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Using autoscan to Create `configure.ac'

The autoscan program can help you create and/or maintain a `configure.ac' file for a software package. autoscan examines source files in the directory tree rooted at a directory given as a command line argument, or the current directory if none is given. It searches the source files for common portability problems and creates a file `configure.scan' which is a preliminary `configure.ac' for that package, and checks a possibly existing `configure.ac' for completeness.

When using @command{autoscan} to create a `configure.ac', you should manually examine `configure.scan' before renaming it to `configure.ac'; it will probably need some adjustments. Occasionally, autoscan outputs a macro in the wrong order relative to another macro, so that autoconf produces a warning; you need to move such macros manually. Also, if you want the package to use a configuration header file, you must add a call to AC_CONFIG_HEADERS (see section Configuration Header Files). You might also have to change or add some #if directives to your program in order to make it work with Autoconf (see section Using ifnames to List Conditionals, for information about a program that can help with that job).

When using @command{autoscan} to maintain a `configure.ac', simply consider adding its suggestions. The file `autoscan.log' will contain detailed information on why a macro is requested.

autoscan uses several data files (installed along with Autoconf) to determine which macros to output when it finds particular symbols in a package's source files. These data files all have the same format: each line consists of a symbol, whitespace, and the Autoconf macro to output if that symbol is encountered. Lines starting with `#' are comments.

autoscan is only installed if you already have Perl installed. autoscan accepts the following options:

@option{--help}

@option{-h}

Print a summary of the command line options and exit.

@option{--version}

@option{-V}

Print the version number of Autoconf and exit.

@option{--verbose}

@option{-v}

Print the names of the files it examines and the potentially interesting symbols it finds in them. This output can be voluminous.

@option{--autoconf-dir=dir}

@option{-A dir}

Override the location where the installed Autoconf data files are looked for. You can also set the AC_MACRODIR environment variable to a directory; this option overrides the environment variable. This option is rarely needed and dangerous; it is only used when one plays with different versions of Autoconf simultaneously.

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