[OS X TeX] TLU broke my symlink

[Justin C. Walker]

Following up...

On Jun 7, 2010, at 05:22 , Richard Koch wrote:

> The symbolic link /usr/texbin is created when MacTeX is installed.  
> It points to a hidden folder in the TeX Distribution Data structure.  
> On Intel, it points to
>
> 	../Library/TeX/Distributions/.DefaultTeX/Contents/Programs/i386
>
> But actually, Contents is also a link, which is changed when a TeX  
> Distribution is set to active.  This links points to the data  
> structure for the active distribution. In this indirect way, /usr/ 
> texbin points to the location of Intel binaries in the active  
> distribution.
>
> If it is pointing to opt/..., then the distribution believes that  
> Macports has the active distribution.

*After* I discovered the "opt" symlink, I opened the TeX pref panel.   
When it opened it displayed the 4 distributions I have installed  
(TL2008, TL2009, TL2010, MacPorts).  Then it did a little jig and  
suddenly there was only one (MacPorts).

So: it's possible I did something (e.g., brought the metal plate in my  
head too close to my system) to provoke it, but I don't think the pref  
panel was the culprit.

Am I correct in assuming that the pref panel caches the state of the  
distributions, displays it on the next startup, and after that,  
verifies the setup?

If not, then I'm really confused.

Justin


--
Justin C. Walker, Curmudgeon at Large
Institute for the Absorption of Federal Funds
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My wife 'n kids 'n dogs are gone,
I can't get Jesus on the phone,
But Ol' Milwaukee's Best is my best friend.
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