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(autoconf.info)Invoking autoconf

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Using `autoconf' to Create `configure'
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   To create `configure' from `configure.in', run the `autoconf'
program with no arguments.  `autoconf' processes `configure.in' with
the `m4' macro processor, using the Autoconf macros.  If you give
`autoconf' an argument, it reads that file instead of `configure.in'
and writes the configuration script to the standard output instead of
to `configure'.  If you give `autoconf' the argument `-', it reads the
standard input instead of `configure.in' and writes the configuration
script on the standard output.

   The Autoconf macros are defined in several files.  Some of the files
are distributed with Autoconf; `autoconf' reads them first.  Then it
looks for the optional file `acsite.m4' in the directory that contains
the distributed Autoconf macro files, and for the optional file
`aclocal.m4' in the current directory.  Those files can contain your
site's or the package's own Autoconf macro definitions (Note: Writing
Macros, for more information).  If a macro is defined in more than
one of the files that `autoconf' reads, the last definition it reads
overrides the earlier ones.

   `autoconf' accepts the following options:

`--help'
`-h'
     Print a summary of the command line options and exit.

`--localdir=DIR'
`-l DIR'
     Look for the package file `aclocal.m4' in directory DIR instead of
     in the current directory.

`--macrodir=DIR'
`-m DIR'
     Look for the installed macro files in directory DIR.  You can also
     set the `AC_MACRODIR' environment variable to a directory; this
     option overrides the environment variable.

`--version'
     Print the version number of Autoconf and exit.