org-export with ox-bibtex outside emacs

Question

I want to write a Makefile that handles org-export with ox-bibtex, e.g.

%.pdf: %.org
        emacs $< --batch -l emacs-load.el -f org-latex-export-to-pdf --kill

%.html: %.org
        emacs $< --batch -l emacs-load.el -f org-html-export-to-html --kill

where emacs-load.el contains any elisp needed.

And here start my problems: I so far have

(add-to-list 'exec-path "./bibtex2html-1.98-linux/")
(add-to-list 'load-path "./elisp")
(require 'org)
(load "ox-bibtex.el")

and the ox-bibtex.el copied to elisp

With the above configuration, I get

Symbol's function definition is void: org-element-insert-before

If I provide a function definition (i.e. from org-element.el) org-link-types is void, and so on.

Apparently, I am missing something, but as it stands I do not know what to do in order to make ox-bibtex work.

I want the Makefile to be fully portable (i.e. not depend on a custom emacs configuration) for org-version >= 8.0. (But its OK to require some files in the same directory or a subdirectory.)

Answer 1

I'm pretty sure the reason that's happening is because the org contributed libraries are not in your load-path. Ensure that directory is in your load path, and it should work. See Installation - The Org Manual if you don't already have it installed.

If you already have it locally something like this should work:

(add-to-list 'load-path "~/path/to/orgdir/contrib/lisp" t)

My preferred method of installing using the emacs package system. Here's a link to the org package repository.

Answer 2

The order of the emacs call seems to be the problem. Should be

    emacs --batch -l emacs-load.el $< -f org-latex-export-to-pdf --kill

Moreover, I needed to invoke the Makefile located in the org lisp directory hat I placed in my load-path.

It work as expected with the above modifications.