[AUCTeX] preview files conflicting

[Carlos]

In the past I have configured compiled and installed manually - so to speak - the aucTeX files. TeX on the other hand, has followed the procedures from texlive.

One of the GNU/Linux systems gave me a few problems, so I decided altogether to take a different approach and start from scratch. Not that in itself it would guarantee a problem-free, bugged-clean environment, but it gives me a pause to trace where the malfunctions occurs or my won mistakes cause havoc

Anyhow.

During the process of installing TeX in one of the old systems I have, I had specified texlive-latexextra, (a precompiled distro's own package which is part of TeXLive nonetheless) so this system had no problem whatsoever with a consequent installation of aucTeX afterwards.

On the other system, things were not as smooth, and everything proved to be an inconvenience.

Which reproduced the following problem as it was posted years ago by this user at

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=173306

The only difference was the AucTeX installation. Whereas the user installed the pre-compiled auctex package, I on the other hand, went the ol' route and configured, made and installed everything. The results however, and not surprisingly were identical.

The only question that stands is the following:

What is the beautiful, incomparable rationale in not only including those files form preview on TeX, but also on auctex itself.

This is not a chicken or the egg question, but I can't assume that I have to have the two.

Why is it included in TeX may not the best question, but why preview itself is included in Auctex is. . . .

Without the former the latter is useless.

The conflict of files is the 'right' way - so to speak - and not what causes it, I think.

Have a good one guys.

[Arash Esbati]

Post by Carlos
Which reproduced the following problem as it was posted years ago by this user at
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=173306
The only difference was the AucTeX installation. Whereas the user
installed the pre-compiled auctex package, I on the other hand, went
the ol' route and configured, made and installed everything. The
results however, and not surprisingly were identical.

I'm not sure if I understood your question/problem correctly, so let me
restate it: Running configure script for AUCTeX installs LaTeX related
files for Preview in a way that your TeXlive gets upset. If this is
correct, you can

a) Tell configure to install the files into your local texmf or home
texmf tree (depending on your preference). You can pass the value to
configure with something like (untested):

./configure --other-opts \
--with-texmf-dir=`kpsewhich -expand-var='$TEXMFLOCAL'`
or

./configure --other-opts \
--with-texmf-dir=`kpsewhich -expand-var='$TEXMFHOME'`

b) Gain even more controll by setting

--with-tex-dir=/dir

If you want to specify an exact directory for the preview TeX files,
use --with-tex-dir=/dir. In this case, the files will be placed in
`/dir', and you’ll also need the following option:

--with-doc-dir=/dir

This option may be used to specify where the TeX documentation goes.
It is to be used when you are using --with-tex-dir=/dir, but is
normally not necessary otherwise.

I used method b) for a long time to install AUCTeX.

Check this link for the all options:

https://www.gnu.org/software/auctex/manual/auctex.html#Configure

Best, Arash

[Carlos]

Arash:

If I'm not mistaken, with make uninstall AucTeX:

prauctex.cfg among other files are removed, right?

prauctex.def
prcounters.def
preview.sty
prfootnotes.def
prlyx.def
prshowbox.def
prshowlabels.def
prtightpage.def
prtracingall.def

Now, on the TeX side, they are untouched. Correct?

I had the pre-compiled 'texlive-extra' (part of TeXlive) which includes the same files than above, and you can check the list of files here:

https://www.archlinux.org/packages/extra/any/texlive-latexextra/

I did not, however, followed the convention by the user over at

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=173306

My installation of AucTeX consisted not of a package like the user, and yet the results were identical.

That is, AucTeX had to be removed first, before texlive could be installed, hence the 'conflicting files' warning.

By the way, I thought TeXlive got rid of the 'texmf' directory and kept 'texmf-dist' as the de facto TDS. Unless my memory is faulty, which wouldn't surprise me. But I believe it happened a couple of years ago. (not my memory issue, but the changes on texlive to only have texmf-dist instead of texmf) :)

Of course, this happened a while back with another distro and they ended up removing it to close the issue, but circumstances changed if it is true that texmf no longer is used.

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=425805

Have a good one Arash. Take care guys.

[Carlos]

Post by Arash Esbati

Post by Carlos
Which reproduced the following problem as it was posted years ago by this user at
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=173306
The only difference was the AucTeX installation. Whereas the user
installed the pre-compiled auctex package, I on the other hand, went
the ol' route and configured, made and installed everything. The
results however, and not surprisingly were identical.

I'm not sure if I understood your question/problem correctly, so let me
restate it: Running configure script for AUCTeX installs LaTeX related
files for Preview in a way that your TeXlive gets upset. If this is
correct, you can

That is correct:

usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/prauctex.cfg
usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/prauctex.def
usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/prcounters.def
usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/preview.sty
usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/prfootnotes.def
usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/prlyx.def
usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/prshowbox.def
usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/prshowlabels.def
usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/prtightpage.def
usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/prtracingall.def

conflict with TeXLive

Post by Arash Esbati
a) Tell configure to install the files into your local texmf or home
texmf tree (depending on your preference). You can pass the value to
./configure --other-opts \
--with-texmf-dir=`kpsewhich -expand-var='$TEXMFLOCAL'`
or
./configure --other-opts \
--with-texmf-dir=`kpsewhich -expand-var='$TEXMFHOME'`
b) Gain even more controll by setting
--with-tex-dir=/dir
If you want to specify an exact directory for the preview TeX files,
use --with-tex-dir=/dir. In this case, the files will be placed in
--with-doc-dir=/dir
This option may be used to specify where the TeX documentation goes.
It is to be used when you are using --with-tex-dir=/dir, but is
normally not necessary otherwise.
I used method b) for a long time to install AUCTeX.

I just don't see how this will resolve it.

In the current state, TeXlive must be installed first, then AucTeX. The
files provided by the latter are already in the system.

Post by Arash Esbati
Best, Arash

You too Arash. Take care.

[Arash Esbati]

Post by Carlos

Post by Arash Esbati
I'm not sure if I understood your question/problem correctly, so let me
restate it: Running configure script for AUCTeX installs LaTeX related
files for Preview in a way that your TeXlive gets upset. If this is
correct, you can

usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/prauctex.cfg
usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/prauctex.def
usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/prcounters.def
usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/preview.sty
usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/prfootnotes.def
usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/prlyx.def
usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/prshowbox.def
usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/prshowlabels.def
usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/prtightpage.def
usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/preview/prtracingall.def
conflict with TeXLive

Post by Arash Esbati
a) Tell configure to install the files into your local texmf or home
texmf tree (depending on your preference). You can pass the value to
./configure --other-opts \
--with-texmf-dir=`kpsewhich -expand-var='$TEXMFLOCAL'`
or
./configure --other-opts \
--with-texmf-dir=`kpsewhich -expand-var='$TEXMFHOME'`

I just don't see how this will resolve it.

Open bash, enter

kpsewhich -expand-var='$TEXMFLOCAL'

and you will find out where your local-texmf resides. If you pass that
directory to configure, it will install preview files under that
directory. Ideally, you will have something like this:

usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prauctex.cfg
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prauctex.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prcounters.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/preview.sty
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prfootnotes.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prlyx.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prshowbox.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prshowlabels.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prtightpage.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prtracingall.def

Now you can install `texlive-latexextra' and other optional texlive
packages as they do not write into local-texmf directory (hopefully).

Post by Carlos
In the current state, TeXlive must be installed first, then
AucTeX. The files provided by the latter are already in the system.

That's different question. The first one was that AUCTeX installs files
into texmf-dist directory and that interferes with a later installation
of `texlive-latexextra'.

Best, Arash

[Carlos]

Post by Arash Esbati
Open bash, enter
kpsewhich -expand-var='$TEXMFLOCAL'

kpsewhich --var-value 'TEXMFLOCAL'

/usr/local/share/texmf:/usr/share/texmf

Post by Arash Esbati
and you will find out where your local-texmf resides. If you pass that
directory to configure, it will install preview files under that
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prauctex.cfg
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prauctex.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prcounters.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/preview.sty
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prfootnotes.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prlyx.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prshowbox.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prshowlabels.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prtightpage.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prtracingall.def
Now you can install `texlive-latexextra' and other optional texlive
packages as they do not write into local-texmf directory (hopefully).

Post by Carlos
In the current state, TeXlive must be installed first, then
AucTeX. The files provided by the latter are already in the system.

That's different question. The first one was that AUCTeX installs files
into texmf-dist directory and that interferes with a later installation
of `texlive-latexextra'.

Arash, maybe I didn't state it clear enough. Let me go over the steps I
followed. (Keep in mind I had never installed TeXLive that way)

1- Installed texlive-core, texlive-bin, texlive-bibextra
2- Installed AUCTeX the ol' fashion way, with configure, make, and make
install (the same way I have done it in the past)
3- I realized I needed texlive-latexextra (I think I was missing
libertine)
4- While installing texlive-latexextra, it warned about 'conflicting
files'

Step four (4) in which the warning came up, was similar than what the user
went through at

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=173306

The only difference between the user's files above, and my files, was
AUCTeX. The user installed his/her installation of AUCTeX using
'auctex-git' (precompiled AUCTeX for the distro), while I git cloned
AUCTeX from savannah.

5- cd <auctex-dir>
6- on bash $ make uninstall
7- make uninstall removed prauctex.cfg among other files
8- Successfully installed texlive-latexextra (without the warnings of
course)
9- Reinstalled AUCTeX (configure, make, make install...no flags, options
used)

My question is why was AUCTeX the owner of the files on that directory,
why did it write the files in the first place, when texlive-latexextra
will install the same files afterwards.

That's the issue I'm having problems with, to fully understand.

Post by Arash Esbati
Best, Arash

You too Arash. Take care.

[Arash Esbati]

Post by Carlos
My question is why was AUCTeX the owner of the files on that directory,
why did it write the files in the first place, when texlive-latexextra
will install the same files afterwards.

Those files are an integral part of preview, without them, it will not
work. From the manual [1]:

6. For advanced users

This package consists of two parts: a LaTeX style that splits the
output into appropriate parts with one preview object on each page,
and an Emacs-lisp part integrating the thing into Emacs (aided by
AUCTeX).

6.1 The LaTeX style file

The main purpose of this package is the extraction of certain
environments (most notably displayed formulas) from LaTeX sources as
graphics.

Preview has to install those files somewhere where TeX can find and use
them, i.e. in a texmf directory.

Now, some other TeX packages in TeXlive rely on preview.sty,
e.g. pst-pdf. Since it is not feasible to tell everybody who wants to
use pst-pdf to install AUCTeX or extract the relevant files from AUCTeX
bundle, the TeX part of preview is on CTAN and hence in TeXlive.
Preview itself has no idea how it will packaged later by TeXlive and/or
distros.

Best, Arash

Footnotes:
[1] https://www.gnu.org/software/auctex/manual/preview-latex.html#For-advanced-users

[Carlos]

Post by Arash Esbati

Post by Carlos
My question is why was AUCTeX the owner of the files on that directory,
why did it write the files in the first place, when texlive-latexextra
will install the same files afterwards.

Those files are an integral part of preview, without them, it will not
6. For advanced users
This package consists of two parts: a LaTeX style that splits the
output into appropriate parts with one preview object on each page,
and an Emacs-lisp part integrating the thing into Emacs (aided by
AUCTeX).
6.1 The LaTeX style file
The main purpose of this package is the extraction of certain
environments (most notably displayed formulas) from LaTeX sources as
graphics.
Preview has to install those files somewhere where TeX can find and use
them, i.e. in a texmf directory.
Now, some other TeX packages in TeXlive rely on preview.sty,
e.g. pst-pdf. Since it is not feasible to tell everybody who wants to
use pst-pdf to install AUCTeX or extract the relevant files from AUCTeX
bundle, the TeX part of preview is on CTAN and hence in TeXlive.
Preview itself has no idea how it will packaged later by TeXlive and/or
distros.

Thank you for your time with the explanation Arash. Appreciate it.

So this file conflict is unavoidable.

How many packages depend on preview.sty. Not "everybody" uses pst-pdf.

It'd be nice not to have the so-far-only 'file conflict' on an operating
system.

Post by Arash Esbati
Best, Arash
[1]
https://www.gnu.org/software/auctex/manual/preview-latex.html#For-advanced-users

You too Arash. Thanks again.

[Carlos]

Post by Arash Esbati
Open bash, enter
kpsewhich -expand-var='$TEXMFLOCAL'

kpsewhich --var-value 'TEXMFLOCAL'

/usr/local/share/texmf:/usr/share/texmf

Post by Arash Esbati
and you will find out where your local-texmf resides. If you pass that
directory to configure, it will install preview files under that
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prauctex.cfg
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prauctex.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prcounters.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/preview.sty
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prfootnotes.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prlyx.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prshowbox.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prshowlabels.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prtightpage.def
usr/share/local-texmf/tex/latex/preview/prtracingall.def
Now you can install `texlive-latexextra' and other optional texlive
packages as they do not write into local-texmf directory (hopefully).

Post by Carlos
In the current state, TeXlive must be installed first, then
AucTeX. The files provided by the latter are already in the system.

That's different question. The first one was that AUCTeX installs files
into texmf-dist directory and that interferes with a later installation
of `texlive-latexextra'.

Arash, maybe I didn't state it clear enough. Let me go over the steps I
followed. (Keep in mind I had never installed TeXLive that way)

1- Installed texlive-core, texlive-bin, texlive-bibextra
2- Installed AUCTeX the ol' fashion way, with configure, make, and make
install (the same way I have done it in the past)
3- I realized I needed texlive-latexextra (I think I was missing
libertine)
4- While installing texlive-latexextra, it warned about 'conflicting
files'

Step four (4) in which the warning came up, was similar than what the user
went through at

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=173306

The only difference between the user's files above, and my files, was
AUCTeX. The user installed his/her installation of AUCTeX using
'auctex-git' (precompiled AUCTeX for the distro), while I git cloned
AUCTeX from savannah.

5- cd <auctex-dir>
6- on bash $ make uninstall
7- make uninstall removed prauctex.cfg among other files
8- Successfully installed texlive-latexextra (without the warnings of
course)
9- Reinstalled AUCTeX (configure, make, make install...no flags, options
used)

My question is why was AUCTeX the owner of the files on that directory,
why did it write the files in the first place, when texlive-latexextra
will install the same files afterwards.

That's the issue I'm having problems with, to fully understand.

Post by Arash Esbati
Best, Arash

You too Arash. Take care.