cover_class = DefaultEbookCover
         return cover_class(self.book_info, *args, **kwargs).output_file()
 
+    # for debugging only
+    def latex_dir(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        kwargs['latex_dir'] = True
+        from librarian import pdf
+        return pdf.transform(self, *args, **kwargs)
+
     def save_output_file(self, output_file, output_path=None, output_dir_path=None, make_author_dir=False, ext=None):
         if output_dir_path:
             save_path = output_dir_path
 
 
 
 def transform(wldoc, verbose=False, save_tex=None, morefloats=None,
-              cover=None, flags=None, customizations=None, ilustr_path=''):
+              cover=None, flags=None, customizations=None, ilustr_path='', latex_dir=False):
     """ produces a PDF file with XeLaTeX
 
     wldoc: a WLDocument
         shutil.copy(get_resource('pdf/wl.cls'), temp)
         shutil.copy(get_resource('res/wl-logo.png'), temp)
 
+        if latex_dir:
+            return temp
+
         try:
             cwd = os.getcwd()
         except OSError: