I can't figure out what causes the brace error with this test.tex example file: \starttext \placefigure[margin]{A caption}{\externalfigure[]} {test}. \stoptext $ texexec test [...] ! Too many }'s. l.4 {test} . ? H You've closed more groups than you opened. Such booboos are generally harmless, so keep going. If I change {test}. to The {test}. then it compiles fine. $ texexec --version TeXExec 5.4.3 - ConTeXt / PRAGMA ADE 1997-2005 texexec : TeXExec 5.4.3 - ConTeXt / PRAGMA ADE 1997-2005 texutil : TeXUtil 9.0.1 - ConTeXt / PRAGMA ADE 1992-2006 tex : pdfeTeX, 3.141592-1.21a-2.2 (Web2C 7.5.4) context : ver: 2006.04.17 23:14 cont-en : ver: 2006.04.17 23:14 fmt: 2006.5.10 mes: english -Sanjoy