Macros

CThe common current practice of lumping files into a small number ofDdirectories has the disadvantage of making it difficult to determineCwhich input files are associated with which macro packages, and may?result in version mismatches and other errors when a package is7upgraded, especially if the names of some files change.

ETo help solve this maintenance problem, the TDS specifies that macros>shall be stored in separate directories, one for each package:

Btexmf/tex/format/package/

format

5 is the name of the TeX format that uses these files.$ plain, amstex,) texinfo, latex, and% musictex are examples of format.: By providing a format directory, path searching can beB limited to only those directories that contain relevant files.

+ Although some of these formats can alsoK be used as macro packages, the TDS nevertheless stores them as formats.& By adjusting the TeX inputs searchC path, it is straightforward to use them as macro packages underF another format, whereas placing them in the tree of another format< would completely obscure their possible use as a format.

3 The following format names are reserved:

mft is reserved for mft files.- This exception follows standard practice.
generic isC reserved for input files that are useful across a wide range ofE formats. Generally, this means any format that uses the categoryA codes of Plain TeX and does not rely on any particular format (e.g., null.tex).

7 The plain directory is for files which areF useful with the Plain TeX format and others compatible with Plain: testfont.tex, manmac.tex,< webmac.tex, etc., as well as plain.tex8 itself and the canonical example story.tex.9 The generic directory, by contrast, contains5 files which can also be used with LaTeX and other formats as well as Plain: path.sty,2 texnames.sty, null.tex, etc.

: Thus, for almost every format, it is correct to= search at least the format directory, and then the/ generic directory (in that order).. Other directories may be searched as well.% For example, the amstex,( plain, and generic6 directories should be searched when using AMS-TeX,. because AMS-TeX is compatible with Plain. F This does not mean only those directories must be searched:6 a recursive search beginning at texmf/tex- is a correct path for TeX inputs in a TDS tree.

package

is the name of a package.( amslatex and babel# are examples of package.

4 The following package names are reserved:

base is reserved for the baseD distribution for each format. Files used by INITEX when dumpingE format files shall also be stored in the base directory.9 For example, in the standard LaTeX distribution, the @ ltx files created during the build process shall be9 stored in the base directory along with the distribution.)
misc is reserved forB packages that consist of a single file. It seems pointless toC nest such a package/file within a directory of its own. It may, also make subdirectory searching slower.+
config is reserved forA configuration files. Configuration files are used by several? formats including, for example, LaTeX and the Babel styles.+
hyphen is reserved forC hyphenation patterns. These are typically used only by INITEX." This directory need exist only0 under the generic format directory.

8 In the case where a format consists of only a singleF file and has no auxiliary packages, that file can simply be placed. in the format directory, instead of. format/base. For example,? Texinfo goes in texmf/tex/texinfo/texinfo.tex, not0 texmf/tex/texinfo/base/texinfo.tex.