clean up definition file

Question

I've got a problem with my custom definitions-file. The file has hundreds of command definitions (with \newcommand or \renewcommand; mainly shortcuts for mathematical terms, programm names,...). I used the commands in this file to write a document. But now I saw, that im not allowed to submit such additional files, so all command-definitions have to be placed in the main-file. I don't want to search for all used commands by hand and I also don't want to paste the whole definitions-file into the main-file, because I only use a small subset.

So my question is: Is there any way to get a list of the commands in my definitions-file that I use in the main-file? Or is there a way to automaticly delete all unused commands in the definitions-file?

I don't now if it is important in that case, but I compile the document with latex-dvips-ps2pdf.

Thanks in advance! Greetings,

Freddy

Answer 1

If you really want something automatic, I've found this (very fragile and temporary) solution: you have to add some lines to your file of definitions and then you have to compile your document. All the commands defined in your definition file will "do nothing" in your document, but a list of the ones that have been used throughout the document will appear at the end of it.

Here you can see how it works:

\documentclass{article}

%\input{file.def}
% Content of definition file:
% ***************************
% Let's redefine \newcommand
\makeatletter
\let\oldnewcommand\newcommand
\let\oldrenewcommand\renewcommand
\gdef\usedcommands{\par\bigskip\noindent Used commands:\par}
\def\newcommand#1{%
        \@namedef{\string#1}{\string #1}%
            \def#1{%
                \g@addto@macro\usedcommands{\ttfamily\@nameuse{\string#1}\par}%
                \def#1{}%
            }%
        \providecommand\@unuseful
}
\let\renewcommand\newcommand

% Now the definitions you had before:
\newcommand\lorem{...}
\newcommand\ipsum[1]{#1 ...}
\newcommand\dolor{...}
\newcommand{\sit}{...}
\newcommand\amet{....}

% Some other adjustments:
\let\newcommand\oldnewcommand
\let\renewcommand\oldrenewcommand
\AtEndDocument{\usedcommands}
\makeatother
% ***************************

\begin{document}

Random text, \lorem\lorem\sit\ipsum
\ipsum
\sit

\end{document}

(I assumed you've never use \newcommand*, otherwise there would be some other work to do...)