Bug#400657: texlive-metapost: Please integrate feynmf more in TeXLive packages
Package: texlive-metapost
Version: 2005.dfsg.2-3
Severity: wishlist
Hi TeX maintainers!
I am hoping that FeynMF could be integrated a little better in TeXLive.
Specifically, the FeynMF shipped in texlive-metapost is missing two things:
* It would be nice to have a symlink
/usr/share/texmf-texlive/doc/latex/feynmf/feynmf.ps.gz -> ../../../texlive-metapost/latex/feynmf/manual.ps.gz
This would allow "texdoc feynmf" to work correctly.
* It would be nice to install the /usr/bin/feynmf script. (If you need a
copy it can be obtained from the feynmf package. Note that I made
some security patches to it, although I think you're aware of them.) Ditto
for the feynmf.1.gz man page.
I can see three ways to manage this, labeled a, b, and c below. Please
let me know ASAP which would be ideal for you guys. The first two ways need
some work on the TeXLive side, whereas the third would not (but would be
less elegant). If I don't hear back from you within several days I will
go ahead and implement option c.
a) Add the above files in the texlive-metapost package, and make
texlive-metapost Conflict with feynmf. (Maybe it should also Provide: feynmf.)
This wouldn't require anything on my part.
Or,
b) Remove _all_ FeynMF stuff from the texlive-metapost package, and make
texlive-metapost Depend on feynmf instead. If this would be preferable,
I can very quickly upload a version of feynmf, 1.08-3, that is installable in
parallel with TeXLive. The control information for this version of feynmf
would be as follows:
Package: feynmf
Architecture: all
Depends: ${misc:Depends}, ${perl:Depends}, tetex-bin | texlive-latex-base, texlive-font-utils | tetex-bin, texlive-extra-utils | tetex-bin
Suggests: tetex-extra | texlive-metapost
Description: set of LaTeX macros for creating Feynman diagrams
FeynMF is a LaTeX package for easy drawing of professional-quality Feynman
diagrams, illustrations that depict the fundamental interactions of subatomic
particles. The diagrams may be created using either the Metafont
or MetaPost programs. FeynMF lays out most diagrams satisfactorily from the
structure of the graph without any need for manual intervention.
Nevertheless all the power of Metafont or MetaPost is available for more
obscure cases.
.
Note that you will need the tetex-extra or texlive-metapost package
(depending upon whether your installed TeX system is teTeX or TeXLive) in
order to use the MetaPost-based version of FeynMF.
c) If you don't think there is time (or you are not willing) to change
the texlive-metapost package as in a) or b) and still get it into the
release of Etch, I can nevertheless upload a feynmf package that is
parallel-installable with texlive-metapost. In this case I would also
use the control information above, additionally adding the following
remarks to the end of the feynmf long description:
FeynMF is also shipped as part of the texlive-metapost package; this
package may be installed in parallel with it if you wish. The file
feynmf-and-texlive.txt shipped in this package's documentation provides
more detail.
where the file /usr/share/doc/feynmf/feynmf-and-texlive.txt would be as
follows:
[begin file]
FeynMF and TeXLive
------------------
Debian ships with two different TeX systems: teTeX and TeXLive. If you prefer
to install teTeX, you need read no further, since this package (feynmf) is the
only one that provides FeynMF for a teTeX-based Debian system.
On a TeXLive-based Debian system, FeynMF may be installed either via this
package, or as part of the texlive-metapost package. The packages do not
conflict, so both may be installed simultaneously. The advantages and
disadvantages of each possible set of installations are listed below.
Only feynmf
-----------
If you do not need MetaPost, nor any other components of the texlive-metapost
package, you may prefer to install only feynmf. This will save some disk
space (currently about 9 MB). However, be aware that you will not be able
to use the MetaPost features of FeynMF.
Only texlive-metapost
---------------------
If you have a TeXLive system and you need MetaPost, you will have to install
this package regardless. This would seem to make the feynmf package redundant.
Currently, though, the texlive-metapost package does not ship the
/usr/bin/feynmf script, which one can use to create DVI directly from
feynmf-using TEX files without an intermediate manual run of Metafont. Also,
the texlive-metapost package ships the FeynMF manual as
/usr/share/doc/texlive-metapost/latex/feynmf/manual.ps.gz , so running
"texdoc feynmf" does not work. These issues may be fixed in texlive-metapost
in the future.
Both feynmf and texlive-metapost
--------------------------------
If both packages are installed, the FeynMF from texlive-metapost will be
put under /usr/share/texmf-texlive, while that from the feynmf package will
be available under /usr/share/texmf. The latter directory takes precedence.
-- Kevin B. McCarty <kmccarty@debian.org> Mon, 27 Nov 2006
[end file]
Please let me know what you prefer.
best regards,
--
Kevin B. McCarty <kmccarty@princeton.edu> Physics Department
WWW: http://www.princeton.edu/~kmccarty/ Princeton University
GPG: public key ID 4F83C751 Princeton, NJ 08544
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