As far as the original question is concerned---whether to allow
selection of local layout files---it seems to me that there are
potential problems here. Suppose the user creates a new file and selects
a local layout. Then she reopens the file, and LyX complains that the
local layout isn't there. Why? Because she didn't save it in the same
directory. Or she moved it. Or who knows what. So it looks, minimally,
as if local layout files really ought to be part of bundles, if they
exist at all. Otherwise they get lost. (I think this was one of the
concerns that was expressed earlier.)
A warning is given after a local layout file is selected, saying that
the document should be saved in the same directory. I think this is
all we can do now, unless we change lyx file format and allows
specification of a path name to layout file.
No, you don't want to do this. That will make sharing such files a
nightmare.
And I guess it seems to me that, if you want to create a document using
a local layout you've used before, then what you really ought to do is
put it in .lyx/layouts/. As I see it, local layout files are one-off
entities. Of course, you then have to reconfigure. But I wonder whether
we could find a way to automate that. E.g, check the modification times
of crucial files?
The advantages of local layout files are that
1. Do not have to reconfigure .lyx to open a .lyx file with local layout file.
Right. But if we could automate reconfigure somehow, even if only in
regards layout files, then it's not an issue.
2. Makes it easy to modify and version-control customized layout
files. When I write an article, I usually need to create a .layout
file which will be maintained together with my article. It is
troublesome to copy this file to .lyx/layouts whenever I modify it.
But don't you just modify the file in .lyx/layouts? If you need to
create it, then that's another matter. But even here, it seems to me
that you're probably just making minor tweaks. In that case, you'd be
better off with some sort of module, come 1.6. That said, there may also
be an argument here for "extremely local" layout, something you could
actually type into a box under Document>Settings.
3. I hate to reconfigure (and restart). This is not particularly
difficult for experienced users, but how would you expect a new lyx
user to know where to put the .layout file, reconfigure and restart?
As I said, it'd be nice to make this easier. But I suppose I wouldn't
expect a new LyX user to be messing with layout files. ;-)
rh
