footnote-init: problems and suggestions

[Uwe Brauer]

>>>>> "Andreas" == Andreas Roehler <andreas.roehler at online.de> writes:

   > Uwe Brauer wrote:
   >> 
   >> - (Footnote-init is called by the footnote-mode-hook) so it runs
   >> when turning the mode on, however for some bizarre reason
   >> footnote-init gets the footstyle wrong. Although default is
   >> numeric[1] in latex mode footnote-init selects roman-upper.


   > TeX has its own footnote-machine AFAIK (and a much advanced one in
   > comparison probably).  You should not use the plain-text footnote-mode
   > with TeX.

   > Could you figure out, how to insert footnotes with Tex?


I am not sure what you mean. Of course in latex you insert a  footnote
by the command \footenote{This is a footnote} .
Auctex supports that, it even offers a sort of folding for making parts
of the footnote invisible.

However the footenote only appears after latex runs! So I don't see why
this should in any way influence footnote-init  which refers to the
source code while latex(ed) footnote corresponded to the compiled source
code. That why the way footenote-init initialize   counters and the like
seems to be me be influenced by the source code of the Latex document
syntax like \documentclass[12pt]{article} might be the culprit.

So the latex situation is completely different. Which gives me the
opportunity to  discuss what the purpose of footnote is.  I see 2,

    -  in messages/mail etc footnotes are inserted for their Original
       purpose to generate well footnotes.

    -  in other modes I would like to (mis)use them as navigations tools
       such as bookmarks. I simply jump to the end of the buffer, I read
       the foottenotes and jump to the relevant point of the footnote
       counter/marker. You might say that there are dozens of other
       packages around which are made for exactly purpose. Xref,
       bookmarks, bm to name a few. They have only one disadvantage,
       they don't conserve the bookmarks on the long time run. Bookmark
       is doing best, but it is sort of uncomfortable: you have to edit
       the corresponding centralized file where all the bookmarks are
       storted. Bm, using similar ideas, is more convenient but
       unfortunately more unstable: on the long time does loose track of
       bookmarks. I was not even able to send a useful bug report on
       that issue I just observe rather helpless that the bookmarks
       disappear. Xref save the relevant information in the local
       variable section at end of the file. However in latex file with
       font looks and xsymbols sooner or later these marks are gone. And
       that is what I find so attractive about the misuse I have in
       mind: you scan the buffer and initialize the relevant
       variables. However in code files such as lisp or say Matlab,
       inserting footnotes plainly for this purpose is not a very good
       idea that is why I suggest to include the comment syntax if
       needed.

Uwe