footnote-init: problems and suggestions

[Andreas Roehler]

Uwe Brauer wrote:
>>>>>> "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 
> 
> 
> 
> 

OK, seeing your point now. Thanks for the explanation. I'll continue answering your OP.

Andreas