Re: Bug: LaTeX output of numbered TODO plain list items lose numbering. [9.1.9 (release_9.1.9-65-g5e4542 @ /usr/share/emacs/27.0.50/lisp/org/)]

[Brian Carlson]

On 11/9/19 6:59 AM, Fraga, Eric wrote:

> On Friday,  8 Nov 2019 at 21:28, Brian Carlson wrote:
>> So it seems that the numbering of numbered items in a plain list are not
>> maintained when the numbered item is also a TODO plain list item.
> This is a "feature", not a bug.  The intention was to export check box
> lists nicely to LaTeX, showing which were done and which were not.  This
> doesn't mix well with any other type of list except for simple bullet
> points unfortunately.

This is, indeed, a very odd "feature." Why change the numbering to not match 
what the org file shows? 

This is especially problematic if you use internal links...

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
* My tasks
  1. one item
  2. Something interesting
     1. [X] <<target>> another item
  3. A note that isn't really a ToDo
     1. Here we refer to item [[target]] saying it's related.
     2. another item

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

That file give the following LaTeX output. (I've omitted the Table of 
Contents). 
Notice that the reference is to "2." The actual reference is to 2.1 but since 
it's a plain list todo so it references the WRONG item.
--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

1 My tasks
  1. one item
  2. Something interesting
    [X] another item
  3. A note that isn't really a ToDo
    (a) Here we refer to item 2 saying it's related
    (b) another item
--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

This is inconsistent with the org mode content. It is also inconsistent 
with the HTML output, which IMHO matches the intent of the org mode file:
--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

1 My tasks
  1. one item
  2. Something interesting
     1. [X] another item
  3. A note that isn't really a ToDo
     1. Here we refer to item 2.1 saying it's related.
     2. another item
--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---



This change in behavior, err 'feature', should at least be documented 
in that it is shocking to a user. The full ramification of the change
may require quite a few documented use cases. Perhaps the "feature creator"
or someone who understands the reasoning wouldn't mind documenting this 
inconsistency in LaTeX exports (but not other Export targets)?

In the mean time, I guess I'll just have to add some "override" lisp to my 
init file to do the sane and expected thing. This is very unfortunate since
org-latex-item is pretty big. I don't think I can easily just advise this
function. <sigh>

> The only way around it is to have them as separate lists (e.g. two empty
> lines between the check box item and the numbered items) and start the
> numbered list with the desired number ([@2], I believe).

But I don't want separate lists. I want a "todo list" that's numbered but 
doesn't change the numbering when I add a comment or wish to refer to another
 task in that list.  Having to constantly update the numbering every time I 
change my list seems sort of contrary to the whole simplicity of Org Mode.  

I find this a very odd exception to just the LaTeX export.

Thanks, 
;-b