[tex-live] Problem with XeTeX's (and perhaps other binaries -- not investigated) handling of --output-directory

[Philip Taylor]

David Carlisle wrote:

> try a file without \end[document} (\end for you:-)  and type \end to the * prompt
> you will see that the text such as
> --output-directory=...
> after the filename is just typeset

True -- I had not considered that possibility.

> The problem is that if you configure tex to write somewhere strange you have to configure _everything_
> (makeindex, bibtex, tex, ... to find the files that have been written: it causes endless confusion and questions
> on support lists) 

Well, as soon as I started using --output-directory, I adjusted my methodology to automatically
search for such files in the appropriate place; it didn't seem to require a great deal of brain-
power ...

> compared to just (for example) configuring your editor to save a copy to your dropbox
> backup folder on each save.

I have no idea whether TeXworks can do that, but for me --output-directory is a very useful feature.
** Phil.