Remove substitution_definition nodes from doctree on reading phase (refs: #4827)

CHANGES

@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ Incompatible changes
   a ``conf.py`` file sphinx-build generates.
 * The ``gettext_compact`` attribute is removed from ``document.settings``
   object.  Please use ``config.gettext_compact`` instead.
+* #4827: All ``substitution_definition`` nodes are removed from doctree on
+  reading phase
 
 Deprecated
 ----------

sphinx/builders/latex.py

@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ from sphinx.environment.adapters.asset import ImageAdapter
 from sphinx.errors import SphinxError, ConfigError
 from sphinx.locale import _, __
 from sphinx.transforms import SphinxTransformer
-from sphinx.transforms.references import SubstitutionDefinitionsRemover
 from sphinx.util import texescape, logging, status_iterator
 from sphinx.util.console import bold, darkgreen  # type: ignore
 from sphinx.util.docutils import new_document
@@ -217,7 +216,6 @@ class LaTeXBuilder(Builder):
         # type: (nodes.document) -> None
         transformer = SphinxTransformer(doctree)
         transformer.set_environment(self.env)
-        transformer.add_transforms([SubstitutionDefinitionsRemover])
         transformer.apply_transforms()
 
     def finish(self):

sphinx/io.py

@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ from sphinx.transforms.compact_bullet_list import RefOnlyBulletListTransform
 from sphinx.transforms.i18n import (
     PreserveTranslatableMessages, Locale, RemoveTranslatableInline,
 )
+from sphinx.transforms.references import SubstitutionDefinitionsRemover
 from sphinx.util import logging
 from sphinx.util.docutils import LoggingReporter
 
@@ -93,7 +94,8 @@ class SphinxStandaloneReader(SphinxBaseReader):
                   Locale, CitationReferences, DefaultSubstitutions, MoveModuleTargets,
                   HandleCodeBlocks, AutoNumbering, AutoIndexUpgrader, SortIds,
                   RemoveTranslatableInline, FilterSystemMessages, RefOnlyBulletListTransform,
-                  UnreferencedFootnotesDetector, SphinxSmartQuotes, ManpageLink
+                  UnreferencedFootnotesDetector, SphinxSmartQuotes, ManpageLink,
+                  SubstitutionDefinitionsRemover,
                   ]  # type: List[Transform]
 
     def __init__(self, app, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -116,7 +118,8 @@ class SphinxI18nReader(SphinxBaseReader):
                   DefaultSubstitutions, MoveModuleTargets, HandleCodeBlocks,
                   AutoNumbering, SortIds, RemoveTranslatableInline,
                   FilterSystemMessages, RefOnlyBulletListTransform,
-                  UnreferencedFootnotesDetector, SphinxSmartQuotes, ManpageLink]
+                  UnreferencedFootnotesDetector, SphinxSmartQuotes, ManpageLink,
+                  SubstitutionDefinitionsRemover]
 
     def set_lineno_for_reporter(self, lineno):
         # type: (int) -> None

sphinx/transforms/references.py

@@ -16,10 +16,7 @@ from sphinx.transforms import SphinxTransform
 
 
 class SubstitutionDefinitionsRemover(SphinxTransform):
-    """Remove ``substitution_definition node from doctrees.
-
-    .. note:: In Sphinx-1.7, this transform is only used in LaTeX builder.
-    """
+    """Remove ``substitution_definition node from doctrees."""
 
     # should be invoked after Substitutions process
     default_priority = Substitutions.default_priority + 1