describe bug, was: Re: [Maxima] First step toward a 5.9.2 release

Robert Dodier writes:
> --- "Vadim V. Zhytnikov"  wrote:
> 
> 
>>Wolfgang just committed the fix into Maxima CVS.
>>The problem was not with new Maxima info layout
>>but with new texinfo version.  Robert, could you
>>verify after this fix describe well for you?
>>The also should not forget to switch to Maxima's
>>describe for gcl at least temporary.
> 
> 
> I have updated the source code on my machine and rebuilt
> with gcl and clisp. I find that the clisp version works
> correctly -- "? limit", then choosing 2 gives just item 2.
> Likewise for some other cases I tried.
> 
> As you know the gcl version uses the built-in gcl info
> system when *PROMPT-PREFIX* and *PROMPT-SUFFIX* are empty,
> and otherwise falls back on src/cl-info.lisp. 
> I find that the "? limit", then choose 2, yields a mess
> of irrelevant text when the built-in gcl info system is
> used. Setting *PROMPT-PREFIX* to "FOO" (to cause Maxima
> to use cl-info.lisp), then "? limit" and choose 2, yields
> the correct output (but much more slowly).
> 
> gcl version is 2.6.6, makeinfo is 4.5, clisp is 2.31.
> 
> Hope this helps,
> Robert Dodier
> 

Fine, so the problem with describe is partially
resolved.  But there is yet another problem.
Describe dislikes national characters.  For example
if I make info in Russian locale @defun/@defvar produces
-- Function/Variable in Russian.  Describe can't work
with such info files.  On clisp and sbcl it just
crashes.  On gcl and cmucl it works but not quite well -
once again it can't locate beginning and end of required
info item.  This is one of reasons why I insist on replacing
@defun/@defvar by @deffn/@defvr - this resolves the trouble
but sort of "putting trash under the carpet".
The trouble with non Latin characters will pop up once again
as soon as we start working with Maxima info translations.


-- 
      Vadim V. Zhytnikov