Re: macro madness

[Sergey Poznyakoff]

Karl Berry <address@hidden> wrote:

> Although it would be "logical" to be able to use @ifset with macro
> arguments, my mind simply boggles at implementing it (especially in
> TeX).  Sorry.

Yes, I see. Though, I'd say implementing them in TeX looks simpler than
in makeinfo, something along the lines:

\def\foo#1#2{%
\ifx#2\empty
  ...
\else
  ...
\fi
}

> Although @else would be convenient, I don't think it's really necessary,
> since @ifset ... @end ifset @ifnotset ... @end ifnotset achieves the
> same thing (I believe).

Generally speaking, yes, they do.
 
> Again, can I ask where you need these complicated features in the tar
> manual?  Maybe there is a simpler way ...

Well, not that I need it there, in fact, I have already coped without it
by defining two separate macros.  But it appeared to me that such a
feature would be useful in defining macros with optional arguments. 

> Overall, Texinfo's @macro should probably never have been invented.  I
> rather rue the day that I gave in to rms about it.

Why, when used reasonably they are a nice feature.

Regards,
Sergey