>>"Kai" == Kai Großjohann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
Kai> One way to achieve the desired goal would be for Debian to patch the
Kai> *.texi files before building the info files. The patched *.texi files
Kai> should include links to correctly versioned file names, rather than
Kai> the generic file names.
Kai> This could be made easier by defining a variable in the preamble of
Kai> the *.texi file which points to the correct targets, then use that
Kai> variable. Then the standard distribution could use the variable, and
Kai> the Debian patch to change the variable value would be trivial.
Umm. I think a hint from the authors would be nice, and
indeed, in the long term, the way to go. It would also be nice if
these varibales can be given values on the command line that over
ride the values embedded in the file (think makefile vars)
Kai> Of course, this means that someone has to think about the target
Kai> of the link. For example, suppose that in the Emacs info file
Kai> there is a link to the Gnus info file which says `Use Gnus for
Kai> reading news'. Then we probably want the link to point to the
Kai> default Gnus version, rather than the one that comes with Emacs.
Kai> But for links between the Gnus and the Message info files, the
Kai> version should be retained.
This is where ahint from the authors would come in
handy. Perhaps an addendum to the arguments of the xref directive? My
point is, in the documents where an exact vesioned link is required,
the author is fully aware of the tight linkage, and can easily
provide information to xref about the version.
Kai> Whee.
Kai> I think that the most difficult part of the solution is to decide
Kai> where each link should point to. Then, implementing this decision is
Kai> a simple matter.
I have a proposal. If we agree on a naming convention for the
generated info files, and info files have a version embedded in the
name, then we can just let info find us the correct versioned target
from the info path. Of course, this requires either
a) link from the versioned name to a non versioned name, and a
ldconfig analog
b) a non versioned copy of the versioned file name on OS's that do
not support symbolic links
c) the dir mechanism that I am not cognizant of, which may help one
locate both a versioned file name and a non versioned file name.
manoj
--
Sic transit gloria Monday!
Manoj Srivastava <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <http://www.debian.org/%7Esrivasta/>
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