\includegraphics: Dots in filename

Question

\includegraphics cannot handle filenames that contain more than the one dot, separating the filename from the extension. Apparently it uses everything after the first dot as extension and then, of course, complains about an unknown graphics extension.

This is annoying as I very often have filenames that contain parameter values, e.g. plot_a0.4_b0.6.pdf.

Is there a way to teach LaTeX to interpret only the string behind the last dot as extension?

Answer 1

You can hide the other dots by masking them from TeX's token scanner with { }, i.e.:

\includegraphics{{plot_a0.4_b0.6}.pdf}

works fine.

Note that the extension can also be dropped, then a list of default extensions is used. See the graphicx manual for more information. If you want to do this, you need to double group the filename, which makes three together with the one for the arguments:

\includegraphics{{{plot_a0.4_b0.6}}}

Answer 2

You can use package grffile with option multidot.

http://www.tex.ac.uk/cgi-bin/texfaq2html?label=grffilenames

Answer 3

It is possible to automate Martin Scharrer's routine:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{catoptions}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\makeatletter
\def\parsegraphicsfilename#1{%
  \begingroup
  \def\flname{}\def\flext{}%
  \def\updateflname##1{%
    \edef\flname{\ifcsnullTF\flname{}{\flname.}##1}%
  }%
  \ifinsetTF{.}{#1}{%
    \def\reserved@a##1.##2\@nil{%
      \ifinsetTF{.}{##2}{%
        \updateflname{##1}%
        \reserved@a##2\@nil
      }{%
        \updateflname{##1}%
        \ifinsetTF{,##2,}{,eps,pdf,png,jpeg,jpg,mps,}{%
          \def\flext{##2}%
        }{%
          \updateflname{##2}%
        }%
      }%
    }%
    \reserved@a#1\@nil
    \ifcsnullTF\flname{%
      \@latex@error{Filename is empty;
        \ifcsnullTF\flext{}{ extension '\flext'}}\@ehc
    }{%
      \edef\flname{\ifcsnullTF\flext{{{\flname}}}{{\flname}.\flext}}%
    }%
  }{%
    \def\flname{#1}%
  }%
  \postgroupdef\flname\endgroup
}
\robust@def*\newincludegraphics{%
  \cpt@testopt\new@includegraphics{}%
}
\def\new@includegraphics[#1]#2{%
  \parsegraphicsfilename{#2}%
  \includegraphics[#1]{\flname}%
}
\makeatother 

Examples

\begin{document}
\def\result{{\tt\detokenize\expandafter{\flname}}\endgraf}
\parsegraphicsfilename{xx}
\result
\parsegraphicsfilename{xx.yy}
\result
\parsegraphicsfilename{xx.yy.pdf}
\result
\parsegraphicsfilename{xx.yy.zz.}
\result
\parsegraphicsfilename{plot_a0.4_b0.6.pdf}
\result
% The next one gives error because there is no filename:
%  \parsegraphicsfilename{.pdf}
\end{document}

Real-life application:

\newincludegraphics[scale=1.2,clip]{my..image.file.with..many.dots.ex.pdf}

Answer 4

Actually supporting such file names was part of the initial design spec for graphicx. The filetype is defaulted from the extension but for cases like this there is a type key so you can go type=eps or type=bmp or whatever is needed.