expression has just been read.  Use the alphabet from the
expression instead.

* taf-kit/src/getters.hh, taf-kit/src/getters.hxx (get_alphabet):
New overload to retrieve the alphabet of a rat_exp_t.
* taf-kit/src/ratexp_commands.hh (standard_of, thompson_of):
Do not call make_automaton and get_alphabet.
(derived_term_automaton): retrieve the alphabet of the expression
that has been read, do not request it from the command line.

<typedRegExp>...</typedRegExp> in the XML output of rational
expressions.

* include/vaucanson/xml/builders.hh,
include/vaucanson/xml/builders.hxx (create_regexp_node): Take
a root_name argument, and use it to replace the	<label> tag.
* include/vaucanson/xml/printers.hxx (RegExpPrinter<RE>::print):
Do not create the <typedRegExp> tag, instead call create_regexp_node()
with "typedRegExp" as root_name.

SCM specific changes that have no influence on what is distributed should not appear in the ChangeLog

* configure.ac (VCSN_PRE_RELEASE): Don't call.
(VCSN_PRE_RELEASE, VCSN_DETECT_SVN_REVISION): Remove.

	* src/tests/include/tests/automata/algos/labeled_graphs/thompson_test.hh:
	Modify Thompson Tests for product to respect the right behavior. Add
	a test of equivalence between "ab" and "a.b".
	* src/tests/include/tests/automata/algos/label_aware_graphs/standard_of_regression_test.hh:
	Fix a bug using two times the same automaton to be filled without it
	being emptied before.
	* src/tests/include/tests/context_headers/automata/global_consistency_test.hh:
	Same fix as above.

	* include/vaucanson/algorithms/standard_of.hh: Add information
	about the function's behavior.
	* include/vaucanson/algorithms/standard_of.hxx: Improve Standard
	visitor by preventing creation of several useless automata.

	* include/vaucanson/algorithms/standard.hh: Add link to Trac's page
	speaking about standard automata.
	* include/vaucanson/algorithms/standard.hxx: Factorize functions' body
	for standard_of modifications.

	* include/vaucanson/algorithms/thompson.hxx: Improve Thompson
	Visitor by preventing creation of multiple useless automata.
	Correct a bug in product construction by adding a spontaneous
	transition.
	* include/vaucanson/algorithms/thompson.hh: Add documentation
	about thompson_of behavior.

	* configure.ac: Add new files and wrappers.
	* taf-kit/src/Makefile.am: Add two new contexts.
	* taf-kit/tests/Makefile.am: Add tests for the new contexts.
	* taf-kit/tests/vcsn-char-zmax.test,
	* taf-kit/tests/vcsn-char-zmin.test: Add two basic tests (non-determinist automata include).

	* doc/HACKING.txt: Remove the example as it does not improve the
	  build time further.

	Now, it is possible to execute things like:
	./vcsn-char-b -o XML --alphabet=ab identity-exp "(a+b)*.a.(a+b)*"
	./vcsn-char-b -i XML identity-exp exp1.xml
	./vcsn-char-b -i XML -o XML identity-exp exp1.xml

	* taf-kit/src/common.hh: Split input_type into input_exp_type and 
	    input_aut_type (Allow XML by default for aut and EXP for regexp).
	* taf-kit/src/getters.hxx: Add XML input for rat_exp.
	* taf-kit/src/main.cc: input_exp_type/input_aut_type.
	* taf-kit/src/pipe.hh: input_exp_type/input_aut_type.
	* taf-kit/src/pipe.hxx: input_exp_type/input_aut_type.
	* taf-kit/src/pipe_writers.hxx: Add XML output for rat exp.

	* xml/handlers.hxx: Here.
	* xml/regexp.hh: Here.
	* xml/regexp.hxx: Here.

	We can now load and save rational expressions following the same
	syntax used for automata, using regexp_loader and regexp_saver 
	instead of automaton_loader and automaton_saver.

	The code added might definitely be optimized:
	  - Some parts of the code could definitely be merged.
	  - It might not be necessary to have TransitionConverter and
	    Format in regexp_loader, since we (currently) have only this 
	    way to print rational expressions.
	  - The names were arbitrarily chosen. (Especially: It now exists
	    a RegExpHandler and a RegexpHandler [-> typedRegExpHandler ?])

	Not yet done: an exhaustive list of tests.

	* include/vaucanson/algebra/concept/series_base.hh,
	* include/vaucanson/algebra/concept/series_base.hxx: Added some typedefs
	  and some functions so that Series could have a behavior closer to
	  automata (it allows to factorize the code when printing the rational
	  expression).
	* include/vaucanson/tools/io.hh: Add regexp_saver mechanism.
	* include/vaucanson/tools/io.hxx: Add regexp_saver mechanism.
	* include/vaucanson/xml/XML.hh: Specialize operator() with the provided
	  loader/saver.
	* include/vaucanson/xml/XML.hxx: Specialize operator() with the
	  provided loader/saver.
	* include/vaucanson/xml/builders.hxx: Simplified.
	* include/vaucanson/xml/contexts/fmp.hxx: Simplified.
	* include/vaucanson/xml/contexts/rw.hxx: Simplified.
	* include/vaucanson/xml/handlers.hh: Add DocAutHandler,
	  DocRegExpHandler, RegExpHandler.
	* include/vaucanson/xml/handlers.hxx: Add DocAutHandler,
	  DocRegExpHandler, RegExpHandler.
	* include/vaucanson/xml/parsers.hh: Add RegExpParser.
	* include/vaucanson/xml/parsers.hxx: Add RegExpParser.
	* include/vaucanson/xml/printers.hh: Add RegExpPrinter.
	* include/vaucanson/xml/printers.hxx: AddRegExpPrinter.

	A counter was not initialized which could make it impossible
	to read XML files with <star> tokens...
	* include/vaucanson/xml/regexp.hxx: Initialize a value...

	* doc/NEWS.txt: Be more precise about the new features.

	* lrde-upload.sh: Add read permissions for everyone on
	  `vaucanson-manual.pdf'.

	* AUTHORS: Add new author.
	* configure.ac: Change version number.
	* doc/News.txt: Update for release.
	* doc/share/styles/myacronym.sty,
	* doc/share/styles/misc.hva: make share-up.

	* include/vaucanson/algorithms/reduce.hh,
	* include/vaucanson/algorithms/reduce.hxx: Add preconditions and
	  remove debug code.

	* include/Makefile.am: Remove file from the distribution.
	* include/vaucanson/design_pattern/factory.hh: Remove.

	* include/vaucanson/algorithms/reduce.hh: Add comments about reduce
	  algorithm.
	* include/vaucanson/algorithms/reduce.hxx: replace backward by
	  right_left and forward by left_right.
	* include/vaucanson/misc/direction.hh: add left_right and right_left
	  directions.

	* include/vaucanson/algebra/implementation/semiring/numerical_semiring.hxx:
	  std::abs does the dispatch.

	* include/vaucanson/algebra/implementation/semiring/numerical_semiring.hxx:
	  Replace abs by fabs and fabsf in op_eq for float and double.

	* ChangeLog: Fix an email address.