\lv (vimtex-viewer) could not open zathura

[777uliahshafar]

Description

Hello everyone, I am facing an issue on the zathura window.

I run a Vimtex with the neovim wsl ubuntu on windows 11. I have been using zathura as a viewer. When I compile a latex file in the first time, the zathura open its window in front (this is supposed to happen for the second compilation). But if the zathura window has already opened, either \ll or \lv make zathura window could not open or show its window in front, however the forward search highlight still works but in minimaze or in the zathura background window.

I had already research this issue for queite sometime, I think it is regarding on zathura does not support libsynctex again, but I I think it is long time ago issue right? I also found issue similar #2424 , but It relates to mac_os with dbus instead of linux or wsl in this case.

X _ my current solution might be make neovim window and zathura window open side by side, but it will not be a good. Thank you.

Steps to reproduce

min. lua

cmd('syntax on')
vim.api.nvim_command('filetype plugin indent on')

-- change compiler engine 
g.vimtex_compiler_latexmk_engines = {
    _ = '-xelatex'
}

-- compilation configuration
g.vimtex_compiler_method = "latexmk"
g.vimtex_compiler_latexmk = {
    callback = 1,
    continuous = 1,
    executable = "latexmk",
    options = {
        "-shell-escape",
        "-verbose",
        "-file-line-error",
        "-synctex=1",
        "-interaction=nonstopmode",
    },
}

g.vimtex_view_method = 'zathura'
g.vimtex_view_general_options = "-reuse-instance -forward-search @tex @line @pdf"

-- forward search after compile
cmd[[
au User VimtexEventCompileSuccess VimtexView
]]

min. latex file

\documentclass{article} % or scrartcl, scrbook, scrlttr2, scrreprt
\usepackage{polyglossia} %LuaLatex Compiler Engine
\setmainlanguage[variant=indonesian]{malay}
\setotherlanguages{english}
\PolyglossiaSetup{malay}{indentfirst=true}

\usepackage{fontspec}
\begin{document}
Project 'GNOME/gnome-latex' was moved to 'Archive/gnome-latex'. Please update any links and bookmarks that may still have the old path. 
\end{document}

Expected behavior

I would like to open zathura viewer after I compile or \lv in the continous mode.

Actual behavior

Zathura could not show in front on second compilation or even if I vimtex-view for forward search.

Do you use a latexmkrc file?

No

VimtexInfo

System info:
  OS: Ubuntu 22.04.2 LTS
  Vim version: NVIM v0.6.1
  Has clientserver: true
  Servername: /tmp/nvimingKVp/0

VimTeX project: scihub
  base: scihub.tex
  root: /home/ul/scihub
  tex: /home/ul/scihub/scihub.tex
  main parser: current file verified
  document class: article
  packages: arabicnumbers calc etoolbox expl3 fontenc fontspec fontspec-xetex hijrical iftex l3keys2e makecmds polyglossia xkeyval xparse
  compiler: latexmk
    engine: -xelatex
    options:
      -shell-escape
      -verbose
      -file-line-error
      -synctex=1
      -interaction=nonstopmode
    callback: 1
    continuous: 1
    executable: latexmk
    job: 
      jobid: 5
      output: /tmp/nvimingKVp/1
      cmd: max_print_line=2000 latexmk -shell-escape -verbose -file-line-error -synctex=1 -interaction=nonstopmode -xelatex -pvc -view=none -e '$compiling_cmd = ($compiling_cmd ? $compiling_cmd . " ; " : "") . "echo vimtex_compiler_callback_compiling"' -e '$success_cmd = ($success_cmd ? $success_cmd . " ; " : "") . "echo vimtex_compiler_callback_success"' -e '$failure_cmd = ($failure_cmd ? $failure_cmd . " ; " : "") . "echo vimtex_compiler_callback_failure"' 'scihub.tex'
      pid: 1537
  viewer: Zathura
    xwin id: 0
    cmd_start: zathura  -x "/usr/bin/nvim --headless -c \"VimtexInverseSearch %{line} '%{input}'\"" --synctex-forward 3:1:'/home/ul/scihub/scihub.tex' 'scihub/scihub.pdf'&
  qf method: LaTeX logfile

[lervag]

First, I propose you change your settings to this:

-- change defaul compiler engine
g.vimtex_compiler_latexmk_engines = {
    _ = '-xelatex'
}

g.vimtex_compiler_method = "latexmk"
g.vimtex_compiler_latexmk = {
    options = {
        "-shell-escape",
        "-verbose",
        "-file-line-error",
        "-synctex=1",
        "-interaction=nonstopmode",
    },
}

g.vimtex_view_method = 'zathura'

This does not really change anything, only simplifies and removes unnecessary extra stuff.

I run a Vimtex with the neovim wsl ubuntu on windows 11. I have been using zathura as a viewer.

Does your setup have xdotool and does xdotool work as expected here?

When I compile a latex file in the first time, the zathura open its window in front (this is supposed to happen for the second compilation). But if the zathura window has already opened, either \ll or \lv make zathura window could not open or show its window in front, however the forward search highlight still works but in minimaze or in the zathura background window.

I had already research this issue for queite sometime, I think it is regarding on zathura does not support libsynctex again,

No, if the forward search highlighting works, then libsynctex is there.

but I I think it is long time ago issue right? I also found issue similar #2424 , but It relates to mac_os with dbus instead of linux or wsl in this case.

Also not relevant here.

I would like to open zathura viewer after I compile or \lv in the continous mode.

Although you are running Ubuntu, it is still Windows WSL, and so I don't really have very many ideas for how to help here. But I'll try.

For this to work, I think you need to have a working xdotool. It is a utility that allows to manipulate X windows. Based on your :VimtexInfo, I suspect it does not work on your end. If it did, then the viewer should have a nonzero xwin id. Can you test xdotool in your terminal after opening Zathura?

1. Open Zathura.
2. In another window, run xdotool search --class Zathura. What's the output?

[777uliahshafar]

The output is : zsh : command not found: xdotool . I think I have xdotool because the last time I checked it with apt show xdotool it shows I have it with version of 1:3.20160805.1-4.

[lervag]

If you have it, then xdotool must work in a terminal. And it doesn't, so there's definitely something wrong there.

[lervag]

Try apt list xdotool or apt list --installed xdotool.

[777uliahshafar]

It still tells me that I have it. apt list xdotool:

Listing.. Done
xdotool/jammy 1:3.20160805.1-4 amd64

but the command apt list --installed xdotool only shows Listing.. Done.

[lervag]

This means it is not installed.

[777uliahshafar]

Alright, I guess it is the problem. However after I install it with sudo apt install xdotool then I run xdotool search --class Zathura it shows nothing. This might be another issue, I will open new issue for it Mr. lervag. This new issue also shows warning Viewer cannot find Zathura windows ID. Thank you for your response.

[lervag]

No need to open a new issue.

[lervag]

Alright, I guess it is the problem. However after I install it with sudo apt install xdotool then I run xdotool search --class Zathura it shows nothing.

Did you first open a Zathura window?

Which X server are you using?

[777uliahshafar]

Yes, I opened zathura windows with black background. I don't think I use X server, I have never read any x server on tutorials I have followed. I install zathura after I installed gtk3, giara, glib2. I am sorry for the little knowledge about linux environment, I used to use mac and everything seems fine with all configuration I found.

[lervag]

Ok. Well, sorry, I think we are reaching my limits here. I don't use WSL or Windows, and this problem is very likely related to that.

[777uliahshafar]

Thank you Mr. Lervag, I guess I have to keep google it :D.

[lervag]

There are some related issues that may have other useful suggestions:

• Cannot use the forword and reverse search using nvim and zathura in wsl2. #2622
• :VimtexView and \lv dont do anythin #2577

One more thought: perhaps you need dbus as well here; that is, perhaps it is missing in your system. Thus, you may want to check if :help vimtex-faq-zathura-macos can be relevant here.

[lervag]

You could do apt list --installed | grep dbus to check if it is already installed.