Multiple subdirectories with non-similar configure needs

[Jim Galarowicz]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone can point me to any information on how to 
configure from a top-level directory multiple sub-directories with 
different configure requirements.    I searched the autoconf archives 
but didn't get any relevant matches, but I may not have used the correct 
search parameters.

I have three directories (and plan to add more) that I would like to 
configure from the top-level directory. However, the way I am using 
autoconf is forcing the same configure line to be used on all three 
directories.   Is there a way to have an autoconf/automake/libtool 
top-level directory and have the configures for each subdirectories be 
different?   Basically, throw control to the subdirectories and allow 
them to configure individually?  AC_CONFIG_SUBDIRS doesn't seem to be 
the right specification.

The goals for this project are to have the subdirectories (libraries) 
able to be configured and built individually.   For convenience, we 
would like to have a top-level configure that would configure and build 
all the libraries.

My subdirectories are: libcbtf, libcbtf-xml, libcbtf-mrnet.  Each 
subdirectory has different package requirements and has been set up to 
use autoconf, automake, libtool, m4, etc..

I bootstrap using these commands:
aclocal --force -I m4
libtoolize --copy --force --ltdl
autoheader --force
automake --add-missing --copy --force-missing --foreign
autoconf

My configure.ac:
AC_PROG_CXX
AC_PROG_LIBTOOL
AC_PROG_INSTALL

LT_CONFIG_LTDL_DIR([libltdl])
LT_INIT([dlopen])
LTDL_INIT([recursive])

...
<host specific code>
...

AC_CONFIG_SUBDIRS(libcbtf)
AC_CONFIG_SUBDIRS(libcbtf-xml)
AC_CONFIG_SUBDIRS(libcbtf-mrnet)

AC_CONFIG_FILES([Makefile])

AC_OUTPUT


Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim G.