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I am working on TeXworks with MikTeX 2.9 and I need to install Biber.
I downloaded the last version (2.6), saved the .exe file in the document file folder, then I opend TeXworks -> Edit -> Preferences -> Typesettings, in 'Processing tools' I added the voice with Name 'Biber', I browsed with Program to find the biber .exe file and I added the argument '$basename'.
Nonetheless, when I compile the document in 'Biber', it crashed immediately (Console output: 'Process crashed'). What did I do wrong?

Schweinebacke
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Eggman
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  • Welcome to TeX.SX! Please try using a cmd and do the biber run there. What's the output? – TeXnician Feb 24 '17 at 15:14
  • Thank you! It gaves me a System error: can't start the program because there is no cygwin1.dll file in the computer. Any ideas? In the meantime I try to reinstall the program – Eggman Feb 24 '17 at 15:19
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    The easiest way to get biber on a MikTeX machine is to use the version from its repositories (miktex-biber-bin). That works just fine (at least for me). – TeXnician Feb 24 '17 at 15:21
  • How do I do that? Also, am have 64 bit MikTeX, does it gives problems like said here? – Eggman Feb 24 '17 at 15:28
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    Just use the MiKTeX package manager (most likely the admin version of the tool) to install biber from the repository as TeXnician said. This prevents you from downloading the wrong binary as you have done. BTW: After installing biber you should update biblatex in "MiKTeX Updates (Admin)" and "MiKTeX Updates". – Schweinebacke Feb 24 '17 at 15:29
  • 2.6. is not the newest version but 2.7 and you should definitively not use the cygwin-version even if it is the one offered to you at the top of the page. If you want to install biber manually (normally not necessary as you get it with miktex) you should click through the folders until you get here https://sourceforge.net/projects/biblatex-biber/files/biblatex-biber/current/binaries/Windows/ – Ulrike Fischer Feb 24 '17 at 15:43
  • You should in general not install Biber manually. Install it via your TeX distribution (on MikTeX using the 'Package Manager') and make sure to run an update afterwards to assure that the versions of biblatex and Biber match. – moewe Feb 24 '17 at 16:52
  • Note also that the post you link about 64bit MikTeX states quite clearly that there no longer is a difference between 64bit and 42bit MikTeX when it comes to Biber. You can install the Biber binary via the 'Package Manager' in both versions. – moewe Feb 24 '17 at 16:53
  • Thanks to everyone for the clarifications, they have been very useful – Eggman Feb 27 '17 at 08:53

2 Answers2

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Okay your problem does not seem to be a problem of biber, but of your general setup. If you are using MikTeX, you should definitely do the following steps:

  1. Update your distribution (use the MikTeX Update tool as admin).

    updater

  2. Open your package manager and install (the most recent) miktex-biber-bin (just click the "Install" field in the context menu or the plus button).

    miktex-biber-bin

  3. Set up your editor to use that binary (it is in the $PATH by default, so just add biber.exe and $basename).

    the last step

TeXnician
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  • Did it, thank you very much! Now when I compile in Biber it gives me the error: 'Warning: Found biblatex control file version 3.0, expected version 2.9', but I will solve it on monday... Thanks again – Eggman Feb 24 '17 at 15:43
  • @Eggman Try to remove .aux-files etc. Probably that's just an ignorable warning. – TeXnician Feb 24 '17 at 15:44
  • @Eggman The version warning should not be ignored, it can lead to serious problems, that's why it has been 'upgraded' to a critical error in newer versions of Biber. The problem can occur after you have updated biblatex or Biber, but then it should go away after deleting the temporary files (.bcf, .bbl, .aux). If it does not go away, you need to check your versions of biblatex and Biber and update to compatible versions. If you have installed both via MikTeX's 'Package Manager', that is as easy as running the Update tool (in User and Admin mode). – moewe Feb 24 '17 at 16:50
  • Solved, thank you again. Just had to update all the packages, it has been some time since I've used LateX... – Eggman Feb 27 '17 at 08:55
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I had similar mystery crash (exit code 2), it solved by emptying the cache:

rm -rf `biber --cache`
Vesa Linja-aho
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