Is it possible to call an external application prior to latex.exe to prepare a new file to be imported from within the (La)TeX input file?

Question

I need to execute an external application prior to executing latex.exe to prepare a new file to be imported from within the (La)TeX input file.

From another topic, I got an rough info that we can use \write18 command. But I don't have an idea to execute it.

Here is my file structure:

MyProjectDir
---Main.tex
---SourcesDir
-----ExternalApp.exe

EDIT 1: In TeXnicCenter (latex editor for windows), there is no PreProcessor. Only PostProcessor is available. Therefore, I cannot execute it in one go. Executing it manually will be a tedious job.

have latex.exe be a link to a command that does what you want ans then calls the "real" latex.exe file? is this possible in windows? — Yossi Farjoun, Dec 05 '10 at 23:55
I'd usually use a Makefile for that, but I don't know how easy it is to get make on Windows. — Caramdir, Dec 06 '10 at 00:06
@Caramdir, Makefile in Linux works like a batch file in Windows? — Display Name, Dec 06 '10 at 03:28
I essence yes, but they provide a lot of additional convenience (once you have figured out how to write them...). See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makefile — Caramdir, Dec 06 '10 at 03:56

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 05 '10 at 23:56

1

You could install Kile for Windows. Kile allows you to define your own build options and build chains. You can specify each program you need, the order and the parameters.

answered Dec 05 '10 at 23:56

fabikw

6,203

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 12 '10 at 18:32

1

In Windows, a batch file will do (*.bat). You can then call the batch file. I use WinEdt because of the convenience it provides. In there, you could modify the sequence being called.

answered Dec 12 '10 at 18:32

Hector

1,100

Could you give me an example of your batch file? Thanks in advance. – Display Name Dec 12 '10 at 19:41

Is it possible to call an external application prior to latex.exe to prepare a new file to be imported from within the (La)TeX input file?

2 Answers2