Include a file (chapter)

Question

Is it fair to assume that if an \include command does not add a blank page both before and after, it is because the chapter starts on a page with an odd page number ?

EDIT: I thought I was having trouble with \include. I had the impression from for example http://www.tex.ac.uk/cgi-bin/texfaq2html?label=include that \include would add a page both before and after. I had one \include statement in my document and there was indeed a blank page both before and after the chapter. When I added more \include statements I didn't see the same behavior and thought something was wrong until I noticed chapters start on odd page numbers which lead to my assumption above.

Answer 1

regardless of what \include does before the included material (usually goes to a new odd-numbered page unless openany is requested), it will never by itself add a blank page after the inclusion. that happens only because of an explicit request or another \include.

one small caveat -- if the \chapter command is in the driver file before the \include, the chapter heading will appear on a page by itself, and the content on a new page; but that still shouldn't generate a blank page, since \include doesn't check for odd or even page numbers. \chapter should always be in the \included file.