Re: what provides tex metafont mf.base file?

[Min Sik Kim <minskim%NetBSD.org@localhost>]

On May 19, 2010, at 2:36 PM, Jeremy C. Reed wrote:
> Thanks. I installed fonts/tex-ec and upgraded to teTeX-texmf-3.0nb25. I 
> didn't know about that new package.
> 
> Now I have a different error:
> 
> kpathsea: Running mktexpk --mfmode / --bdpi 600 --mag 1+0/600 --dpi 600 
> ecbx0800
> mktexpk: Mismatched mode ljfour and resolution 600; ignoring mode.
> mktexpk: Running mf-nowin -progname=mf \mode:=ljfour; mag:=1+0/600; 
> nonstopmode; input ecbx0800
> This is METAFONT, Version 2.718281 (Web2C 7.5.7)
> I can't find the base file `mf.base'!
> grep: ecbx0800.log: No such file or directory
> mktexpk: `mf-nowin -progname=mf \mode:=ljfour; mag:=1+0/600; 
> nonstopmode; input ecbx0800' failed to make ecbx0800.600pk.
> kpathsea: Appending font creation commands to missfont.log.
> 
> 
> With the missfont.log addition of:
> 
> mktexpk --mfmode / --bdpi 600 --mag 1+0/600 --dpi 600 ecbx0800
> 
> 
> Any ideas on that? I have a feeling I have an inconsistent install of 
> the tex components.

I think your environment somehow forces using raster (pk) fonts.  This is not 
recommended in general.  A better way is to use font metrics only (.tfm) in 
compiling .tex, and later use outline fonts such as TrueType or Type 1 to 
produce the final output, .pdf or .ps.

If you want to use pk fonts, make $VARBASE/lib/texmf/fonts world-writable.  The 
following command will do that for you:

  # texconfig font rw

-- 
Min Sik Kim