t Bangs head against keyboard

I compile somebody else's file, one which I know works fine (um, on his computer, not mine, but he gave me the password, so let's ignore that problem right now).

His file? Compiles (at some point, two weeks ago, it stopped, and I was sure I poisoned his computer as well. I don't know how come it stopped, or how come it got back to working again, but let's ignore that problem right now).

I do a careful copy-and-paste, changing nothing, only putting my content instead of his (that content which is still not properly finished, due to all the computer mess, but let's ignore that problem right now).

I try to compile my identical-to-his other-than-things-that-are-not-supposed-to-matter.

My file doesn't compile.

And *that* is the one problem I really can't afford to ignore right now. Sigh.

I'll totally bang my head against the keyboard if that'll help. I'll even try to do it to in timing to fit a song of its choice, if that'll please the computer demons.

OK, I'm going to take the very advice I give my students when they're stuck, erase *everything* and start from scratch. Wish me luck. Or an easy song to keep up with in my banging.

Nilly, if you email me the error message you get when you try to compile, I might be able to help you figure out what's wrong.

The only thing is that I might not be available for a couple of hours, and I know it's after midnight where you are...

Thanks, Tom.

I'll tell you what: I'll go down the from-scratch road (that's what made it decide it's willing to compile again after it didn't like it for a while, so I have some hope), which will probably take the good part of a couple of hours anyway, and if that doesn't work, you'll already be back anyway, and I'll be able to ask you for help then. Will that work?

As for the time, well, I don't see much sleep in my future before shabbat, anyway, so I don't think *that* will be the worse of my worries.

Also? Just knowing that across the ocean there's good people willing to go out of their way to try and help me? That's really helps, in and of itself. Thank you.

Much compile~ma for Nilly!!!

All the toms are on my side!

Now it says that the files I just put in the directory - that I can *see* in the directory, and, yes, after I refresh it - are not there.

ION, in case you're curious, this is how the Obama campaing is dealing with being swiftboated:

Obama aide: Corsi "a discredited liar"

Obama's H.Q. isn't really worried that Corsi's book will convert readers -- the bulk sales to conservative groups that fueled the book's rise on the bestseller list make it clear that Corsi is preaching to the choir. What aides do worry about is the phony charges in the book -- like Obama's alleged secret Muslim ties, or a hidden drug habit -- might make their way into the media echo chamber without a response. If the book is going to get publicity, strategists want to make sure their version gets told, too -- right down to Corsi's other wacky theories, like the one about how oil is actually a renewable resource. "We're going to make sure that every time the book is discussed, everyone who reads about it also reads that he got a bunch of things wrong," Vietor said. "He's a discredited liar. He's peddling garbage to continue the Bush-Cheney politics he helped perpetuate four years ago."

Timelies all!

I've got a widow's peak, and...it's ok. Sometimes I'd like to be able to wear bangs like Betty Page without needing lots of product. Oh, well...

Feel free to contact me as well, if it is C++ or Java I might be able to help. My b.org and e-mail checking is pretty sporadic though.

Thanks, Gud. It's LaTex.

And the demon in the machine, of course. Or my poisonous touch. Or their combination. Or my keyboard who really wants to be banged to the rhythm of "Help!" (yeah, I decided my keyboard is a Beatles fan).

But, like with Tom - the very notion of willingness to help is a real help, in and of itself. Thank you.

Nilly, you're running LaTeX from a Unix or Linux command-line, right? You might try running "printenv" from both you and your colleague's shells, and see if he has stuff related to TeX or LaTeX that you're missing.