Subj : m4 and AutoConf macros
To   : comp.programming
From : Jason Curl
Date : Wed Aug 24 2005 10:36 am

Hello

I'm trying to write a 'configure' script that will take two arguments. 
I'm using the GNU AutoConf tools and writing macros in m4 to help (and 
to add portability).

Anyone have a clue how to get M4 to expand shell variables before 
passing the arguments? e.g.

  AC_DEFUN([LX_TEST_ID],
    [if test x$ac_cv_prog_id != xyes; then
        uname=`$1 $2 2> /dev/null`
        if test -z $uname; then
           ac_cv_prog_id=no
        else
           ac_cv_prog_id=yes
           ID='$1'
           IDFLAGS='$2'
        fi
     fi
    ])

  # This doesn't work. As a result if ID='id' and IDFLAGS='-un' then
  # after ID='$ID' and IDFLAGS='$IDFLAGS' as m4 literally replaces $1
  # with $ID and not id.
  LX_TEST_ID([$ID],[$IDFLAGS])

  # But this does
  LX_TEST_ID([id],[-un])

I've looked at the AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED source, but I have no idea how it 
works.

Thanks,
Jason.

.