaces. *Ever.* Full stop. You'll save yourself an awful lot of botheration. — Brent.Longborough, Sep 12 '16 at 19:16
@Colas You mean you have a kind of compulsion such that you simply can't resist? — cfr, Sep 12 '16 at 23:10

David Carlisle · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-13T06:46:43.530

9

The initial statement is false:

I need to use an absolute path for my package.

\usepackage does not take a path at all --- it takes a package name.

Set TEXINPUTS to include the folder in which you have placed mdframed.sty and then just use

\usepackage{myownmackage}

For TeX Live and other web2c based systems you can set TEXINPUTS either as an environment variable or (better) in your texmf.cnf file.

edited Sep 13 '16 at 06:46

answered Jun 10 '13 at 14:52

David Carlisle

757,742

Isn't this a bad example given that it would make much more sense to use tlmgr to install it? – cfr Sep 12 '16 at 23:11
@cfr not sure why I used that package name, probably I just had it in another answer at the time. Changed to a non standard name. – David Carlisle Sep 13 '16 at 06:47

score 5 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 10 '13 at 15:17

If you're an expert with the terminal, you can add a symbolic link to the directory with a space in its name:

mkdir -p ~/Library/texmf/tex/latex
ln -s "/path/to/the/folder/with/space in name" ~/Library/texmf/tex/latex/spaceinname

Then simply doing \usepackage{mypackage} will find the file mypackage.sty in the folder with a space in its name. You can use whatever name you prefer instead of spaceinname, so long as it doesn't contain spaces (but it could).

On GNU/Linux systems, the Library/ part should be omitted, it's specific for MacTeX on Mac OS X.

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 12 '16 at 18:50

1

For example, if the path is /User/Bob/Google\ Drive/file.sty.

I think the simplest way is:

\usepackage{"/Users/Bob/Google\space Drive/file"}

I am using Latex. And it works.

answered Sep 12 '16 at 18:50

Alanthink

19

1

\usepackage only takes a package name. If the package uses \ProvidesPackage, then LaTeX will generate a warning, if the name specified in \ProvidesPackage does not match the name in \usepackage. – Heiko Oberdiek Sep 12 '16 at 19:02
@HeikoOberdiek But it works for my Latex engine. – Alanthink Sep 12 '16 at 22:50
As David said above, it may half-work, but it is wrong and liable to break. If you want to use it yourself, fine. If it breaks, you get to keep all the itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny pieces in the funeral urn of your document. But please don't recommend this to others as they may not want funeral urns. – cfr Sep 12 '16 at 23:09
@cfr Thanks for your advice. I may use David's solution. – Alanthink Sep 12 '16 at 23:17

How to use paths with space in usepackage?

3 Answers3