--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@
 AC_PROG_INSTALL
 AC_PROG_LN_S
 AC_PROG_RANLIB
+AM_PROG_AR
 
 # Checks for libraries.
 # FIXME: Replace `main' with a function in `-lm':
--- a/doc/Makefile.am
+++ b/doc/Makefile.am
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 ## http://www.w3.org/People/Raggett/tidy/ , by Dave Raggett <dsr@w3.org>
 TIDY = tidy
 
-docdir = $(datadir)/doc/$(PACKAGE)
 
 # mclfamily.html mclfamily.ps
 
--- a/graphs/Makefile.am
+++ b/graphs/Makefile.am
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ## Process this file with automake to produce Makefile.in
 ## $Id: Makefile.am,v 1.7 2007-01-29 11:35:37 flux Exp $
 
-exampledir = $(datadir)/doc/$(PACKAGE)/examples
+exampledir = $(docdir)/examples
 
 example_DATA = falkner.mci falkner2.mci falkner.coords make-falkner.pl \
    proteins.mci matula.mci lattice.mci honey.mci seven.mci infinity.mci \
--- a/img/Makefile.am
+++ b/img/Makefile.am
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ## Process this file with automake to produce Makefile.in
 ## $Id: Makefile.am,v 1.7 2007-01-29 11:35:37 flux Exp $
 
-exampledir = $(datadir)/doc/$(PACKAGE)/examples
+exampledir = $(docdir)/examples
 
 example_DATA = fa_1024.png fa_400.png fa_600.png fa_large.png fa.ps falkner-bidi.ps falkner.ps small.ps small.png
 
--- a/src/alien/oxygen/doc/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/alien/oxygen/doc/Makefile.am
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 ## http://www.w3.org/People/Raggett/tidy/ , by Dave Raggett <dsr@w3.org>
 TIDY = tidy
 
-docdir = $(datadir)/doc/$(PACKAGE)
 
 ## zoemtut.html is "on hold": do not install; zoem is not yet ready
 ## for prime time