Influencing name of pdf file created on compilation

[TryerGit]

Hello,

Given main.tex, is it possible to create different pdf files (a) a.pdf or (b) b.pdf via vimtex depending on a variable defined in the source code main.tex itself, say like so:

\usepackage{ifthen} 
\newif\ifVersionA 
\VersionAtrue % output should be a.pdf
%\VersionAfalse % output should be b.pdf

Relevant (albeit dated) stackexchange discussion here.

Although the accepted answer there answers the question in the negative, subsequent answers seem to suggest some workarounds that influence the compiler command issued. See for instance this

Thank you.

[lervag]

No, sorry. This is not possible with VimTeX. If you did make this work with regular TeX/LaTeX, you should also note that it would not work well with VimTeX, because VimTeX assumes that the outpiut file name (and aux files) share the same basename as the main file.

Did you try the solutions posted in the subsequent answers on SE?

[TryerGit]

Did you try the solutions posted in the subsequent answers on SE?

Not the ones on the page listed. Currently, I have a workaround which is similar to this method -- essentially have different outer .tex files which define variables which are then used appropriately within the same common inner tex file. There is no need to ever touch the outer tex files once they are setup. Only the inner one needs to be updated periodically.

[lervag]

Ok, cool. That seems to be a nice workaround. I don't really see any better ways to do this...

[TryerGit]

Ok, cool. That seems to be a nice workaround. I don't really see any better ways to do this...

Although I think there could be a problem. You do specify in the docs how you identify the main "main" file.

Suppose one has student.tex file and professor.tex file and both these outer files call/input main.tex. I suppose the right way for this to work is to either call only vim student.tex [and compile it to get student.pdf] or vim professor.tex [and compile it to get professor.pdf]. If someone ends up calling vim main.tex, it could lead to an issue for VimTeX in terms of figuring out which is the right file to compile -- student.tex or professor.tex -- when from within main.tex \ll is issued. Do you think this could be a problem?

[lervag]

If someone ends up calling vim main.tex, it could lead to an issue for VimTeX in terms of figuring out which is the right file to compile -- student.tex or professor.tex -- when from within main.tex \ll is issued. Do you think this could be a problem?

I believe, in this case, that VimTeX should ask which of student.tex or professor.tex to use as the main file. Seems to work as expected for me, at least:

% main.tex
\begin{document}
Hello World! \person
\end{document}

% professor.tex
\documentclass{minimal}
\newcommand{\person}{from professor}
\input{main.tex}

% student.tex
\documentclass{minimal}
\newcommand{\person}{from student}
\input{main.tex}

[TryerGit]

Ah perfect. I hadn't tested that out. I was thus far compiling from student.tex or professor.tex only. VimTeX actually solves the problem rather well, I must say. This is even better than all other proposed solutions on SE!

[lervag]

Glad to hear it :)