GeneralFile dependencies in a project.

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sapochka
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2011 10:18 pm

File dependencies in a project.

Post by sapochka »

Could anybody help me with the following issue - I need to make 2 tex file dependent. First TEX file produces output-PDF file which main TEX file includes it as a picture.

In a sense, this is standard makefile dependency but I would like to use it into one of the IDE provided.

So, main output file dependent on 2.pdf and 1.tex and 2.tex, at the same time 2.pdf depends on 2.tex.

It is easy in makefile, but somehow not in TeXnicCenter IDE.

Maybe, if TeXnicCenter incapable of supporting dependencies like this, you know IDE which does?

Thank you in advance, Igor

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frabjous
Posts: 2064
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 12:20 am

Re: File dependencies in a project.

Post by frabjous »

You could always write a batch file, and have TeXnicCenter call the batch file. Don't have TXC (or Windows for that matter) installed right now, or I'd give more details. Googling TeXnicCenter and batch file brings up some things that are sure to be of interest.
sapochka
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2011 10:18 pm

Re: File dependencies in a project.

Post by sapochka »

Thank for reply, but this is not really a solution.

I mean integration into IDE similar to Visual C++ or Borland CPP where system can perform sequence of steps based on dependencies.

As somebody works on a big project, including bits and pieces included into
main file(s) batch file doesn't solve interdependency problem but recompiles everything. This is time consuming and distract from warning or error messages due to last modifications only.

Also batch processing for mainframes only? I don't have this kind of money :)

Regular makefile and gmake would be better than batch, but I cannot see any advantages in using TeXnicCenter versus notepad in this case. Or word processor with syntax check.

Maybe integration into emacs works better. I never tried emacs, but as I know it
at least have no problems w UTF-8!
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frabjous
Posts: 2064
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 12:20 am

File dependencies in a project.

Post by frabjous »

Some IDEs for LaTeX (like Kile) do have a built-in mechanism for running certain steps in a certain order. I honestly don't know whether or not TeXnicCenter has that built in or not, since I don't use it, but I really don't understand this reaction to using a batch file.

Performing "a sequence of steps" is precisely what a batch file does. For all intents and purposes, a makefile is a batch file.

Batch files have been part of Microsoft DOS from the very beginning, and they continue to work under Windows, which I assumed you were using since you are using TeXnicCenter. No "mainframe" necessary!

Granted, the batch file language for Windows (unless you use Powershell) is much less sophisticated than the ones for use on Unix-type systems (like BASH and ZSH, etc.), it should be fine for your purposes.

If you don't want it to recompile everything every time, just put a time check on the files in question.

Information on batch files (that's just a random link I found through google; you'll find lots if you look)
MartinC
Posts: 153
Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:09 pm

File dependencies in a project.

Post by MartinC »

You should ask that question on the comp.text.tex newsgroup (http://groups.google.com/group/comp.text.tex/topics).

Martin.
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