Hi
> The goal of testpage.tex is to match the output to the physical
> page size, and the default paper size must *not* be used since the
> file explicitly asks for a paper size. Hence the need for a fix.
Since this is a LaTeX base file, please sent your complaints to the
LaTeX team, they have an issue tracker.
> Note that paperconf is designed to allow a user-level default.
> However, TeX uses a system-level default only. For instance, with
Since when? I don't have paperconf available anymore, but when I wrote
the support code, there was only /etc/papersize ...
> PAPERSIZE=a5 pdflatex
> /usr/share/texlive/texmf-dist/tex/latex/base/testpage.tex
>
> the generated PDF file still has the A4 page size, because A4 is still
> the system-level default for TeX.
Yes, and I explained you why. There is no setup for physical papersize
done in testfile.tex.
> Changing the paperconf default has the effect of reconfiguring the TeX
> defaults, like that:
Yes, I know.
> Said otherwise, the end user cannot choose the default for TeX
> (not even statically).
On a per user basis. Yes, because this would require format dumps
per user, which is a pain, and will break practically every system
update.
> BTW, the TeX-level configuration isn't even always consistent.
> For instance, tl-paper was giving
You can set paper size per application. No problem with me. You probably
have done that at some point.
Or, the paper code parsing for context is broken.
One of the two things.
> This is crap design.
What would be a better design?
Instead of complaining on a problem that is a problem with LaTeX core
team document, and complaining about "crap design", what about
constructive input?
And dont forget, what about copying testpage.tex, and add the
\usepackage{geometry}
and be happy?
Is that that hard?
Norbert
--
PREINING Norbert https://www.preining.info
arXiv / Cornell University + IFMGA Guide + TU Wien + TeX Live
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