Hi Pedro.
> This looks more like a side effect of using the auctex package
I see. That makes sense. However, the function org-latex-export-as-latex
calls LaTeX-mode, which is an alias for ‘latex-mode’ in ‘tex-mode.el’ that
comes with emacs. However, auctex defines its own LaTeX-mode. I
think org-latex-export-as-latex *intentionally* calls LaTeX-mode instead
of latex-mode to make use of auctex if that's available.
> Just BTW, do you see the problem pop up when you C-c C-e l o?
No, it doesn't happen in this case.
> What about saving the exported LaTeX to a file and then opening the file
in a separate buffer?
I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean C-c C-e l l? In that case, the
problem doesn't happen after you open the file because the buffer is
associated with a file.
> Wasn't it TeX-master that did this...
Yes, TeX-master also specifies the master file. TeX-master is part of
auctex. reftex-TeX-master-file is part of reftex that does the same
job. reftex-TeX-master-file uses auctex, if installed, otherwise, it does
its own thing.
> Anyhow, after reading the auctex documentation, could you please add the
following at the beginning of your test document?
There must be something wrong with your code because after I do export and
check org-export-filter-final-output-functions, I see nil. I also get an
error with that when I open the org file: "Local variables list is not
properly terminated"
At the moment my workaround is
(use-package org
:config
(advice-add 'org-latex-export-as-latex :around
(lambda (fun &rest args)
(cl-letf (((symbol-function 'reftex-TeX-master-file)
(and (fboundp 'TeX-master-file)
(not (buffer-file-name))
#'(lambda (&rest _) "<none>"))))
(apply fun args)))))
I think this is harmless as it temporarily
overwrites reftex-TeX-master-file if auctex is used and there is no file
associated with the buffer. In that case the return value is "<none>",
which is what TeX-master-file would return as well.
As I said in my previous email, if TeX-parse-self is t, then emacs scans
for usepackage commands. Because the exported org file uses the amstex
package, there are some commands provided by that package that need reftex,
and so it runs reftex-TeX-master-file. However, reftex requires a file,
and so it results in an error. Temporarily changing the behaviour
of reftex-TeX-master-file should be OK.
On Sun, 29 Jun 2025 at 07:06, Pedro Andres Aranda Gutierrez <
paag...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi
> Thx a lot for the explanation... answers inline
>
> On Sat, 28 Jun 2025 at 18:04, Vangelis Evangelou <evange...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Pedro.
> >
> > > I don't think this is a bug. It's more of a side effect ...
> >
> > I'm not sure what you are referring to. I assume that since the program
> does not produce the intended output, then it's a bug.
> Well, IMHO, a bug is when your code doesn't produce the intended
> result standalone. This looks more like a side effect of using the
> auctex package, so people not using it will not be affected by it.
>
> Just BTW, do you see the problem pop up when you C-c C-e l o? What
> about saving the exported LaTeX to a file and then opening the file in
> a separate buffer?
>
> > > I'd like to understand what this reftex-TeX-master-file variable
> means and what the effect of TeX-parse-self is.
> >
> > TeX-parse-self instructs emacs to scan the tex file for the document
> class, loaded packages and user-defined commands and make the relevant
> commands available to the user. For example, the graphicx package provides
> the command \includegraphics. Consider a file called file.tex containing
> the following
> > =====================
> > \documentclass{article}
> > \usepackage{graphicx}
> > \begin{document}
> >
> > \end{document}
> > ====================
> > With TeX-parse-self set to t (see the code in my original email), emacs
> will provide the commands from the article class and the graphicx package.
> For example, if you type C-c RET and then type includegraphics it will ask
> you a few questions about the image you want to include in the document.
> With TeX-parse-self set to nil, it doesn't know about the includegraphics
> command.
> >
> > reftex-TeX-master-file tells emacs which is the master file (so it
> assumes that such a file exists). That is, the main file that includes
> other files and needs to be compiled to produce a document. So you might
> have, e.g., file1.tex and file2.tex with file1.tex being the master file
> that includes file2.tex. So the master of file2 is file1.
>
> I see... Wasn't it TeX-master
> (
> https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/reftex/Multifile-Documents.html
> )
> that did this...
>
> > > A workaround may be what you propose or to
> > > (setq-local TeX-parse-self nil)
> > > in your org-mode-hook. Could you try this, please?
> >
> > This does not solve the problem because it applies the setting to the
> org buffer and not the exported latex buffer.
> >
> > I should add that (setq TeX-parse-self t) is one of the recommended
> settings by auctex https://elpa.gnu.org/packages/doc/auctex.html so I
> believe others are affected by this issues, though I'm surprised it hasn't
> been mentioned before.
>
> This is the source of my surprise too...
>
> Anyhow, after reading the auctex documentation, could you please add
> the following at the beginning of your test document?
>
> --- cut here
> #+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp :exports none :results none :eval export
> (defun add-texmaster-filter (output backend info)
> "Add `%' to `\\end{minipage}' to allow side by side."
> (when (eq backend 'latex)
> (message "Adding TeX-master...")
> (string-replace "\\end{document}"
> "\\end{document}\n\n%%% Local Variables:\n%%%
> TeX-master: t\n%%% End:\n" output)))
>
> (make-variable-buffer-local 'org-export-filter-final-output-functions)
> (add-to-list 'org-export-filter-final-output-functions
> 'add-texmaster-filter)
> #+END_SRC
> --- cut here
>
> Best, /PA
> >
> > On Sat, 28 Jun 2025 at 06:17, Pedro Andres Aranda Gutierrez <
> paag...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Hi Vangelis...
> >>
> >> Me and thinking?.. rather difficult... <LoL>
> >>
> >> Now seriously...
> >> I don't think this is a bug. It's more of a side effect and I'd like
> >> to understand what this reftex-TeX-master-file variable means and
> >> what the effect of TeX-parse-self is.
> >>
> >> A workaround may be what you propose or to
> >> (setq-local TeX-parse-self nil)
> >> in your org-mode-hook. Could you try this, please?
> >>
> >> IMvvHO, it would be more desirable approach, because you control your
> >> setup for the packages you use.
> >> org would just document this "special case" (maybe in the FAQ),
> >> instead of "bloating" the package itself.
> >>
> >> @Ihor WDYT?
> >> Best, /PA
> >>
> >> On Fri, 27 Jun 2025 at 18:31, Vangelis Evangelou <evange...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >> >
> >> > Hi Pedro.
> >> >
> >> > The export works as expected *without* loading auctex. It also works
> as expected *with* loading auctex, but with TeX-parse-self to nil. Perhaps
> the best solution is to amend org-latex-export-as-latex to set
> TeX-parse-self to nil before calling LaTeX-mode, e.g., with (let
> ((TeX-parse-self nil)) <rest of the org-latex-export-as-latex code here>).
> To be honest, I'm not sure if this is a bug of org or reftex-auc. What do
> you think?
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > On Fri, 27 Jun 2025 at 16:41, Pedro Andres Aranda Gutierrez <
> paag...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> Vangelis writes:
> >> >>
> >> >> > Hello.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I started with emacs -q. Then in the scratch buffer, I evaluated
> the
> >> >> > following code
> >> >> >
> >> >> > (use-package reftex-auc)
> >> >> > (use-package tex
> >> >> > :load-path "site-lisp/auctex-14.0.9"
> >> >> > :custom
> >> >> > (TeX-parse-self t))
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Then, I created an org buffer which I exported to latex buffer
> (C-c C-e l
> >> >> > L). I get the error message
> >> >> >
> >> >> > reftex-TeX-master-file: Wrong type argument: stringp, nil
> >> >>
> >> >> Hi,
> >> >>
> >> >> could you please try the export part again *without* loading auctex?
> >> >> It looks like the LaTeX exporter is not generating that thing, which
> I
> >> >> guess is a file local variable.
> >> >>
> >> >> I remember never having time enough to procrastinate to cope with all
> >> >> the quirks of auctex while writing my PhD - some time ago ;-) - and
> >> >> going the "pure" LaTeX way with some yasnippets and a bit of code to
> >> >> emulate the couple of features people loved from auctex as a viable
> >> >> alternative.
> >> >>
> >> >> Maybe that could be a project once the PDF exporter reaches master...
> >> >>
> >> >> Thx, /PA
> >> >>
> >> >> --
> >> >> Fragen sind nicht da, um beantwortet zu werden,
> >> >> Fragen sind da um gestellt zu werden
> >> >> Georg Kreisler
> >> >>
> >> >> Sagen's Paradeiser, write BE!
> >> >> Year 1 of the New Koprocracy
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Fragen sind nicht da, um beantwortet zu werden,
> >> Fragen sind da um gestellt zu werden
> >> Georg Kreisler
> >>
> >> Sagen's Paradeiser, write BE!
> >> Year 1 of the New Koprocracy
>
>
>
> --
> Fragen sind nicht da, um beantwortet zu werden,
> Fragen sind da um gestellt zu werden
> Georg Kreisler
>
> Sagen's Paradeiser, write BE!
> Year 1 of the New Koprocracy
>
