[pdftex] pdftex hangs

[Welch, Ivo]

mandrake 9.1.
pdfTeX (Web2C 7.4.5) 3.14159-1.10b
kpathsea version 3.4.5

I have a very long latex book document with some complex definitions and 
chapters.  I know the book compiles under ordinary latex.  Under 
pdflatex, inside a table (with shaded boxes, etc.), pdflatex enters into 
an infinite loop.  Now, if I \includeonly{} the chapter in which 
pdflatex hangs (that is when I compile the full document), this chapter 
can be pdflatex'ed without problem.  The hang can be replicated.

Of course, I might have screwed up.  But, my pdftex vs. latex 
definitions are minimal; and the fact that the section that creates the 
hang can go through by itself suggests that there is a good chance that 
something inside pdflatex has overflowed.

This is more difficult to describe than it is to see.  If anyone is 
interested in this sort of bug/feature (that is, if it has not been seen 
before and if it appears that it was not necessarily my own fault, and 
there is interest in fixing it), I would be happy to create an account 
on my machine for access by the pdftex team.

I would also appreciate suggestions about likely sources, or potential 
fixes.  if you can, please email me directly.

regards,

/iaw


PS:  I posted on comp.text.tex some basic benchmarks for pdflatex on two 
different types of machines, in case anyone is interested:

AMD XP-1800, 1024MB RAM, 7200rpm HD:
  Run 3: 42.35user 0:44.28 96%CPU, 877major+21476minor
Intel Pentium 3 Mobile, 1133MHz, 256MB RAM, 4200rpm HD (IBM X):
  Run 3: 52.56u 0.51s 0:55.76 95%CPU  883major+21536minor