WeBWorK: group WeBWorK representations into a folder

[Alex-Jordan]

Previously, the generated/webwork/ folder had a few subfolders (pg, images) and one giant representations file. Now there are representations files for each exercise, and that folder is full of them. The presence of the pg and images folders is drowned out by so many individual representation files.

So this change makes a representations folder and puts all of the representations in there. The folder tree structure is now:

generated
    webwork
        images
            [image files]
        pg
            [pg files]
        representations
            [rep files]

[Alex-Jordan]

I see that all of the representation files for the sample chapter and showcase article are committed to the repo. How would you like that handled with this PR? As a separate commit? I'm not sure what makes it easiest for you to do before/after testing that nothing really changed with those things.

[Alex-Jordan]

For the three examples that have webwork exercises, I moved their repo representations files into the new folders this PR would create. That's on a separate commit, and I'm unsure if you'd prefer that they be merged.

[rbeezer]

At first blush, I see some other changes that need to be made. For example a message A "webwork-representations.xml" in that directory indicates old-format files that need replacing. is now incorrect since "that directory" is now the new one and not the old one.

I've not checked, but will image files be found correctly? I can't tell if some paths would need to change.

[Alex-Jordan]

OK, that message is reworded.

Yes, files are found correctly, since all of the looking for them passes through a publisher variable that is also adjusted here. I've successfully built HTML and PDF with this change, and with all old files in generated cleared out first.

[rbeezer]

OK, this looks good. But it will create a headache for the CLI, methinks, and @oscarlevin.

• Assets will need a regeneration. I was trying not to put authors onto a treadmill with repeated instances of this, as we bundled up some changes all at once already.
• The CLI looks for the one grand file as a hint for re-generation, I think. Maybe that logic gets more complicated, looking now for some files at the top-level.

@oscarlevin is already hopping with other changes! What is the outlook, Oscar - should this be scheduled, or sooner is better? @Alex-Jordan - no other changes of this magnitude contemplated?

[Alex-Jordan]

I haven't surveyed the landscape well following changes from this year. But as far as file locations, I would not expect more changes. Would it help to look for *any* .xml file at the generated/webwork/ level, and report based on finding such a file? There shouldn't be such files following this change. Alex Jordan Mathematics Instructor Portland Community College

…

On Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 11:18 AM Rob Beezer ***@***.***> wrote: *rbeezer* left a comment (PreTeXtBook/pretext#2898) <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/PreTeXtBook/pretext/pull/2898*issuecomment-4643597783__;Iw!!Ka_JY85zDv0FFw!i60Ubv5OA7Pfhir160rWITBssyCf6jNvR9Hiu4SZJ0q9gbW4TFaKiJNQ1lPXibyXGLAkqAZOID8vIyw1vD0v_FCmcec$> OK, this looks good. But it will create a headache for the CLI, methinks, and @oscarlevin <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/oscarlevin__;!!Ka_JY85zDv0FFw!i60Ubv5OA7Pfhir160rWITBssyCf6jNvR9Hiu4SZJ0q9gbW4TFaKiJNQ1lPXibyXGLAkqAZOID8vIyw1vD0vpv2Vfv4$> . - Assets will need a regeneration. I was trying not to put authors onto a treadmill with repeated instances of this, as we bundled up some changes all at once already. - The CLI looks for the one grand file as a hint for re-generation, I think. Maybe that logic gets more complicated, looking now for some files at the top-level. @oscarlevin <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/oscarlevin__;!!Ka_JY85zDv0FFw!i60Ubv5OA7Pfhir160rWITBssyCf6jNvR9Hiu4SZJ0q9gbW4TFaKiJNQ1lPXibyXGLAkqAZOID8vIyw1vD0vpv2Vfv4$> is already hopping with other changes! What is the outlook, Oscar - should this be scheduled, or sooner is better? @Alex-Jordan <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/Alex-Jordan__;!!Ka_JY85zDv0FFw!i60Ubv5OA7Pfhir160rWITBssyCf6jNvR9Hiu4SZJ0q9gbW4TFaKiJNQ1lPXibyXGLAkqAZOID8vIyw1vD0v-6kxSTY$> - no other changes of this magnitude contemplated? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/PreTeXtBook/pretext/pull/2898?email_source=notifications&email_token=ABEDOADPPO5DLSGRM2VCR6D46WWYDA5CNFSNUABFM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2JONZXKZKDN5WW2ZLOOQXTINRUGM2TSNZXHAZ2M4TFMFZW63VHNVSW45DJN5XKKZLWMVXHJLDGN5XXIZLSL5RWY2LDNM*issuecomment-4643597783__;Iw!!Ka_JY85zDv0FFw!i60Ubv5OA7Pfhir160rWITBssyCf6jNvR9Hiu4SZJ0q9gbW4TFaKiJNQ1lPXibyXGLAkqAZOID8vIyw1vD0vgHNCJTg$>, or unsubscribe <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABEDOAG5XHMYF2PU7WEGHD346WWYDAVCNFSM6AAAAACZ5OV7HGVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHM2DMNBTGU4TONZYGM__;!!Ka_JY85zDv0FFw!i60Ubv5OA7Pfhir160rWITBssyCf6jNvR9Hiu4SZJ0q9gbW4TFaKiJNQ1lPXibyXGLAkqAZOID8vIyw1vD0vspaCKag$> . Triage notifications, keep track of coding agent tasks and review pull requests on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/notifications/mobile/ios/ABEDOABVG4P4CW3Y6Z7CKBT46WWYDA5CNFSNUABFM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2JONZXKZKDN5WW2ZLOOQXTINRUGM2TSNZXHAZ2M4TFMFZW63VHNVSW45DJN5XKKZLWMVXHJKTGN5XXIZLSL5UW64Y__;!!Ka_JY85zDv0FFw!i60Ubv5OA7Pfhir160rWITBssyCf6jNvR9Hiu4SZJ0q9gbW4TFaKiJNQ1lPXibyXGLAkqAZOID8vIyw1vD0vs0xJzzQ$> and Android <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/notifications/mobile/android/ABEDOAAHLPWSUBMIYEIZCN346WWYDA5CNFSNUABFM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2JONZXKZKDN5WW2ZLOOQXTINRUGM2TSNZXHAZ2M4TFMFZW63VHNVSW45DJN5XKKZLWMVXHJLTGN5XXIZLSL5QW4ZDSN5UWI__;!!Ka_JY85zDv0FFw!i60Ubv5OA7Pfhir160rWITBssyCf6jNvR9Hiu4SZJ0q9gbW4TFaKiJNQ1lPXibyXGLAkqAZOID8vIyw1vD0vwyWzSeo$>. Download it today! You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[oscarlevin]

I'm pretty sure that the CLI looks for each file name that is needed and regenerates everything if even one is missing. So either folks would need to move all the files to the new location, or regenerate everything and would have two copies of each. So I don't think there is much I would need to change (other than a line or two changing where to look for the files), but it would be a hassle for authors. Not sure how useful it is to have the added file structure. I don't think there are too many people viewing the contents of generated assets anyway. I think of that folder as mostly being organized to help the python tools keep track of things.

…

On Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 12:18 PM Rob Beezer ***@***.***> wrote: *rbeezer* left a comment (PreTeXtBook/pretext#2898) <#2898 (comment)> OK, this looks good. But it will create a headache for the CLI, methinks, and @oscarlevin <https://github.com/oscarlevin>. - Assets will need a regeneration. I was trying not to put authors onto a treadmill with repeated instances of this, as we bundled up some changes all at once already. - The CLI looks for the one grand file as a hint for re-generation, I think. Maybe that logic gets more complicated, looking now for some files at the top-level. @oscarlevin <https://github.com/oscarlevin> is already hopping with other changes! What is the outlook, Oscar - should this be scheduled, or sooner is better? @Alex-Jordan <https://github.com/Alex-Jordan> - no other changes of this magnitude contemplated? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#2898?email_source=notifications&email_token=ABRUBFFEISVLQ7IES6QTZET46WWYDA5CNFSNUABFM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2JONZXKZKDN5WW2ZLOOQXTINRUGM2TSNZXHAZ2M4TFMFZW63VHNVSW45DJN5XKKZLWMVXHJLDGN5XXIZLSL5RWY2LDNM#issuecomment-4643597783>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABRUBFBZPPFRWVXWO4XHJ3L46WWYDAVCNFSM6AAAAACZ5OV7HGVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHM2DMNBTGU4TONZYGM> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[oscarlevin]

In terms of timing, if this gets merged in the next few hours, I should be able to get it out in the CLI today. Otherwise it will have to sit for a week.

…

On Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 12:59 PM Oscar Levin ***@***.***> wrote: I'm pretty sure that the CLI looks for each file name that is needed and regenerates everything if even one is missing. So either folks would need to move all the files to the new location, or regenerate everything and would have two copies of each. So I don't think there is much I would need to change (other than a line or two changing where to look for the files), but it would be a hassle for authors. Not sure how useful it is to have the added file structure. I don't think there are too many people viewing the contents of generated assets anyway. I think of that folder as mostly being organized to help the python tools keep track of things. On Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 12:18 PM Rob Beezer ***@***.***> wrote: > *rbeezer* left a comment (PreTeXtBook/pretext#2898) > <#2898 (comment)> > > OK, this looks good. But it will create a headache for the CLI, methinks, > and @oscarlevin <https://github.com/oscarlevin>. > > - Assets will need a regeneration. I was trying not to put authors > onto a treadmill with repeated instances of this, as we bundled up some > changes all at once already. > - The CLI looks for the one grand file as a hint for re-generation, I > think. Maybe that logic gets more complicated, looking now for some files > at the top-level. > > @oscarlevin <https://github.com/oscarlevin> is already hopping with > other changes! What is the outlook, Oscar - should this be scheduled, or > sooner is better? @Alex-Jordan <https://github.com/Alex-Jordan> - no > other changes of this magnitude contemplated? > > — > Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub > <#2898?email_source=notifications&email_token=ABRUBFFEISVLQ7IES6QTZET46WWYDA5CNFSNUABFM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2JONZXKZKDN5WW2ZLOOQXTINRUGM2TSNZXHAZ2M4TFMFZW63VHNVSW45DJN5XKKZLWMVXHJLDGN5XXIZLSL5RWY2LDNM#issuecomment-4643597783>, > or unsubscribe > <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABRUBFBZPPFRWVXWO4XHJ3L46WWYDAVCNFSM6AAAAACZ5OV7HGVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHM2DMNBTGU4TONZYGM> > . > You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: > ***@***.***> >

[Alex-Jordan]

If my suggestion to look for .xml files in the generated/webwork/ folder is worth doing, I can do that. But not until this evening. I'm not in a rush to get this in. Maybe it's not worth doing at all. It seems "right" to me, but would have been "more right" if I'd been able to follow along back when the change was made. Alex Jordan Mathematics Instructor Portland Community College

…

On Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 12:18 PM Oscar Levin ***@***.***> wrote: *oscarlevin* left a comment (PreTeXtBook/pretext#2898) <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/PreTeXtBook/pretext/pull/2898*issuecomment-4643743783__;Iw!!Ka_JY85zDv0FFw!k9najd0x108s3BYHbZfZ3jRO-xEayIHydQVOueoatcPpZ-CNHxylW6vP--uslZKs6-2wHIz5ZoOoW21NqdjnJhGCavI$> In terms of timing, if this gets merged in the next few hours, I should be able to get it out in the CLI today. Otherwise it will have to sit for a week. On Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 12:59 PM Oscar Levin ***@***.***> wrote: > I'm pretty sure that the CLI looks for each file name that is needed and > regenerates everything if even one is missing. So either folks would need > to move all the files to the new location, or regenerate everything and > would have two copies of each. > > So I don't think there is much I would need to change (other than a line > or two changing where to look for the files), but it would be a hassle for > authors. > > Not sure how useful it is to have the added file structure. I don't think > there are too many people viewing the contents of generated assets anyway. > I think of that folder as mostly being organized to help the python tools > keep track of things. > > On Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 12:18 PM Rob Beezer ***@***.***> wrote: > >> *rbeezer* left a comment (PreTeXtBook/pretext#2898) >> < #2898 (comment) <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/PreTeXtBook/pretext/pull/2898*issuecomment-4643597783__;Iw!!Ka_JY85zDv0FFw!k9najd0x108s3BYHbZfZ3jRO-xEayIHydQVOueoatcPpZ-CNHxylW6vP--uslZKs6-2wHIz5ZoOoW21NqdjnRoDnd4Q$>> >> >> OK, this looks good. But it will create a headache for the CLI, methinks, >> and @oscarlevin <https://github.com/oscarlevin <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/oscarlevin__;!!Ka_JY85zDv0FFw!k9najd0x108s3BYHbZfZ3jRO-xEayIHydQVOueoatcPpZ-CNHxylW6vP--uslZKs6-2wHIz5ZoOoW21NqdjnZqUziAA$>>. >> >> - Assets will need a regeneration. I was trying not to put authors >> onto a treadmill with repeated instances of this, as we bundled up some >> changes all at once already. >> - The CLI looks for the one grand file as a hint for re-generation, I >> think. Maybe that logic gets more complicated, looking now for some files >> at the top-level. >> >> @oscarlevin <https://github.com/oscarlevin <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/oscarlevin__;!!Ka_JY85zDv0FFw!k9najd0x108s3BYHbZfZ3jRO-xEayIHydQVOueoatcPpZ-CNHxylW6vP--uslZKs6-2wHIz5ZoOoW21NqdjnZqUziAA$>> is already hopping with >> other changes! What is the outlook, Oscar - should this be scheduled, or >> sooner is better? @Alex-Jordan <https://github.com/Alex-Jordan <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/Alex-Jordan__;!!Ka_JY85zDv0FFw!k9najd0x108s3BYHbZfZ3jRO-xEayIHydQVOueoatcPpZ-CNHxylW6vP--uslZKs6-2wHIz5ZoOoW21NqdjniF73Ln4$>> - no >> other changes of this magnitude contemplated? >> >> — >> Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub >> < #2898?email_source=notifications&email_token=ABRUBFFEISVLQ7IES6QTZET46WWYDA5CNFSNUABFM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2JONZXKZKDN5WW2ZLOOQXTINRUGM2TSNZXHAZ2M4TFMFZW63VHNVSW45DJN5XKKZLWMVXHJLDGN5XXIZLSL5RWY2LDNM#issuecomment-4643597783 <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/PreTeXtBook/pretext/pull/2898?email_source=notifications&email_token=ABRUBFFEISVLQ7IES6QTZET46WWYDA5CNFSNUABFM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2JONZXKZKDN5WW2ZLOOQXTINRUGM2TSNZXHAZ2M4TFMFZW63VHNVSW45DJN5XKKZLWMVXHJLDGN5XXIZLSL5RWY2LDNM*issuecomment-4643597783__;Iw!!Ka_JY85zDv0FFw!k9najd0x108s3BYHbZfZ3jRO-xEayIHydQVOueoatcPpZ-CNHxylW6vP--uslZKs6-2wHIz5ZoOoW21NqdjnTBipfLc$>>, >> or unsubscribe >> < https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABRUBFBZPPFRWVXWO4XHJ3L46WWYDAVCNFSM6AAAAACZ5OV7HGVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHM2DMNBTGU4TONZYGM <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABRUBFBZPPFRWVXWO4XHJ3L46WWYDAVCNFSM6AAAAACZ5OV7HGVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHM2DMNBTGU4TONZYGM__;!!Ka_JY85zDv0FFw!k9najd0x108s3BYHbZfZ3jRO-xEayIHydQVOueoatcPpZ-CNHxylW6vP--uslZKs6-2wHIz5ZoOoW21Nqdjnpnf3bC0$>> >> . >> You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: >> ***@***.***> >> > — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/PreTeXtBook/pretext/pull/2898?email_source=notifications&email_token=ABEDOAGQUYMKWPSXJ3SJ7UL46W5ZZA5CNFSNUABFM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2JONZXKZKDN5WW2ZLOOQXTINRUGM3TIMZXHAZ2M4TFMFZW63VHNVSW45DJN5XKKZLWMVXHJLDGN5XXIZLSL5RWY2LDNM*issuecomment-4643743783__;Iw!!Ka_JY85zDv0FFw!k9najd0x108s3BYHbZfZ3jRO-xEayIHydQVOueoatcPpZ-CNHxylW6vP--uslZKs6-2wHIz5ZoOoW21Nqdjn8nAjEuQ$>, or unsubscribe <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABEDOAFEWIJMK2N7NDWQKND46W5ZZAVCNFSM6AAAAACZ5OV7HGVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHM2DMNBTG42DGNZYGM__;!!Ka_JY85zDv0FFw!k9najd0x108s3BYHbZfZ3jRO-xEayIHydQVOueoatcPpZ-CNHxylW6vP--uslZKs6-2wHIz5ZoOoW21NqdjnY9oOP4c$> . 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[rbeezer]

Well, I've been away, so missed Oscar's window it seems.

And this is really only if @Alex-Jordan wants it (which is fine). I like structure. ;-)

But we need to do it soon, before @oscarlevin embarks on any kind of caching to differentiate the all-or-none dichotomy. If it sits for new week, then it needs to sit for two, and so should be marked off as a draft.

[oscarlevin]

I think it would be fine to merge, it just might make the nightlies fail until I get back from vacation.

…

On Sun, Jun 7, 2026, 5:53 PM Rob Beezer ***@***.***> wrote: *rbeezer* left a comment (PreTeXtBook/pretext#2898) <#2898 (comment)> Well, I've been away, so missed Oscar's window it seems. And this is really only if @Alex-Jordan <https://github.com/Alex-Jordan> wants it (which is fine). I like structure. ;-) But we need to do it soon, before @oscarlevin <https://github.com/oscarlevin> embarks on any kind of caching to differentiate the all-or-none dichotomy. If it sits for new week, then it needs to sit for two, and so should be marked off as a draft. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#2898?email_source=notifications&email_token=ABRUBFF34RZ6NPNOMOAHBI346X56TA5CNFSNUABFM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2JONZXKZKDN5WW2ZLOOQXTINRUGQ2DONJSHAZKM4TFMFZW63VHNVSW45DJN5XKKZLWMVXHJLDGN5XXIZLSL5RWY2LDNM#issuecomment-4644475282>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABRUBFD5Q7QBLVBRDRJN26T46X56TAVCNFSM6AAAAACZ5OV7HGVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHM2DMNBUGQ3TKMRYGI> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[Alex-Jordan]

OK. Now suppose an individual reps file is not inside generated/webwork/representatons/.

1. It checks if the file is in the parent generated/webwork/ folder. Instructs user to move the file or rebuild reps.
2. Failing that, it checks if there is a webwork-representations.xml file in the parent generated/webwork/ folder. Informs the user this is an old format, an instructs user to rebuild reps.
3. Failing that, a very generic error message is given to rebuild representations.