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diff --git a/texinfo/doc/info.texi b/texinfo/doc/info.texi deleted file mode 100644 index 41e72954811..00000000000 --- a/texinfo/doc/info.texi +++ /dev/null @@ -1,911 +0,0 @@ -\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*- -@comment %**start of header -@setfilename info.info -@settitle Info 1.0 -@comment %**end of header -@comment $Id: info.texi,v 1.1.1.2 1998/03/24 18:20:37 law Exp $ - -@dircategory Texinfo documentation system -@direntry -* Info: (info). Documentation browsing system. -@end direntry - -@ifinfo -This file describes how to use Info, -the on-line, menu-driven GNU documentation system. - -Copyright (C) 1989, 92, 96, 97 Free Software Foundation, Inc. - -Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of -this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice -are preserved on all copies. - -@ignore -Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the -results, provided the printed document carries copying permission -notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph -(this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual). - -@end ignore -Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this -manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided that the entire -resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a permission -notice identical to this one. - -Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual -into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions, -except that this permission notice may be stated in a translation approved -by the Free Software Foundation. -@end ifinfo - -@titlepage -@title Info -@subtitle The online, menu-driven GNU documentation system -@author Brian Fox -@page -@vskip 0pt plus 1filll -Copyright @copyright{} 1989, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 Free Software -Foundation, Inc. -@sp 2 - -Published by the Free Software Foundation @* -59 Temple Place - Suite 330 @* -Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA. - -Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of -this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice -are preserved on all copies. - -Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this -manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided that the entire -resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a permission -notice identical to this one. - -Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual -into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions, -except that this permission notice may be stated in a translation approved -by the Free Software Foundation. -@end titlepage - -@ifinfo -@node Top, Getting Started, , (dir) -@top Info: An Introduction - -Info is a program for reading documentation, which you are using now. - -To learn how to use Info, type the command @kbd{h}. It brings you -to a programmed instruction sequence. - -@c Need to make sure that `Info-help' goes to the right node, -@c which is the first node of the first chapter. (It should.) -@c (Info-find-node "info" -@c (if (< (window-height) 23) -@c "Help-Small-Screen" -@c "Help"))) - -To learn advanced Info commands, type @kbd{n} twice. This brings you to -@cite{Info for Experts}, skipping over the `Getting Started' chapter. -@end ifinfo - -@menu -* Getting Started:: Getting started using an Info reader. -* Advanced Info:: Advanced commands within Info. -* Create an Info File:: How to make your own Info file. -* The Standalone Info Program: (info-stnd.info). -@end menu - -@node Getting Started, Advanced Info, Top, Top -@comment node-name, next, previous, up -@chapter Getting Started - -This first part of the Info manual describes how to get around inside -of Info. The second part of the manual describes various advanced -Info commands, and how to write an Info as distinct from a Texinfo -file. The third part is about how to generate Info files from -Texinfo files. - -@iftex -This manual is primarily designed for use on a computer, so that you can -try Info commands while reading about them. Reading it on paper is less -effective, since you must take it on faith that the commands described -really do what the manual says. By all means go through this manual now -that you have it; but please try going through the on-line version as -well. - -There are two ways of looking at the online version of this manual: - -@enumerate -@item -Type @code{info} at your shell's command line. This approach uses a -small stand-alone program designed just to read Info files. - -@item -Type @code{emacs} at the command line; then type @kbd{C-h i} (Control -@kbd{h}, followed by @kbd{i}). This approach uses the Info mode of the -Emacs program, an editor with many other capabilities. -@end enumerate - -In either case, then type @kbd{mInfo} (just the letters), followed by -@key{RET}---the ``Return'' or ``Enter'' key. At this point, you should -be ready to follow the instructions in this manual as you read them on -the screen. -@c FIXME! (pesch@cygnus.com, 14 dec 1992) -@c Is it worth worrying about what-if the beginner goes to somebody -@c else's Emacs session, which already has an Info running in the middle -@c of something---in which case these simple instructions won't work? -@end iftex - -@menu -* Help-Small-Screen:: Starting Info on a Small Screen -* Help:: How to use Info -* Help-P:: Returning to the Previous node -* Help-^L:: The Space, Rubout, B and ^L commands. -* Help-M:: Menus -* Help-Adv:: Some advanced Info commands -* Help-Q:: Quitting Info -@end menu - -@node Help-Small-Screen, Help, , Getting Started -@comment node-name, next, previous, up -@section Starting Info on a Small Screen - -@iftex -(In Info, you only see this section if your terminal has a small -number of lines; most readers pass by it without seeing it.) -@end iftex - -Since your terminal has an unusually small number of lines on its -screen, it is necessary to give you special advice at the beginning. - -If you see the text @samp{--All----} at near the bottom right corner -of the screen, it means the entire text you are looking at fits on the -screen. If you see @samp{--Top----} instead, it means that there is -more text below that does not fit. To move forward through the text -and see another screen full, press the Space bar, @key{SPC}. To move -back up, press the key labeled @samp{Backspace} or @key{Delete}. - -@ifinfo -Here are 40 lines of junk, so you can try Spaces and Deletes and -see what they do. At the end are instructions of what you should do -next. - -This is line 17 @* -This is line 18 @* -This is line 19 @* -This is line 20 @* -This is line 21 @* -This is line 22 @* -This is line 23 @* -This is line 24 @* -This is line 25 @* -This is line 26 @* -This is line 27 @* -This is line 28 @* -This is line 29 @* -This is line 30 @* -This is line 31 @* -This is line 32 @* -This is line 33 @* -This is line 34 @* -This is line 35 @* -This is line 36 @* -This is line 37 @* -This is line 38 @* -This is line 39 @* -This is line 40 @* -This is line 41 @* -This is line 42 @* -This is line 43 @* -This is line 44 @* -This is line 45 @* -This is line 46 @* -This is line 47 @* -This is line 48 @* -This is line 49 @* -This is line 50 @* -This is line 51 @* -This is line 52 @* -This is line 53 @* -This is line 54 @* -This is line 55 @* -This is line 56 @* - -If you have managed to get here, go back to the beginning with -Delete, and come back here again, then you understand Space and -Delete. So now type an @kbd{n} ---just one character; don't type -the quotes and don't type the Return key afterward--- to -get to the normal start of the course. -@end ifinfo - -@node Help, Help-P, Help-Small-Screen, Getting Started -@comment node-name, next, previous, up -@section How to use Info - -You are talking to the program Info, for reading documentation. - - Right now you are looking at one @dfn{Node} of Information. -A node contains text describing a specific topic at a specific -level of detail. This node's topic is ``how to use Info''. - - The top line of a node is its @dfn{header}. This node's header (look at -it now) says that it is the node named @samp{Help} in the file -@file{info}. It says that the @samp{Next} node after this one is the node -called @samp{Help-P}. An advanced Info command lets you go to any node -whose name you know. - - Besides a @samp{Next}, a node can have a @samp{Previous} or an @samp{Up}. -This node has a @samp{Previous} but no @samp{Up}, as you can see. - - Now it is time to move on to the @samp{Next} node, named @samp{Help-P}. - ->> Type @samp{n} to move there. Type just one character; - do not type the quotes and do not type a @key{RET} afterward. - -@samp{>>} in the margin means it is really time to try a command. - -@node Help-P, Help-^L, Help, Getting Started -@comment node-name, next, previous, up -@section Returning to the Previous node - -This node is called @samp{Help-P}. The @samp{Previous} node, as you see, -is @samp{Help}, which is the one you just came from using the @kbd{n} -command. Another @kbd{n} command now would take you to the next -node, @samp{Help-^L}. - ->> But do not do that yet. First, try the @kbd{p} command, which takes - you to the @samp{Previous} node. When you get there, you can do an - @kbd{n} again to return here. - - This all probably seems insultingly simple so far, but @emph{do not} be -led into skimming. Things will get more complicated soon. Also, -do not try a new command until you are told it is time to. Otherwise, -you may make Info skip past an important warning that was coming up. - ->> Now do an @kbd{n} to get to the node @samp{Help-^L} and learn more. - -@node Help-^L, Help-M, Help-P, Getting Started -@comment node-name, next, previous, up -@section The Space, Delete, B and ^L commands. - - This node's header tells you that you are now at node @samp{Help-^L}, and -that @kbd{p} would get you back to @samp{Help-P}. The node's title is -underlined; it says what the node is about (most nodes have titles). - - This is a big node and it does not all fit on your display screen. -You can tell that there is more that is not visible because you -can see the string @samp{--Top-----} rather than @samp{--All----} near -the bottom right corner of the screen. - - The Space, Delete and @kbd{B} commands exist to allow you to ``move -around'' in a node that does not all fit on the screen at once. -Space moves forward, to show what was below the bottom of the screen. -Delete moves backward, to show what was above the top of the screen -(there is not anything above the top until you have typed some spaces). - ->> Now try typing a Space (afterward, type a Delete to return here). - - When you type the space, the two lines that were at the bottom of -the screen appear at the top, followed by more lines. Delete takes -the two lines from the top and moves them to the bottom, -@emph{usually}, but if there are not a full screen's worth of lines -above them they may not make it all the way to the bottom. - - If you type Space when there is no more to see, it rings the -bell and otherwise does nothing. The same goes for Delete when -the header of the node is visible. - - If your screen is ever garbaged, you can tell Info to print it out -again by typing @kbd{C-l} (@kbd{Control-L}, that is---hold down ``Control'' and -type an @key{L} or @kbd{l}). - ->> Type @kbd{C-l} now. - - To move back to the beginning of the node you are on, you can type -a lot of Deletes. You can also type simply @kbd{b} for beginning. ->> Try that now. (We have put in enough verbiage to push this past -the first screenful, but screens are so big nowadays that perhaps it -isn't enough. You may need to shrink your Emacs or Info window.) -Then come back, with Spaces. - - If your screen is very tall, all of this node might fit at once. -In that case, "b" won't do anything. Sorry; what can we do? - - You have just learned a considerable number of commands. If you -want to use one but have trouble remembering which, you should type -a @key{?} which prints out a brief list of commands. When you are -finished looking at the list, make it go away by pressing @key{SPC} -repeatedly. - ->> Type a @key{?} now. Press @key{SPC} to see consecutive screenfuls of ->> the list until finished. - - From now on, you will encounter large nodes without warning, and -will be expected to know how to use Space and Delete to move -around in them without being told. Since not all terminals have -the same size screen, it would be impossible to warn you anyway. - ->> Now type @kbd{n} to see the description of the @kbd{m} command. - -@node Help-M, Help-Adv, Help-^L, Getting Started -@comment node-name, next, previous, up -@section Menus - -Menus and the @kbd{m} command - - With only the @kbd{n} and @kbd{p} commands for moving between nodes, nodes -are restricted to a linear sequence. Menus allow a branching -structure. A menu is a list of other nodes you can move to. It is -actually just part of the text of the node formatted specially so that -Info can interpret it. The beginning of a menu is always identified -by a line which starts with @samp{* Menu:}. A node contains a menu if and -only if it has a line in it which starts that way. The only menu you -can use at any moment is the one in the node you are in. To use a -menu in any other node, you must move to that node first. - - After the start of the menu, each line that starts with a @samp{*} -identifies one subtopic. The line usually contains a brief name -for the subtopic (followed by a @samp{:}), the name of the node that talks -about that subtopic, and optionally some further description of the -subtopic. Lines in the menu that do not start with a @samp{*} have no -special meaning---they are only for the human reader's benefit and do -not define additional subtopics. Here is an example: - -@example -* Foo: FOO's Node This tells about FOO -@end example - -The subtopic name is Foo, and the node describing it is @samp{FOO's Node}. -The rest of the line is just for the reader's Information. -[[ But this line is not a real menu item, simply because there is -no line above it which starts with @samp{* Menu:}.]] - - When you use a menu to go to another node (in a way that will be -described soon), what you specify is the subtopic name, the first -thing in the menu line. Info uses it to find the menu line, extracts -the node name from it, and goes to that node. The reason that there -is both a subtopic name and a node name is that the node name must be -meaningful to the computer and may therefore have to be ugly looking. -The subtopic name can be chosen just to be convenient for the user to -specify. Often the node name is convenient for the user to specify -and so both it and the subtopic name are the same. There is an -abbreviation for this: - -@example -* Foo:: This tells about FOO -@end example - -@noindent -This means that the subtopic name and node name are the same; they are -both @samp{Foo}. - ->> Now use Spaces to find the menu in this node, then come back to - the front with a @kbd{b} and some Spaces. As you see, a menu is - actually visible in its node. If you cannot find a menu in a node - by looking at it, then the node does not have a menu and the - @kbd{m} command is not available. - - The command to go to one of the subnodes is @kbd{m}---but @emph{do -not do it yet!} Before you use @kbd{m}, you must understand the -difference between commands and arguments. So far, you have learned -several commands that do not need arguments. When you type one, Info -processes it and is instantly ready for another command. The @kbd{m} -command is different: it is incomplete without the @dfn{name of the -subtopic}. Once you have typed @kbd{m}, Info tries to read the -subtopic name. - - Now look for the line containing many dashes near the bottom of the -screen. There is one more line beneath that one, but usually it is -blank. If it is empty, Info is ready for a command, such as @kbd{n} -or @kbd{b} or Space or @kbd{m}. If that line contains text ending -in a colon, it mean Info is trying to read the @dfn{argument} to a -command. At such times, commands do not work, because Info tries to -use them as the argument. You must either type the argument and -finish the command you started, or type @kbd{Control-g} to cancel the -command. When you have done one of those things, the line becomes -blank again. - - The command to go to a subnode via a menu is @kbd{m}. After you type -the @kbd{m}, the line at the bottom of the screen says @samp{Menu item: }. -You must then type the name of the subtopic you want, and end it with -a @key{RET}. - - You can abbreviate the subtopic name. If the abbreviation is not -unique, the first matching subtopic is chosen. Some menus put -the shortest possible abbreviation for each subtopic name in capital -letters, so you can see how much you need to type. It does not -matter whether you use upper case or lower case when you type the -subtopic. You should not put any spaces at the end, or inside of the -item name, except for one space where a space appears in the item in -the menu. - - You can also use the @dfn{completion} feature to help enter the subtopic -name. If you type the Tab key after entering part of a name, it will -magically fill in more of the name---as much as follows uniquely from -what you have entered. - - If you move the cursor to one of the menu subtopic lines, then you do -not need to type the argument: you just type a Return, and it stands for -the subtopic of the line you are on. - -Here is a menu to give you a chance to practice. - -* Menu: The menu starts here. - -This menu gives you three ways of going to one place, Help-FOO. - -* Foo: Help-FOO. A node you can visit for fun.@* -* Bar: Help-FOO. Strange! two ways to get to the same place.@* -* Help-FOO:: And yet another!@* - - ->> Now type just an @kbd{m} and see what happens: - - Now you are ``inside'' an @kbd{m} command. Commands cannot be used -now; the next thing you will type must be the name of a subtopic. - - You can change your mind about doing the @kbd{m} by typing Control-g. - ->> Try that now; notice the bottom line clear. - ->> Then type another @kbd{m}. - ->> Now type @samp{BAR} item name. Do not type Return yet. - - While you are typing the item name, you can use the Delete key to -cancel one character at a time if you make a mistake. - ->> Type one to cancel the @samp{R}. You could type another @samp{R} to - replace it. You do not have to, since @samp{BA} is a valid abbreviation. - ->> Now you are ready to go. Type a @key{RET}. - - After visiting Help-FOO, you should return here. - ->> Type @kbd{n} to see more commands. - -@c If a menu appears at the end of this node, remove it. -@c It is an accident of the menu updating command. - -Here is another way to get to Help-FOO, a menu. You can ignore this -if you want, or else try it (but then please come back to here). - -@menu -* Help-FOO:: -@end menu - -@node Help-FOO, , , Help-M -@comment node-name, next, previous, up -@subsection The @kbd{u} command - - Congratulations! This is the node @samp{Help-FOO}. Unlike the other -nodes you have seen, this one has an @samp{Up}: @samp{Help-M}, the node you -just came from via the @kbd{m} command. This is the usual -convention---the nodes you reach from a menu have @samp{Up} nodes that lead -back to the menu. Menus move Down in the tree, and @samp{Up} moves Up. -@samp{Previous}, on the other hand, is usually used to ``stay on the same -level but go backwards'' - - You can go back to the node @samp{Help-M} by typing the command -@kbd{u} for ``Up''. That puts you at the @emph{front} of the -node---to get back to where you were reading you have to type -some @key{SPC}s. - ->> Now type @kbd{u} to move back up to @samp{Help-M}. - -@node Help-Adv, Help-Q, Help-M, Getting Started -@comment node-name, next, previous, up -@section Some advanced Info commands - - The course is almost over, so please stick with it to the end. - - If you have been moving around to different nodes and wish to -retrace your steps, the @kbd{l} command (@kbd{l} for @dfn{last}) will -do that, one node-step at a time. As you move from node to node, Info -records the nodes where you have been in a special history list. The -@kbd{l} command revisits nodes in the history list; each successive -@kbd{l} command moves one step back through the history. - - If you have been following directions, ad @kbd{l} command now will get -you back to @samp{Help-M}. Another @kbd{l} command would undo the -@kbd{u} and get you back to @samp{Help-FOO}. Another @kbd{l} would undo -the @kbd{m} and get you back to @samp{Help-M}. - ->> Try typing three @kbd{l}'s, pausing in between to see what each - @kbd{l} does. - -Then follow directions again and you will end up back here. - - Note the difference between @kbd{l} and @kbd{p}: @kbd{l} moves to -where @emph{you} last were, whereas @kbd{p} always moves to the node -which the header says is the @samp{Previous} node (from this node, to -@samp{Help-M}). - - The @samp{d} command gets you instantly to the Directory node. -This node, which is the first one you saw when you entered Info, -has a menu which leads (directly, or indirectly through other menus), -to all the nodes that exist. - ->> Try doing a @samp{d}, then do an @kbd{l} to return here (yes, - @emph{do} return). - - Sometimes, in Info documentation, you will see a cross reference. -Cross references look like this: @xref{Help-Cross, Cross}. That is a -real, live cross reference which is named @samp{Cross} and points at -the node named @samp{Help-Cross}. - - If you wish to follow a cross reference, you must use the @samp{f} -command. The @samp{f} must be followed by the cross reference name -(in this case, @samp{Cross}). While you enter the name, you can use the -Delete key to edit your input. If you change your mind about following -any reference, you can use @kbd{Control-g} to cancel the command. - - Completion is available in the @samp{f} command; you can complete among -all the cross reference names in the current node by typing a Tab. - ->> Type @samp{f}, followed by @samp{Cross}, and a @key{RET}. - - To get a list of all the cross references in the current node, you can -type @kbd{?} after an @samp{f}. The @samp{f} continues to await a -cross reference name even after printing the list, so if you don't -actually want to follow a reference, you should type a @kbd{Control-g} -to cancel the @samp{f}. - ->> Type "f?" to get a list of the cross references in this node. Then - type a @kbd{Control-g} and see how the @samp{f} gives up. - ->> Now type @kbd{n} to see the last node of the course. - -@c If a menu appears at the end of this node, remove it. -@c It is an accident of the menu updating command. - -@node Help-Cross, , , Help-Adv -@comment node-name, next, previous, up -@unnumberedsubsec The node reached by the cross reference in Info - - This is the node reached by the cross reference named @samp{Cross}. - - While this node is specifically intended to be reached by a cross -reference, most cross references lead to nodes that ``belong'' -someplace else far away in the structure of Info. So you cannot expect -the footnote to have a @samp{Next}, @samp{Previous} or @samp{Up} pointing back to -where you came from. In general, the @kbd{l} (el) command is the only -way to get back there. - ->> Type @kbd{l} to return to the node where the cross reference was. - -@node Help-Q, , Help-Adv, Getting Started -@comment node-name, next, previous, up -@section Quitting Info - - To get out of Info, back to what you were doing before, type @kbd{q} -for @dfn{Quit}. - - This is the end of the course on using Info. There are some other -commands that are meant for experienced users; they are useful, and you -can find them by looking in the directory node for documentation on -Info. Finding them will be a good exercise in using Info in the usual -manner. - ->> Type @samp{d} to go to the Info directory node; then type - @samp{mInfo} and Return, to get to the node about Info and - see what other help is available. - -@node Advanced Info, Create an Info File, Getting Started, Top -@comment node-name, next, previous, up -@chapter Info for Experts - -This chapter describes various advanced Info commands, and how to write -an Info as distinct from a Texinfo file. (However, in most cases, writing a -Texinfo file is better, since you can use it @emph{both} to generate an -Info file and to make a printed manual. @xref{Top,, Overview of -Texinfo, texinfo, Texinfo: The GNU Documentation Format}.) - -@menu -* Expert:: Advanced Info commands: g, s, e, and 1 - 5. -* Add:: Describes how to add new nodes to the hierarchy. - Also tells what nodes look like. -* Menus:: How to add to or create menus in Info nodes. -* Cross-refs:: How to add cross-references to Info nodes. -* Tags:: How to make tag tables for Info files. -* Checking:: Checking an Info File -* Emacs Info Variables:: Variables modifying the behavior of Emacs Info. -@end menu - -@node Expert, Add, , Advanced Info -@comment node-name, next, previous, up -@section Advanced Info Commands - -@kbd{g}, @kbd{s}, @kbd{1}, -- @kbd{9}, and @kbd{e} - -If you know a node's name, you can go there by typing @kbd{g}, the -name, and @key{RET}. Thus, @kbd{gTop@key{RET}} would go to the node -called @samp{Top} in this file (its directory node). -@kbd{gExpert@key{RET}} would come back here. - -Unlike @kbd{m}, @kbd{g} does not allow the use of abbreviations. - -To go to a node in another file, you can include the filename in the -node name by putting it at the front, in parentheses. Thus, -@kbd{g(dir)Top@key{RET}} would go to the Info Directory node, which is -node @samp{Top} in the file @file{dir}. - -The node name @samp{*} specifies the whole file. So you can look at -all of the current file by typing @kbd{g*@key{RET}} or all of any -other file with @kbd{g(FILENAME)@key{RET}}. - -The @kbd{s} command allows you to search a whole file for a string. -It switches to the next node if and when that is necessary. You -type @kbd{s} followed by the string to search for, terminated by -@key{RET}. To search for the same string again, just @kbd{s} followed -by @key{RET} will do. The file's nodes are scanned in the order -they are in in the file, which has no necessary relationship to the -order that they may be in in the tree structure of menus and @samp{next} pointers. -But normally the two orders are not very different. In any case, -you can always do a @kbd{b} to find out what node you have reached, if -the header is not visible (this can happen, because @kbd{s} puts your -cursor at the occurrence of the string, not at the beginning of the -node). - -If you grudge the system each character of type-in it requires, you -might like to use the commands @kbd{1}, @kbd{2}, @kbd{3}, @kbd{4}, ... -@kbd{9}. They are short for the @kbd{m} command together with an -argument. @kbd{1} goes through the first item in the current node's -menu; @kbd{2} goes through the second item, etc. - -If you display supports multiple fonts, and you are using Emacs' Info -mode to read Info files, the @samp{*} for the fifth menu item is -underlines, and so is the @samp{*} for the ninth item; these underlines -make it easy to see at a glance which number to use for an item. - -On ordinary terminals, you won't have underlining. If you need to -actually count items, it is better to use @kbd{m} instead, and specify -the name. - -The Info command @kbd{e} changes from Info mode to an ordinary -Emacs editing mode, so that you can edit the text of the current node. -Type @kbd{C-c C-c} to switch back to Info. The @kbd{e} command is allowed -only if the variable @code{Info-enable-edit} is non-@code{nil}. - -@node Add, Menus, Expert, Advanced Info -@comment node-name, next, previous, up -@section Adding a new node to Info - -To add a new topic to the list in the Info directory, you must: -@enumerate -@item -Create some nodes, in some file, to document that topic. -@item -Put that topic in the menu in the directory. @xref{Menus, Menu}. -@end enumerate - -Usually, the way to create the nodes is with Texinfo @pxref{Top,, Overview of -Texinfo, texinfo, Texinfo: The GNU Documentation Format}); this has the -advantage that you can also make a printed manual from them. However, -if hyou want to edit an Info file, here is how. - - The new node can live in an existing documentation file, or in a new -one. It must have a @key{^_} character before it (invisible to the -user; this node has one but you cannot see it), and it ends with either -a @key{^_}, a @key{^L}, or the end of file. Note: If you put in a -@key{^L} to end a new node, be sure that there is a @key{^_} after it -to start the next one, since @key{^L} cannot @emph{start} a node. -Also, a nicer way to make a node boundary be a page boundary as well -is to put a @key{^L} @emph{right after} the @key{^_}. - - The @key{^_} starting a node must be followed by a newline or a -@key{^L} newline, after which comes the node's header line. The -header line must give the node's name (by which Info finds it), -and state the names of the @samp{Next}, @samp{Previous}, and @samp{Up} nodes (if -there are any). As you can see, this node's @samp{Up} node is the node -@samp{Top}, which points at all the documentation for Info. The @samp{Next} -node is @samp{Menus}. - - The keywords @dfn{Node}, @dfn{Previous}, @dfn{Up}, and @dfn{Next}, -may appear in any order, anywhere in the header line, but the -recommended order is the one in this sentence. Each keyword must be -followed by a colon, spaces and tabs, and then the appropriate name. -The name may be terminated with a tab, a comma, or a newline. A space -does not end it; node names may contain spaces. The case of letters -in the names is insignificant. - - A node name has two forms. A node in the current file is named by -what appears after the @samp{Node: } in that node's first line. For -example, this node's name is @samp{Add}. A node in another file is -named by @samp{(@var{filename})@var{node-within-file}}, as in -@samp{(info)Add} for this node. If the file name starts with ``./'', -then it is relative to the current directory; otherwise, it is relative -starting from the standard Info file directory of your site. -The name @samp{(@var{filename})Top} can be abbreviated to just -@samp{(@var{filename})}. By convention, the name @samp{Top} is used for -the ``highest'' node in any single file---the node whose @samp{Up} points -out of the file. The Directory node is @file{(dir)}. The @samp{Top} node -of a document file listed in the Directory should have an @samp{Up: -(dir)} in it. - - The node name @kbd{*} is special: it refers to the entire file. -Thus, @kbd{g*} shows you the whole current file. The use of the -node @kbd{*} is to make it possible to make old-fashioned, -unstructured files into nodes of the tree. - - The @samp{Node:} name, in which a node states its own name, must not -contain a filename, since Info when searching for a node does not -expect one to be there. The @samp{Next}, @samp{Previous} and @samp{Up} names may -contain them. In this node, since the @samp{Up} node is in the same file, -it was not necessary to use one. - - Note that the nodes in this file have a file name in the header -line. The file names are ignored by Info, but they serve as comments -to help identify the node for the user. - -@node Menus, Cross-refs, Add, Advanced Info -@comment node-name, next, previous, up -@section How to Create Menus - - Any node in the Info hierarchy may have a @dfn{menu}---a list of subnodes. -The @kbd{m} command searches the current node's menu for the topic which it -reads from the terminal. - - A menu begins with a line starting with @samp{* Menu:}. The rest of the -line is a comment. After the starting line, every line that begins -with a @samp{* } lists a single topic. The name of the topic--the -argument that the user must give to the @kbd{m} command to select this -topic---comes right after the star and space, and is followed by a -colon, spaces and tabs, and the name of the node which discusses that -topic. The node name, like node names following @samp{Next}, @samp{Previous} -and @samp{Up}, may be terminated with a tab, comma, or newline; it may also -be terminated with a period. - - If the node name and topic name are the same, then rather than -giving the name twice, the abbreviation @samp{* NAME::} may be used -(and should be used, whenever possible, as it reduces the visual -clutter in the menu). - - It is considerate to choose the topic names so that they differ -from each other very near the beginning---this allows the user to type -short abbreviations. In a long menu, it is a good idea to capitalize -the beginning of each item name which is the minimum acceptable -abbreviation for it (a long menu is more than 5 or so entries). - - The nodes listed in a node's menu are called its ``subnodes'', and -it is their ``superior''. They should each have an @samp{Up:} pointing at -the superior. It is often useful to arrange all or most of the -subnodes in a sequence of @samp{Next} and @samp{Previous} pointers so that someone who -wants to see them all need not keep revisiting the Menu. - - The Info Directory is simply the menu of the node @samp{(dir)Top}---that -is, node @samp{Top} in file @file{.../info/dir}. You can put new entries -in that menu just like any other menu. The Info Directory is @emph{not} the -same as the file directory called @file{info}. It happens that many of -Info's files live on that file directory, but they do not have to; and -files on that directory are not automatically listed in the Info -Directory node. - - Also, although the Info node graph is claimed to be a ``hierarchy'', -in fact it can be @emph{any} directed graph. Shared structures and -pointer cycles are perfectly possible, and can be used if they are -appropriate to the meaning to be expressed. There is no need for all -the nodes in a file to form a connected structure. In fact, this file -has two connected components. You are in one of them, which is under -the node @samp{Top}; the other contains the node @samp{Help} which the -@kbd{h} command goes to. In fact, since there is no garbage -collector, nothing terrible happens if a substructure is not pointed -to, but such a substructure is rather useless since nobody can -ever find out that it exists. - -@node Cross-refs, Tags, Menus, Advanced Info -@comment node-name, next, previous, up -@section Creating Cross References - - A cross reference can be placed anywhere in the text, unlike a menu -item which must go at the front of a line. A cross reference looks -like a menu item except that it has @samp{*note} instead of @kbd{*}. -It @emph{cannot} be terminated by a @samp{)}, because @samp{)}'s are -so often part of node names. If you wish to enclose a cross reference -in parentheses, terminate it with a period first. Here are two -examples of cross references pointers: - -@example -*Note details: commands. (See *note 3: Full Proof.) -@end example - -They are just examples. The places they ``lead to'' do not really exist! - -@node Tags, Checking, Cross-refs, Advanced Info -@comment node-name, next, previous, up -@section Tag Tables for Info Files - - You can speed up the access to nodes of a large Info file by giving -it a tag table. Unlike the tag table for a program, the tag table for -an Info file lives inside the file itself and is used -automatically whenever Info reads in the file. - - To make a tag table, go to a node in the file using Emacs Info mode and type -@kbd{M-x Info-tagify}. Then you must use @kbd{C-x C-s} to save the -file. - - Once the Info file has a tag table, you must make certain it is up -to date. If, as a result of deletion of text, any node moves back -more than a thousand characters in the file from the position -recorded in the tag table, Info will no longer be able to find that -node. To update the tag table, use the @code{Info-tagify} command again. - - An Info file tag table appears at the end of the file and looks like -this: - -@example -^_ -Tag Table: -File: info, Node: Cross-refs^?21419 -File: info, Node: Tags^?22145 -^_ -End Tag Table -@end example - -@noindent -Note that it contains one line per node, and this line contains -the beginning of the node's header (ending just after the node name), -a Delete character, and the character position in the file of the -beginning of the node. - -@node Checking, Emacs Info Variables, Tags, Advanced Info -@comment node-name, next, previous, up -@section Checking an Info File - - When creating an Info file, it is easy to forget the name of a node -when you are making a pointer to it from another node. If you put in -the wrong name for a node, this is not detected until someone -tries to go through the pointer using Info. Verification of the Info -file is an automatic process which checks all pointers to nodes and -reports any pointers which are invalid. Every @samp{Next}, @samp{Previous}, and -@samp{Up} is checked, as is every menu item and every cross reference. In -addition, any @samp{Next} which does not have a @samp{Previous} pointing back is -reported. Only pointers within the file are checked, because checking -pointers to other files would be terribly slow. But those are usually -few. - - To check an Info file, do @kbd{M-x Info-validate} while looking at -any node of the file with Emacs Info mode. - -@node Emacs Info Variables, , Checking, Advanced Info -@section Emacs Info-mode Variables - -The following variables may modify the behaviour of Info-mode in Emacs; -you may wish to set one or several of these variables interactively, or -in your @file{~/.emacs} init file. @xref{Examining, Examining and Setting -Variables, Examining and Setting Variables, emacs, The GNU Emacs -Manual}. - -@vtable @code -@item Info-enable-edit -Set to @code{nil}, disables the @samp{e} (@code{Info-edit}) command. A -non-@code{nil} value enables it. @xref{Add, Edit}. - -@item Info-enable-active-nodes -When set to a non-@code{nil} value, allows Info to execute Lisp code -associated with nodes. The Lisp code is executed when the node is -selected. - -@item Info-directory-list -The list of directories to search for Info files. Each element is a -string (directory name) or @code{nil} (try default directory). - -@item Info-directory -The standard directory for Info documentation files. Only used when the -function @code{Info-directory} is called. -@end vtable - -@node Create an Info File, , Advanced Info, Top -@comment node-name, next, previous, up -@chapter Creating an Info File from a Makeinfo file - -@code{makeinfo} is a utility that converts a Texinfo file into an Info -file; @code{texinfo-format-region} and @code{texinfo-format-buffer} are -GNU Emacs functions that do the same. - -@xref{Create an Info File, , Creating an Info File, texinfo, the Texinfo -Manual}, to learn how to create an Info file from a Texinfo file. - -@xref{Top,, Overview of Texinfo, texinfo, Texinfo: The GNU Documentation -Format}, to learn how to write a Texinfo file. - -@bye |