[OS X TeX] Skim SKAutoReloadFileUpdate

[Adam M. Goldstein]

On Dec 17, 2008, at 11:37 PM, Adam R. Maxwell wrote:

>
> On Dec 17, 2008, at 1:12 PM, David B. Thompson, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE,  
> CFM wrote:
>
>>
>> On Dec 17, 2008, at 10:53, Joseph C. Slater PE, PhD wrote:
>>
>>> The Skim wiki says "we don't recommend using this". However, I  
>>> always click "Auto"  and figure this will do my bidding for me. Is  
>>> there an explanation for the counter-recommendation? How bad could  
>>> things get? What bad effects should I be looking for?
>>
>>
>> I've been using the "auto" feature as well and haven't seen  
>> anything bad (yet).
>
> Auto-reload for PDF was a mistake, IMNSHO [1].  There's a race  
> condition in reloading the file, so you can end up loading it  
> multiple times or (worst case) crashing it with invalid PDF.  The  
> only reliable way to do this is to set your script(s) to run a  
> "revert" command via AppleScript, if and only if your pdftex  
> processes completed.
>
> Only the  script/process calling pdftex has any idea if it succeeded  
> or how many runs will be required.  Hence, using revert is more  
> efficient and sensible, since you can't read a partially created PDF  
> document (as you can with some formats).
>

I'm confused. Is using "auto" when the dialogue comes up asking about  
it the first time a file changes the same as using the  
SKAutoReloadFileUpdate hidden preference, which is I think what the OP  
asked about?

-Adam

------------------
Adam M. Goldstein PhD, MSLIS
--
agoldstein at iona.edu
a.m.goldstein at mac.com
http://www.iona.edu/faculty/agoldstein
--
(914) 637-2717
--
Dept of Philosophy
Iona College
715 North Avenue
New Rochelle NY 10801