[tex-live] texlive setup problems

[Charles E Campbell]

Zdenek Wagner wrote:
> This usually happens when you have two TeX distros and the TeX Live 
> binary is not at the _beginning_ of PATH. The files are then often 
> mixed and the result is total confusion.
>
I've now got my PATH fixed...

which latex
/usr/local/texlive/2016/bin/x86_64-linux/latex

but it now gives me yet another problem:

latex roster2016.tex
This is pdfTeX, Version 3.14159265-2.6-1.40.17 (TeX Live 2016) 
(preloaded format=latex)
  restricted \write18 enabled.

kpathsea: Running mktexfmt latex.fmt
mktexfmt: mktexfmt is using the following fmtutil.cnf files (in 
precedence order):
mktexfmt: mktexfmt is using the following fmtutil.cnf file for writing 
changes:
mktexfmt:   /home/cec/.texlive2016/texmf-config/web2c/fmtutil.cnf
mktexfmt [INFO]: writing formats under 
/home/cec/.texlive2016/texmf-var/web2c
mktexfmt [INFO]: did not find entry for byfmt=latex, skipped
mktexfmt [INFO]: Total formats: 0
mktexfmt [INFO]: exiting with status 0
I can't find the format file `latex.fmt'!

I'd moved two earlier instances out (.texlive2007/ to 
keep_.texlive2007/, and similarly for .texlive2012).  Once I get a 
working latex I plan on removing those, btw.
This sounds like another path issue...

/usr/local/texlive/2016/texmf-var/web2c/pdftex/latex.fmt

does exist.

Thank you for helping with this,
Chip Campbell