is TEXINPUTS.texinfo from texmf.cnf used?

[Patrice Dumas]

Hello,

While looking at the install of texinfo.tex, I found that there are some
kpathsea variables that seem to be for texinfo, but I do not know if
they are used, and if so how.  Does someone have an idea?  It is not
very clear in the documentation how the variables line TEXINPUTS.XXXX
and similar are selected.

The variables are:

TEXINPUTS.texinfo       = 
$TEXMFDOTDIR;$TEXMF/tex/{texinfo,plain,generic,latex,}//

TEXINPUTS.pdftexinfo    = 
$TEXMFDOTDIR;$TEXMF/tex/{texinfo,plain,generic,latex,}//

In my case they are in 
/usr/share/texlive/texmf-dist/web2c/texmf.cnf

so they most probably come from Texlive, but could also have been
modified/set by the debian distribution packaging.

My feeling is that these variables are not used, .tex variables are
used, but I am not sure at all.

-- 
Pat