[XeTeX] How to manually create the xelatex.fmt?

[Arthur Reutenauer]

> Hm. I don't understand how this can be a general usable work-around.
> What actually is the "appropriate" directory here? Do you have a
> newer/local version of latex.ltx in this directory? 

  Actually, if you look at a latex.ltx that has that check (the one from
stock TeX Live 2011 still has code for the "expiry date", for example),
you can see that all LaTeX does is to issue an \errmessage, which you
can simply ignore when running xetex -ini in interactive mode; the
format will still be built.  However, fmtutil aborts by default on
error, if memory serves.  Hence, it may be that Chris did actually see
the error and simply typed Enter; or maybe it's something else, but
clearly there's more to it than the two-line instructions he sent.

  For the record, the relevant bits from the LaTeX kernel are:

	\edef\fmtversion{2011/06/27}
	\iffalse
	\def\reserved at a#1/#2/#3\@nil{%
	  \count@\year
	  \advance\count at -#1\relax
	  \multiply\count@ by 12\relax
	  \advance\count@\month
	  \advance\count at -#2\relax}
	\expandafter\reserved at a\fmtversion\@nil
	\ifnum\count@>65
	  \typeout{^^J%
	!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!^^J%
	!  You are attempting to make a LaTeX format from a source file^^J%
	!  That is more than five years old.^^J%
	!^^J%
	!  If you enter <return> to scroll past this message then the format^^J%
	!  will be built, but please consider obtaining newer source files^^J%
	!  before continuing to build LaTeX.^^J%
	!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!^^J%
	}
	   \errhelp{To avoid this error message, obtain new LaTeX sources.}
	   \errmessage{LaTeX source files more than 5 years old!}
	\fi
	\let\reserved at a\relax
	\fi

  As you can see, the check is surrounded by \iffalse ... \fi and is
hence never actually run.

	Arthur