Am 05.12.2012 08:21, schrieb Jürgen Spitzmüller:
Do you introduce new layouts? This would be a file format change in the strict sense (since LyX 2.0.4 would not be able to handle these new layouts).
We already discussed this topic several times. It is impossible to provide backward compatibility for layouts. If a document class changes we are forced to provide a new layout. Take for example the journal classes: if a journal document class is changed, everybody has to use it to be accepted by the journal. No matter if we would provide backward-compatibility that an older LyX can read a file, it would not be acceptable and/or compilable. And what is the value of a layout for a journal class which you cannot use to submit papers to that journal? We cannot let the users wait years until we provide a new layout with a new major release, otherwise we force them to leave LyX and use a plain TeX editor. My changes are necessary to keep documents compilable and/or to keep them acceptable following the submission guidelines. However, older LyX files are still compilable using LyX 2.0.6 (except of modernCV as I wrote). I think it is enough to add the info in the release notes that LyX 2.0.6 will be necessary to compile guideline-conform files for e.g. IJMP and ACM submissions. I'm sure that users will accept that and it would be strange if they insist using a older LyX version if a newer one is out fixing several bugs.
regards Uwe
