How to delete a file in latex code?

Question

How to delete a file in latex code with normal complie tex. I create temporary files and when i finish using them I want to delete them. It not delete by bash or editor. Thankyou!

TeX cannot delete files. You have to use a extension like \write18 to call an external program/shell to delete a file. — Schweinebacke, May 02 '17 at 15:47
I'd be wary of deleting files via shell-escape. Until you're ready to clean up you want them around; e.g., if you are doing cross-referencing or a bibliography deleting the .aux file between runs will not get you what you want. I believe most editors that act as front ends for running TeX also have a clean command (e.g., maybe called Trash AUX Files). — Herb Schulz, May 02 '17 at 17:28
The question sounds like a duplicate of the question Deleting external/auxiliary files that Werner posted, but none of the answers there actually address it. @Schweinebacke can you just post your comment as an answer? This seems like a useful question and answer to have around, for future reference. — ShreevatsaR, May 02 '17 at 17:41
@ShreevatsaR For an answer I'd need to know the system, the format and eventually the used engine. So: No, I cannot give a real answer. But feel free to do it. — Schweinebacke, May 02 '17 at 18:04
@Werner Not delete ".aux,.log,..." by bash or editor or complie command. In "normal complie" by code in latex. Thanks for answer but read full my question, please. — StackUser, May 03 '17 at 05:28
Can you give an example of a file type you would like to delete? — samcarter_is_at_topanswers.xyz, Dec 18 '18 at 15:14

score 4 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 23 '18 at 15:47

You could use the cool latex automation tool arara to automatically delete the text file after the compilation is finished:

% !TeX program = txs:///arara
% arara: pdflatex
% arara: clean: { files: [ foo.txt ] }

\documentclass{article}

\begin{document}
content...
\end{document}

How to delete a file in latex code?

1 Answers1