gnulib-tool --help

[Bruno Haible]

Hi Karl,

A few days ago you checked in the appended patch.

This is non unanimous; can you please notify the mailing list before
such changes?

In particular, I disagree with the entire patch:
  1. Alphabetical order is the worst order, except in an index.
     Before, the options were listed in an order of decreasing importance.
  2. Ordering by type of string that comes after the = sign does not
     make sense.
  3. The argument of --dir is an absolute directory, whereas the one
     for --source-base etc. are relative directories. They have very
     different meanings, and should not be put in the same section.

Can you please revert that patch?

What was your problem with the --help output originally? Too long?
Too much in a single section? If so, I propose to separate the
section by use: General options; Options for --import; Operation Modifiers;
Other Options.

Bruno


*** gnulib-tool 11 Jul 2006 15:27:08 -0000      1.116
--- gnulib-tool 15 Jul 2006 23:07:01 -0000      1.117
***************
*** 101,135 ****
        --extract-tests-module       report the unit test module, if it exists
  
  Options:
-       --dir=DIRECTORY       specify the target directory
-                             For --import, this specifies where your
-                             configure.ac can be found.  Defaults to current
-                             directory.
-       --lib=LIBRARY         Specify the library name.  Defaults to 'libgnu'.
-       --source-base=DIRECTORY
-                             Directory relative --dir where source code is
-                             placed (default \"lib\"), for --import.
-       --m4-base=DIRECTORY   Directory relative --dir where *.m4 macros are
-                             placed (default \"m4\"), for --import.
-       --tests-base=DIRECTORY
-                             Directory relative --dir where unit tests are
-                             placed (default \"tests\"), for --import.
-       --doc-base=DIRECTORY  Directory relative --dir where doc files are
-                             placed (default \"doc\"), for --import.
-       --aux-dir=DIRECTORY   Directory relative --dir where auxiliary build
-                             tools are placed (default \"build-aux\").
-       --with-tests          Include unit tests for the included modules.
        --avoid=MODULE        Avoid including the given MODULE. Useful if you
                              have code that provides equivalent functionality.
                              This option can be repeated.
        --lgpl                Abort if modules aren't available under the LGPL.
                              Also modify license template from GPL to LGPL.
        --libtool             Use libtool rules, for --import.
!       --macro-prefix=PREFIX  Specify the prefix of the macros 'gl_EARLY' and
!                             'gl_INIT'. Default is 'gl'.
        --no-changelog        don't update or create ChangeLog files
-       --dry-run             For --import, only print what would have been 
done.
    -s, --symbolic, --symlink Make symbolic links instead of copying files.
  
  Report bugs to <address@hidden>."
  }
--- 101,135 ----
        --extract-tests-module       report the unit test module, if it exists
  
  Options:
        --avoid=MODULE        Avoid including the given MODULE. Useful if you
                              have code that provides equivalent functionality.
                              This option can be repeated.
+       --dry-run             For --import, only print what would have been 
done.
        --lgpl                Abort if modules aren't available under the LGPL.
                              Also modify license template from GPL to LGPL.
+       --lib=LIBRARY         Specify the library name.  Defaults to 'libgnu'.
        --libtool             Use libtool rules, for --import.
!       --macro-prefix=PREFIX  Specify the prefix of the macros gl_EARLY and
!                              gl_INIT. Default is "gl".
        --no-changelog        don't update or create ChangeLog files
    -s, --symbolic, --symlink Make symbolic links instead of copying files.
+       --with-tests          Include unit tests for the included modules.
+ 
+ Directory options:
+       --dir=DIRECTORY       specify the target directory
+                             For --import, this specifies where your
+                             configure.ac can be found.  Defaults to current
+                             directory.
+       --aux-dir=DIRECTORY   Directory relative to --dir where auxiliary build
+                             tools are placed (default \"build-aux\").
+       --doc-base=DIRECTORY  Directory relative to --dir where doc files are
+                             placed (default \"doc\"), for --import.
+       --m4-base=DIRECTORY   Directory relative to --dir where *.m4 macros are
+                             placed (default \"m4\"), for --import.
+       --source-base=DIRECTORY  Directory relative to --dir where source code 
is
+                                placed (default \"lib\"), for --import.
+       --tests-base=DIRECTORY   Directory relative to --dir where unit tests 
are
+                                placed (default \"tests\"), for --import.
  
  Report bugs to <address@hidden>."
  }