How to use the command 'tlmgr remove' (with examples)
The ’tlmgr remove’ command is used to uninstall TeX Live packages. It allows users to remove individual packages, simulate uninstallation without making any changes, remove packages without their dependencies, back up packages to a specific directory, or uninstall the entire TeX Live distribution.
Use case 1: Uninstall a TeX Live package
Code:
sudo tlmgr remove package
Motivation: This use case is useful when users want to remove a specific TeX Live package from their system.
Explanation: The ’tlmgr remove’ command followed by the package name uninstalls the specified package from TeX Live.
Example output:
removing package ... done.
Use case 2: Simulate uninstalling a package without making any changes
Code:
tlmgr remove --dry-run package
Motivation: Simulating the uninstallation of a package can help users understand the potential changes that will be made before actually removing the package.
Explanation: The ‘–dry-run’ flag allows users to simulate the uninstallation process without making any actual changes to the system. It provides users with a summary of the actions that would be taken if the package was uninstalled.
Example output:
removing package ... done.
Use case 3: Uninstall a package without its dependencies
Code:
sudo tlmgr remove --no-depends package
Motivation: This use case is suitable when users want to remove a package without removing its dependencies. It may be necessary to uninstall a particular package while leaving other packages intact.
Explanation: The ‘–no-depends’ flag instructs the ’tlmgr remove’ command to remove the specified package without removing any of its dependencies.
Example output:
removing package ... done.
Use case 4: Uninstall a package and back it up to a specific directory
Code:
sudo tlmgr remove --backupdir path/to/directory package
Motivation: Backing up a package before uninstallation can be useful for future reference or in case the package needs to be restored.
Explanation: The ‘–backupdir’ flag allows users to specify a specific directory path where the removed package will be backed up. The ’tlmgr remove’ command will create a backup of the package at the given directory.
Example output:
removing package ... done.
Use case 5: Uninstall all of TeX Live, asking for confirmation
Code:
sudo tlmgr remove --all
Motivation: Removing the entire TeX Live distribution might be necessary in certain situations, such as when upgrading to a new version or switching to a different TeX distribution.
Explanation: The ‘–all’ flag instructs the ’tlmgr remove’ command to remove all TeX Live packages installed on the system, effectively uninstalling the entire distribution. The command will ask for confirmation before proceeding with the uninstallation.
Example output:
removing package ... done.
Conclusion: The ’tlmgr remove’ command provides various options for uninstalling TeX Live packages. Users can remove specific packages, simulate uninstallation, remove packages without dependencies, back up packages to a specific directory, or uninstall the entire TeX Live distribution. This flexibility allows users to manage their packages efficiently and remove unwanted components from their TeX Live setup.
