Re: address@hidden: Bug#115503: texi2dvi: source file directory included in search path]

[Florian Weimer]

Eli Zaretskii <address@hidden> writes:

> On Sat, 13 Oct 2001, Florian Weimer wrote:
> 
> > texi2dvi includes the source file directory in the TeX search path.
> > This is quite unusual for programs processing -I options (such as C
> > compilers), and even makeinfo doesn't do that.
> 
> This is done on purpose: many documents come with their own version of
> texinfo.tex, and it might not be possible to TeX them with a different
> version of TeX macros.

I see, I was not aware of this restriction.

> So I think removing the source file directory from the TeX search path
> in the default mode of operation would be a grave mistake.

I'm afraid, but I have to agree.  Especially since texinfo.tex
contains no provisions to skip a second inclusion, otherwise you could
preload the proper version of texinfo.tex from the command line.

> Perhaps an option to override that would be a good idea.

Yes, something like "-I-".  In addition, the current directory could
be moved to the *end* of the search path specified at the command line
(but of course in front of the original search path).

(Due to the paperwork involved, I won't submit a patch, though.  Is
this a problem?)

> Btw, can you tell why does this cause you problems?

I'm using a configuration management system which maintains a stack of
baseline directories (one for each branching level), and a directory
for the current change (the unit of modification).  These directories
are layered on top of each other using search path directories to form
one virtual directory.  Usually, newer versions precede older ones in
the search path, but with Texinfo, if the main Texinfo file is in the
baseline directory, newer versions of included files in the same
directory (but in a different position on the directory stack) are
ignored, and the baseline version is used.

-- 
Florian Weimer                    address@hidden
University of Stuttgart           http://cert.uni-stuttgart.de/
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