thought about improving macro facilities of texinfo, so they become
a bit closer to TeX?
Thought about, yes. Discussed, yes. Specified (let alone implemented), no.
In any case, your particular example:
@macro foo{a,b}
@ifset b
..some code..
@else
..other code..
@end ifset
@end macro
Although it would be "logical" to be able to use @ifset with macro
arguments, my mind simply boggles at implementing it (especially in
TeX). Sorry.
Also, BTW, @else would be problematic. Conditionals, in general, have
been the cause of many problems, especially in TeX. The interaction of
line endings inside @macro and line endings of conditionals and line
endings in some commands is especially painful. I really don't want to
complicate it even further.
Although @else would be convenient, I don't think it's really necessary,
since @ifset ... @end ifset @ifnotset ... @end ifnotset achieves the
same thing (I believe).
Again, can I ask where you need these complicated features in the tar
manual? Maybe there is a simpler way ...
Overall, Texinfo's @macro should probably never have been invented. I
rather rue the day that I gave in to rms about it.
karl
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