TikZ externalization compatibility: only create cache directory if needed, patch or amend docs

[gpoore]

Based on this TeX.SE question, TikZ externalization and minted caching are inefficient when used together.

• The docs need to be amended to deal with this case. Also, should consider automatically checking for TikZ externalization.
• Caching needs to be modified, so that directories are only created at the last possible moment, once we are sure that they will indeed be needed.

[patrickvogt]

Hi, is it possible, that this patch introduced problems with the order of the \tikzexternalize and \usepackage{minted} command? See: Problem, when loading minted after \tikzexternalize

[gpoore]

Yes, it looks like there is an issue with the order. In the example case that inspired the fix, \tikzexternalize was used after minted was loaded. The case you are looking at uses \tikzexternalize first. I should be able to modify the check for externalization relatively easily, so that the order doesn't matter.

[patrickvogt]

Hi, I think I found a fix for the issue. Maybe you wanna try it:

Expand the following code:

\ifcsname tikzexternalrealjob\endcsname
    \minted@drafttrue
    \minted@cachefalse
\else
\fi

with:

\ifcsname tikzifexternalizing\endcsname 
    % if \tikzexternalize is set before \usepackage{minted} this branch is used
    % the true branch of the \tikzifexternalizing will only be used if the tikz externalizing job is running at the moment
    \tikzifexternalizing{\minted@drafttrue\minted@cachefalse}{}
\else
   % else this old code will be used which will definitely work in all other cases (when \tikzexternalize is set after \usepackage{minted})
    \ifcsname tikzexternalrealjob\endcsname
        \minted@drafttrue
        \minted@cachefalse
    \else
    \fi
\fi

\tikzifexternalizing will only be true when the externalization job runs (according to thepackage documentation)

[gpoore]

@patrickvogt This is fixed, using your suggestion. If you'd like to be listed in the minted acknowledgements for this, let me know, and I'll do that.

[patrickvogt]

Hi,

If you'd like to be listed in the minted acknowledgements for this, let me know, and I'll do that.

This would be cool. Thanks for maintaining and enhancing the minted package. I really like this package.