# Maintenance

## Refreshing the File Name Database

To speed up file search, &MiKTeX; makes use of a list of known file names. This list is called the file name database (&FNDB;).

It is necessary that you refresh the file name database whenever you manually install &TeX;/&LaTeX;-related files in a user-managed &TEXMF; directory.

You can update the file name database with the help of &MiKTeXConsole;. If you prefer the command-line, you can use &OneMiKTeXUtility; (see ).

file name database defined
file name database refreshing

## Setting the Preferred Paper Format

You can set the preferred paper format with the help of &MiKTeXConsole;.

paper format setting

## Installing Updates

You can use &MiKTeXConsole; to install the latest &MiKTeX; updates.

MiKTeX Console update wizard
MiKTeX updating
packages updating
updates installing

To start &MiKTeXConsole;, search and click the &MiKTeXConsole; icon in the application launcher. Please read the &MiKTeXConsole; tutorial, for a step-by-step guide.

MiKTeX Console running

## Automatic Package Installation

&MiKTeX; has the ability to automatically install missing packages.

packages automatic installation of

&MiKTeX; asks your permission before installing a package.

Click Install to start the installation of the package. Click Cancel, to cancel the installation. If you do not want to see this dialog in the future, clear the mark from the check box Always show this dialog before installing packages. Your decision will be remembered.

## Integrating Local Additions

If you have files that you want to integrate into the &MiKTeX; setup, you have several options:

#### Use the command-line option `--include-directory=dir`

For example:

    latex --include-directory=C:\path\to\my\style\files thesis.tex

See , for more information.

#### Set environment variables

For example:

    set TEXINPUTS=C:\path\to\my\style\files
    latex thesis.tex

See , to learn more about &MiKTeX; environment variables.

#### Register a user-managed &TEXMF; root directory

Register the root of the directory tree which contains your files. The directory tree must conform to the &TDS; standard, i.e., you must imitate the directory tree in the &MiKTeX; installation directory (usually &commoninstalldir;).

This is the recommended method. You can register &TEXMF; root directories with the help of &MiKTeXConsole;.

local additions intergrating