Macro Details

Due to unavoidable limitations, certain macro-related constructs cause problems with TeX. If you get macro-related errors when producing the printed version of a manual, try expanding the macros with makeinfo by invoking texi2dvi with the -E option (Format with texi2dvi).

• All macros are expanded inside at least one TeX group. This means that @set and other such commands have no effect inside a macro.
• Macros containing a command which must be on a line by itself, such as a conditional, cannot be invoked in the middle of a line.
• Commas in macro arguments, even if escaped by a backslash, don't always work.
• It is best to avoid comments inside macro definitions.
• Macro arguments cannot cross lines.
• Macros cannot define macros in the natural way. To do this, you must use conditionals and raw TeX. For example:

            @ifnottex
            @macro ctor {name, arg}
            @macro \name\
            something involving \arg\ somehow
            @end macro
            @end macro
            @end ifnottex
            @tex
            \gdef\ctor#1{\ctorx#1,}
            \gdef\ctorx#1,#2,{\def#1{something involving #2 somehow}}
            @end tex