[metapost] shipout filenames

[h h extern]

Larry Siebenmann wrote:

> In this vein, what is the priority you assign to
> providing direct PDF output for mp?  It is harder to
> accomplish, but the payoff is more substantial.

oh, that one has a low priority, esp since we can easily convert the current 
output to pdf using tex; imagine that you need to write a complete font handler 
as well as a pdf contructor kit while actually pdftex is already doing it for free;

a more probable first step in getting different output (as discussed in the 
metapost bof session at eurotex) is to come up with a dedicated xml output 
syntax so that one can use that as a starting point for external converters

[considering pdf output, think of shapes, text, color, transparencies, shading 
and alike ... first of all we need an [also discussed] properties extension to mp]

Hans

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