[metapost] mptopdf corrupts source file

[Oliver Buerschaper]

> I have written the scripts to typeset MetaPost files from TeXShop (when 
> you choose 'mptopdf' in the Preferences). I cannot reproduce the 
> problems you mention. Maybe you could send me a source file that 
> exhibits the bug?

It doesn't surprise me that you cannot reproduce the bug since I wrote my own engine script (which calls mptopdf directly):

---
#!/bin/bash

mptopdf "$1"
---

I did this for two reasons: first I need ConTeXt to be run for labels (since I want OpenType math labels, for instance, and also because I found it easier to get arbitrary font sizes with ConTeXt). Your script appears to call LaTeX behind the curtains for this task.

Second, the current format of the single PDF file that's produced by your script almost fits my needs but not quite. In my opinion your idea of providing real PDF preview for MetaPost is brilliant, no doubt about that. However, I need to include these MetaPost figures in another document which means I need to be able to access them individually. Unfortunately, there are no individual PDF files for the figures. Also I cannot extract single pages from the comprehensive PDF with say

\includegraphics[page=x]{mpost_output.pdf}

because of the titles you add. In a comprehensive PDF file I'd also need each page size to equal the bounding box of the respective figure.

Best wishes,
Oliver