# Locally building docs complains that the parent package does not have a dependency

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/locally-building-docs-complains-that-the-parent-package-does-not-have-a-dependency/101468>\
**Category:** General Usage\
**Tags:** documentation, project\
**Created:** [July 11, 2023, 4:05am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/locally-building-docs-complains-that-the-parent-package-does-not-have-a-dependency/101468 "2023-07-11T04:05:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kapple](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/kapple/32/218915_2.png) [@kapple](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/kapple)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2023, 4:05am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/locally-building-docs-complains-that-the-parent-package-does-not-have-a-dependency/101468/1 "2023-07-11T04:05:42Z")

</div>

I have a local `MyPackage` project, with a `docs` subdirectory. Both were initially created by `PkgTemplates.jl`.

Before `Pkg.add`ing dependencies to `MyPackage`, I tested the docs build process with `Documenter.jl` in Powershell with `> cd docs` then `> julia make.jl`. I’ve browsed the pages and they work.

After `Pkg.add`ing dependencies, I try building the documentation again, and I get the error:

```julia
ERROR: LoadError: ArgumentError: Package MyPackage does not have Reexport in its dependencies:
- You may have a partially installed environment. Try `Pkg.instantiate()`
  to ensure all packages in the environment are installed.
- Or, if you have MyPackage checked out for development and have
  added Reexport as a dependency but haven't updated your primary
  environment's manifest file, try `Pkg.resolve()`.
- Otherwise you may need to report an issue with MyPackage

```

I’ve followed all the steps this error message suggested. I’ve deleted the manifest files involved. I’ve checked `MyPackage` in and out of `dev`. How do I fix this issue?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jmair](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/jmair/32/35117_2.png) [@jmair](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/jmair)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2023, 5:33am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/locally-building-docs-complains-that-the-parent-package-does-not-have-a-dependency/101468/2 "2023-07-12T05:33:01Z")

</div>

The usual workflow I use for this is first to setup the `docs` folder:

```bash
cd docs
julia --project

```

Then in the pkg REPL:

```julia
pkg] dev ..
pkg] resolve
pkg] instantiate

```

You should only need to do this once, or after you add dependencies to the outer project. After this is done, you can make with:

```julia
julia --project make.jl

```

Making sure you are in the `docs` folder, as `--project` will activate the project of the current folder. I think this is the part you are missing from what you have shown us. I hope this works!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kapple](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/kapple/32/218915_2.png) [@kapple](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/kapple)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2023, 1:27pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/locally-building-docs-complains-that-the-parent-package-does-not-have-a-dependency/101468/3 "2023-07-13T13:27:36Z")

</div>

Yes that works. Thank you!