This is Info file ../info/texinfo.info, produced by Makeinfo version 1.68 from the input file texinfo.texi. INFO-DIR-SECTION Texinfo documentation system START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY * Texinfo: (texinfo). The GNU documentation format. * install-info: (texinfo)Invoking install-info. Updating info/dir entries. * texi2dvi: (texinfo)Format with texi2dvi. Printing Texinfo documentation. * texindex: (texinfo)Format with tex/texindex. Sorting Texinfo index files. * makeinfo: (texinfo)makeinfo Preferred. Translate Texinfo source. END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY This file documents Texinfo, a documentation system that can produce both on-line information and a printed manual from a single source file. Copyright (C) 1988, 90, 91, 92, 93, 95, 96, 97, 98 Free Software Foundation, Inc. This edition is for Texinfo version 3.12. 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.  File: texinfo.info, Node: Tips, Next: Sample Texinfo File, Prev: Command List, Up: Top Tips and Hints ************** Here are some tips for writing Texinfo documentation: * Write in the present tense, not in the past or the future. * Write actively! For example, write "We recommend that ..." rather than "It is recommended that ...". * Use 70 or 72 as your fill column. Longer lines are hard to read. * Include a copyright notice and copying permissions. Index, Index, Index! .................... Write many index entries, in different ways. Readers like indices; they are helpful and convenient. Although it is easiest to write index entries as you write the body of the text, some people prefer to write entries afterwards. In either case, write an entry before the paragraph to which it applies. This way, an index entry points to the first page of a paragraph that is split across pages. Here are more hints we have found valuable: * Write each index entry differently, so each entry refers to a different place in the document. * Write index entries only where a topic is discussed significantly. For example, it is not useful to index "debugging information" in a chapter on reporting bugs. Someone who wants to know about debugging information will certainly not find it in that chapter. * Consistently capitalize the first word of every concept index entry, or else consistently use lower case. Terse entries often call for lower case; longer entries for capitalization. Whichever case convention you use, please use one or the other consistently! Mixing the two styles looks bad. * Always capitalize or use upper case for those words in an index for which this is proper, such as names of countries or acronyms. Always use the appropriate case for case-sensitive names, such as those in C or Lisp. * Write the indexing commands that refer to a whole section immediately after the section command, and write the indexing commands that refer to the paragraph before the paragraph. In the example that follows, a blank line comes after the index entry for "Leaping": @section The Dog and the Fox @cindex Jumping, in general @cindex Leaping @cindex Dog, lazy, jumped over @cindex Lazy dog jumped over @cindex Fox, jumps over dog @cindex Quick fox jumps over dog The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. (Note that the example shows entries for the same concept that are written in different ways--`Lazy dog', and `Dog, lazy'--so readers can look up the concept in different ways.) Blank Lines ........... * Insert a blank line between a sectioning command and the first following sentence or paragraph, or between the indexing commands associated with the sectioning command and the first following sentence or paragraph, as shown in the tip on indexing. Otherwise, a formatter may fold title and paragraph together. * Always insert a blank line before an `@table' command and after an `@end table' command; but never insert a blank line after an `@table' command or before an `@end table' command. For example, Types of fox: @table @samp @item Quick Jump over lazy dogs. @item Brown Also jump over lazy dogs. @end table @noindent On the other hand, ... Insert blank lines before and after `@itemize' ... `@end itemize' and `@enumerate' ... `@end enumerate' in the same way. Complete Phrases ................ Complete phrases are easier to read than ... * Write entries in an itemized list as complete sentences; or at least, as complete phrases. Incomplete expressions ... awkward ... like this. * Write the prefatory sentence or phrase for a multi-item list or table as a complete expression. Do not write "You can set:"; instead, write "You can set these variables:". The former expression sounds cut off. Editions, Dates and Versions ............................ Write the edition and version numbers and date in three places in every manual: 1. In the first `@ifinfo' section, for people reading the Texinfo file. 2. In the `@titlepage' section, for people reading the printed manual. 3. In the `Top' node, for people reading the Info file. Also, it helps to write a note before the first `@ifinfo' section to explain what you are doing. For example: @c ===> NOTE! <== @c Specify the edition and version numbers and date @c in *three* places: @c 1. First ifinfo section 2. title page 3. top node @c To find the locations, search for !!set @ifinfo @c !!set edition, date, version This is Edition 4.03, January 1992, of the @cite{GDB Manual} for GDB Version 4.3. ... --or use `@set' and `@value' (*note `@value' Example: value Example.). Definition Commands ................... Definition commands are `@deffn', `@defun', `@defmac', and the like, and enable you to write descriptions in a uniform format. * Write just one definition command for each entity you define with a definition command. The automatic indexing feature creates an index entry that leads the reader to the definition. * Use `@table' ... `@end table' in an appendix that contains a summary of functions, not `@deffn' or other definition commands. Capitalization .............. * Capitalize "Texinfo"; it is a name. Do not write the `x' or `i' in upper case. * Capitalize "Info"; it is a name. * Write TeX using the `@TeX{}' command. Note the uppercase `T' and `X'. This command causes the formatters to typeset the name according to the wishes of Donald Knuth, who wrote TeX. Spaces ...... Do not use spaces to format a Texinfo file, except inside of `@example' ... `@end example' and similar commands. For example, TeX fills the following: @kbd{C-x v} @kbd{M-x vc-next-action} Perform the next logical operation on the version-controlled file corresponding to the current buffer. so it looks like this: `C-x v' `M-x vc-next-action' Perform the next logical operation on the version-controlled file corresponding to the current buffer. In this case, the text should be formatted with `@table', `@item', and `@itemx', to create a table. @code, @samp, @var, and `---' ............................. * Use `@code' around Lisp symbols, including command names. For example, The main function is @code{vc-next-action}, ... * Avoid putting letters such as `s' immediately after an `@code'. Such letters look bad. * Use `@var' around meta-variables. Do not write angle brackets around them. * Use three hyphens in a row, `---', to indicate a long dash. TeX typesets these as a long dash and the Info formatters reduce three hyphens to two. Periods Outside of Quotes ......................... Place periods and other punctuation marks *outside* of quotations, unless the punctuation is part of the quotation. This practice goes against publishing conventions in the United States, but enables the reader to distinguish between the contents of the quotation and the whole passage. For example, you should write the following sentence with the period outside the end quotation marks: Evidently, `au' is an abbreviation for ``author''. since `au' does *not* serve as an abbreviation for `author.' (with a period following the word). Introducing New Terms ..................... * Introduce new terms so that a reader who does not know them can understand them from context; or write a definition for the term. For example, in the following, the terms "check in", "register" and "delta" are all appearing for the first time; the example sentence should be rewritten so they are understandable. The major function assists you in checking in a file to your version control system and registering successive sets of changes to it as deltas. * Use the `@dfn' command around a word being introduced, to indicate that the reader should not expect to know the meaning already, and should expect to learn the meaning from this passage. @pxref ...... Absolutely never use `@pxref' except in the special context for which it is designed: inside parentheses, with the closing parenthesis following immediately after the closing brace. One formatter automatically inserts closing punctuation and the other does not. This means that the output looks right both in printed output and in an Info file, but only when the command is used inside parentheses. Invoking from a Shell ..................... You can invoke programs such as Emacs, GCC, and `gawk' from a shell. The documentation for each program should contain a section that describes this. Unfortunately, if the node names and titles for these sections are all different, readers find it hard to search for the section. Name such sections with a phrase beginning with the word `Invoking ...', as in `Invoking Emacs'; this way users can find the section easily. ANSI C Syntax ............. When you use `@example' to describe a C function's calling conventions, use the ANSI C syntax, like this: void dld_init (char *@var{path}); And in the subsequent discussion, refer to the argument values by writing the same argument names, again highlighted with `@var'. Avoid the obsolete style that looks like this: #include dld_init (path) char *path; Also, it is best to avoid writing `#include' above the declaration just to indicate that the function is declared in a header file. The practice may give the misimpression that the `#include' belongs near the declaration of the function. Either state explicitly which header file holds the declaration or, better yet, name the header file used for a group of functions at the beginning of the section that describes the functions. Bad Examples ............ Here are several examples of bad writing to avoid: In this example, say, " ... you must `@dfn'{check in} the new version." That flows better. When you are done editing the file, you must perform a `@dfn'{check in}. In the following example, say, "... makes a unified interface such as VC mode possible." SCCS, RCS and other version-control systems all perform similar functions in broadly similar ways (it is this resemblance which makes a unified control mode like this possible). And in this example, you should specify what `it' refers to: If you are working with other people, it assists in coordinating everyone's changes so they do not step on each other. And Finally ... ............... * Pronounce TeX as if the `X' were a Greek `chi', as the last sound in the name `Bach'. But pronounce Texinfo as in `speck': "teckinfo". * Write notes for yourself at the very end of a Texinfo file after the `@bye'. None of the formatters process text after the `@bye'; it is as if the text were within `@ignore' ... `@end ignore'.  File: texinfo.info, Node: Sample Texinfo File, Next: Sample Permissions, Prev: Tips, Up: Top A Sample Texinfo File ********************* Here is a complete, short sample Texinfo file, without any commentary. You can see this file, with comments, in the first chapter. *Note A Short Sample Texinfo File: Short Sample. \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*- @c %**start of header @setfilename sample.info @settitle Sample Document @c %**end of header @setchapternewpage odd @ifinfo This is a short example of a complete Texinfo file. Copyright 1990 Free Software Foundation, Inc. @end ifinfo @titlepage @sp 10 @comment The title is printed in a large font. @center @titlefont{Sample Title} @c The following two commands start the copyright page. @page @vskip 0pt plus 1filll Copyright @copyright{} 1990 Free Software Foundation, Inc. @end titlepage @node Top, First Chapter, , (dir) @comment node-name, next, previous, up @menu * First Chapter:: The first chapter is the only chapter in this sample. * Concept Index:: This index has two entries. @end menu @node First Chapter, Concept Index, Top, Top @comment node-name, next, previous, up @chapter First Chapter @cindex Sample index entry This is the contents of the first chapter. @cindex Another sample index entry Here is a numbered list. @enumerate @item This is the first item. @item This is the second item. @end enumerate The @code{makeinfo} and @code{texinfo-format-buffer} commands transform a Texinfo file such as this into an Info file; and @TeX{} typesets it for a printed manual. @node Concept Index, , First Chapter, Top @comment node-name, next, previous, up @unnumbered Concept Index @printindex cp @contents @bye  File: texinfo.info, Node: Sample Permissions, Next: Include Files, Prev: Sample Texinfo File, Up: Top Sample Permissions ****************** Texinfo files should contain sections that tell the readers that they have the right to copy and distribute the Texinfo file, the Info file, and the printed manual. Also, if you are writing a manual about software, you should explain that the software is free and either include the GNU General Public License (GPL) or provide a reference to it. *Note Distribution: (xemacs)Distrib, for an example of the text that could be used in the software "Distribution", "General Public License", and "NO WARRANTY" sections of a document. *Note Texinfo Copying Conditions: Copying, for an example of a brief explanation of how the copying conditions provide you with rights. * Menu: * Inserting Permissions:: How to put permissions in your document. * ifinfo Permissions:: Sample `ifinfo' copying permissions. * Titlepage Permissions:: Sample Titlepage copying permissions.  File: texinfo.info, Node: Inserting Permissions, Next: ifinfo Permissions, Prev: Sample Permissions, Up: Sample Permissions Inserting Permissions ===================== In a Texinfo file, the first `@ifinfo' section usually begins with a line that says what the file documents. This is what a person reading the unprocessed Texinfo file or using the advanced Info command `g *' sees first. *note Advanced Info commands: (info)Expert, for more information. (A reader using the regular Info commands usually starts reading at the first node and skips this first section, which is not in a node.) In the `@ifinfo' section, the summary sentence is followed by a copyright notice and then by the copying permission notice. One of the copying permission paragraphs is enclosed in `@ignore' and `@end ignore' commands. This paragraph states that the Texinfo file can be processed through TeX and printed, provided the printed manual carries the proper copying permission notice. This paragraph is not made part of the Info file since it is not relevant to the Info file; but it is a mandatory part of the Texinfo file since it permits people to process the Texinfo file in TeX and print the results. In the printed manual, the Free Software Foundation copying permission notice follows the copyright notice and publishing information and is located within the region delineated by the `@titlepage' and `@end titlepage' commands. The copying permission notice is exactly the same as the notice in the `@ifinfo' section except that the paragraph enclosed in `@ignore' and `@end ignore' commands is not part of the notice. To make it simple to insert a permission notice into each section of the Texinfo file, sample permission notices for each section are reproduced in full below. Note that you may need to specify the correct name of a section mentioned in the permission notice. For example, in `The GDB Manual', the name of the section referring to the General Public License is called the "GDB General Public License", but in the sample shown below, that section is referred to generically as the "GNU General Public License". If the Texinfo file does not carry a copy of the General Public License, leave out the reference to it, but be sure to include the rest of the sentence.  File: texinfo.info, Node: ifinfo Permissions, Next: Titlepage Permissions, Prev: Inserting Permissions, Up: Sample Permissions `ifinfo' Copying Permissions ============================ In the `@ifinfo' section of a Texinfo file, the standard Free Software Foundation permission notice reads as follows: This file documents ... Copyright 1998 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 a 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 also that the sections entitled ``Copying'' and ``GNU General Public License'' are included exactly as in the original, and 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.  File: texinfo.info, Node: Titlepage Permissions, Prev: ifinfo Permissions, Up: Sample Permissions Titlepage Copying Permissions ============================= In the `@titlepage' section of a Texinfo file, the standard Free Software Foundation copying permission notice follows the copyright notice and publishing information. The standard phrasing is as follows: 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 also that the sections entitled ``Copying'' and ``GNU General Public License'' are included exactly as in the original, and 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.  File: texinfo.info, Node: Include Files, Next: Headings, Prev: Sample Permissions, Up: Top Include Files ************* When TeX or an Info formatting command sees an `@include' command in a Texinfo file, it processes the contents of the file named by the command and incorporates them into the DVI or Info file being created. Index entries from the included file are incorporated into the indices of the output file. Include files let you keep a single large document as a collection of conveniently small parts. * Menu: * Using Include Files:: How to use the `@include' command. * texinfo-multiple-files-update:: How to create and update nodes and menus when using included files. * Include File Requirements:: What `texinfo-multiple-files-update' expects. * Sample Include File:: A sample outer file with included files within it; and a sample included file. * Include Files Evolution:: How use of the `@include' command has changed over time.  File: texinfo.info, Node: Using Include Files, Next: texinfo-multiple-files-update, Prev: Include Files, Up: Include Files How to Use Include Files ======================== To include another file within a Texinfo file, write the `@include' command at the beginning of a line and follow it on the same line by the name of a file to be included. For example: @include buffers.texi An included file should simply be a segment of text that you expect to be included as is into the overall or "outer" Texinfo file; it should not contain the standard beginning and end parts of a Texinfo file. In particular, you should not start an included file with a line saying `\input texinfo'; if you do, that phrase is inserted into the output file as is. Likewise, you should not end an included file with an `@bye' command; nothing after `@bye' is formatted. In the past, you were required to write an `@setfilename' line at the beginning of an included file, but no longer. Now, it does not matter whether you write such a line. If an `@setfilename' line exists in an included file, it is ignored. Conventionally, an included file begins with an `@node' line that is followed by an `@chapter' line. Each included file is one chapter. This makes it easy to use the regular node and menu creating and updating commands to create the node pointers and menus within the included file. However, the simple Emacs node and menu creating and updating commands do not work with multiple Texinfo files. Thus you cannot use these commands to fill in the `Next', `Previous', and `Up' pointers of the `@node' line that begins the included file. Also, you cannot use the regular commands to create a master menu for the whole file. Either you must insert the menus and the `Next', `Previous', and `Up' pointers by hand, or you must use the GNU Emacs Texinfo mode command, `texinfo-multiple-files-update', that is designed for `@include' files.  File: texinfo.info, Node: texinfo-multiple-files-update, Next: Include File Requirements, Prev: Using Include Files, Up: Include Files `texinfo-multiple-files-update' =============================== GNU Emacs Texinfo mode provides the `texinfo-multiple-files-update' command. This command creates or updates `Next', `Previous', and `Up' pointers of included files as well as those in the outer or overall Texinfo file, and it creates or updates a main menu in the outer file. Depending whether you call it with optional arguments, the command updates only the pointers in the first `@node' line of the included files or all of them: `M-x texinfo-multiple-files-update' Called without any arguments: - Create or update the `Next', `Previous', and `Up' pointers of the first `@node' line in each file included in an outer or overall Texinfo file. - Create or update the `Top' level node pointers of the outer or overall file. - Create or update a main menu in the outer file. `C-u M-x texinfo-multiple-files-update' Called with `C-u' as a prefix argument: - Create or update pointers in the first `@node' line in each included file. - Create or update the `Top' level node pointers of the outer file. - Create and insert a master menu in the outer file. The master menu is made from all the menus in all the included files. `C-u 8 M-x texinfo-multiple-files-update' Called with a numeric prefix argument, such as `C-u 8': - Create or update *all* the `Next', `Previous', and `Up' pointers of all the included files. - Create or update *all* the menus of all the included files. - Create or update the `Top' level node pointers of the outer or overall file. - And then create a master menu in the outer file. This is similar to invoking `texinfo-master-menu' with an argument when you are working with just one file. Note the use of the prefix argument in interactive use: with a regular prefix argument, just `C-u', the `texinfo-multiple-files-update' command inserts a master menu; with a numeric prefix argument, such as `C-u 8', the command updates *every* pointer and menu in *all* the files and then inserts a master menu.  File: texinfo.info, Node: Include File Requirements, Next: Sample Include File, Prev: texinfo-multiple-files-update, Up: Include Files Include File Requirements ========================= If you plan to use the `texinfo-multiple-files-update' command, the outer Texinfo file that lists included files within it should contain nothing but the beginning and end parts of a Texinfo file, and a number of `@include' commands listing the included files. It should not even include indices, which should be listed in an included file of their own. Moreover, each of the included files must contain exactly one highest level node (conventionally, `@chapter' or equivalent), and this node must be the first node in the included file. Furthermore, each of these highest level nodes in each included file must be at the same hierarchical level in the file structure. Usually, each is an `@chapter', an `@appendix', or an `@unnumbered' node. Thus, normally, each included file contains one, and only one, chapter or equivalent-level node. The outer file should contain only *one* node, the `Top' node. It should *not* contain any nodes besides the single `Top' node. The `texinfo-multiple-files-update' command will not process them.  File: texinfo.info, Node: Sample Include File, Next: Include Files Evolution, Prev: Include File Requirements, Up: Include Files Sample File with `@include' =========================== Here is an example of a complete outer Texinfo file with `@include' files within it before running `texinfo-multiple-files-update', which would insert a main or master menu: \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*- @setfilename include-example.info @settitle Include Example @setchapternewpage odd @titlepage @sp 12 @center @titlefont{Include Example} @sp 2 @center by Whom Ever @page @vskip 0pt plus 1filll Copyright @copyright{} 1998 Free Software Foundation, Inc. @end titlepage @ifinfo @node Top, First, , (dir) @top Master Menu @end ifinfo @include foo.texinfo @include bar.texinfo @include concept-index.texinfo @summarycontents @contents @bye An included file, such as `foo.texinfo', might look like this: @node First, Second, , Top @chapter First Chapter Contents of first chapter ... The full contents of `concept-index.texinfo' might be as simple as this: @node Concept Index, , Second, Top @unnumbered Concept Index @printindex cp The outer Texinfo source file for `The XEmacs Lisp Reference Manual' is named `elisp.texi'. This outer file contains a master menu with 417 entries and a list of 41 `@include' files.  File: texinfo.info, Node: Include Files Evolution, Prev: Sample Include File, Up: Include Files Evolution of Include Files ========================== When Info was first created, it was customary to create many small Info files on one subject. Each Info file was formatted from its own Texinfo source file. This custom meant that Emacs did not need to make a large buffer to hold the whole of a large Info file when someone wanted information; instead, Emacs allocated just enough memory for the small Info file that contained the particular information sought. This way, Emacs could avoid wasting memory. References from one file to another were made by referring to the file name as well as the node name. (*Note Referring to Other Info Files: Other Info Files. Also, see *Note `@xref' with Four and Five Arguments: Four and Five Arguments.) Include files were designed primarily as a way to create a single, large printed manual out of several smaller Info files. In a printed manual, all the references were within the same document, so TeX could automatically determine the references' page numbers. The Info formatting commands used include files only for creating joint indices; each of the individual Texinfo files had to be formatted for Info individually. (Each, therefore, required its own `@setfilename' line.) However, because large Info files are now split automatically, it is no longer necessary to keep them small. Nowadays, multiple Texinfo files are used mostly for large documents, such as `The XEmacs Lisp Reference Manual', and for projects in which several different people write different sections of a document simultaneously. In addition, the Info formatting commands have been extended to work with the `@include' command so as to create a single large Info file that is split into smaller files if necessary. This means that you can write menus and cross references without naming the different Texinfo files.  File: texinfo.info, Node: Headings, Next: Catching Mistakes, Prev: Include Files, Up: Top Page Headings ************* Most printed manuals contain headings along the top of every page except the title and copyright pages. Some manuals also contain footings. (Headings and footings have no meaning to Info, which is not paginated.) * Menu: * Headings Introduced:: Conventions for using page headings. * Heading Format:: Standard page heading formats. * Heading Choice:: How to specify the type of page heading. * Custom Headings:: How to create your own headings and footings.  File: texinfo.info, Node: Headings Introduced, Next: Heading Format, Prev: Headings, Up: Headings Headings Introduced =================== Texinfo provides standard page heading formats for manuals that are printed on one side of each sheet of paper and for manuals that are printed on both sides of the paper. Typically, you will use these formats, but you can specify your own format if you wish. In addition, you can specify whether chapters should begin on a new page, or merely continue the same page as the previous chapter; and if chapters begin on new pages, you can specify whether they must be odd-numbered pages. By convention, a book is printed on both sides of each sheet of paper. When you open a book, the right-hand page is odd-numbered, and chapters begin on right-hand pages--a preceding left-hand page is left blank if necessary. Reports, however, are often printed on just one side of paper, and chapters begin on a fresh page immediately following the end of the preceding chapter. In short or informal reports, chapters often do not begin on a new page at all, but are separated from the preceding text by a small amount of whitespace. The `@setchapternewpage' command controls whether chapters begin on new pages, and whether one of the standard heading formats is used. In addition, Texinfo has several heading and footing commands that you can use to generate your own heading and footing formats. In Texinfo, headings and footings are single lines at the tops and bottoms of pages; you cannot create multiline headings or footings. Each header or footer line is divided into three parts: a left part, a middle part, and a right part. Any part, or a whole line, may be left blank. Text for the left part of a header or footer line is set flushleft; text for the middle part is centered; and, text for the right part is set flushright.  File: texinfo.info, Node: Heading Format, Next: Heading Choice, Prev: Headings Introduced, Up: Headings Standard Heading Formats ======================== Texinfo provides two standard heading formats, one for manuals printed on one side of each sheet of paper, and the other for manuals printed on both sides of the paper. By default, nothing is specified for the footing of a Texinfo file, so the footing remains blank. The standard format for single-sided printing consists of a header line in which the left-hand part contains the name of the chapter, the central part is blank, and the right-hand part contains the page number. A single-sided page looks like this: _______________________ | | | chapter page number | | | | Start of text ... | | ... | | | The standard format for two-sided printing depends on whether the page number is even or odd. By convention, even-numbered pages are on the left- and odd-numbered pages are on the right. (TeX will adjust the widths of the left- and right-hand margins. Usually, widths are correct, but during double-sided printing, it is wise to check that pages will bind properly--sometimes a printer will produce output in which the even-numbered pages have a larger right-hand margin than the odd-numbered pages.) In the standard double-sided format, the left part of the left-hand (even-numbered) page contains the page number, the central part is blank, and the right part contains the title (specified by the `@settitle' command). The left part of the right-hand (odd-numbered) page contains the name of the chapter, the central part is blank, and the right part contains the page number. Two pages, side by side as in an open book, look like this: _______________________ _______________________ | | | | | page number title | | chapter page number | | | | | | Start of text ... | | More text ... | | ... | | ... | | | | | The chapter name is preceded by the word "Chapter", the chapter number and a colon. This makes it easier to keep track of where you are in the manual.  File: texinfo.info, Node: Heading Choice, Next: Custom Headings, Prev: Heading Format, Up: Headings Specifying the Type of Heading ============================== TeX does not begin to generate page headings for a standard Texinfo file until it reaches the `@end titlepage' command. Thus, the title and copyright pages are not numbered. The `@end titlepage' command causes TeX to begin to generate page headings according to a standard format specified by the `@setchapternewpage' command that precedes the `@titlepage' section. There are four possibilities: No `@setchapternewpage' command Cause TeX to specify the single-sided heading format, with chapters on new pages. This is the same as `@setchapternewpage on'. `@setchapternewpage on' Specify the single-sided heading format, with chapters on new pages. `@setchapternewpage off' Cause TeX to start a new chapter on the same page as the last page of the preceding chapter, after skipping some vertical whitespace. Also cause TeX to typeset for single-sided printing. (You can override the headers format with the `@headings double' command; see *Note The `@headings' Command: headings on off.) `@setchapternewpage odd' Specify the double-sided heading format, with chapters on new pages. Texinfo lacks an `@setchapternewpage even' command.  File: texinfo.info, Node: Custom Headings, Prev: Heading Choice, Up: Headings How to Make Your Own Headings ============================= You can use the standard headings provided with Texinfo or specify your own. By default, Texinfo has no footers, so if you specify them, the available page size for the main text will be slightly reduced. Texinfo provides six commands for specifying headings and footings. The `@everyheading' command and `@everyfooting' command generate page headers and footers that are the same for both even- and odd-numbered pages. The `@evenheading' command and `@evenfooting' command generate headers and footers for even-numbered (left-hand) pages; and the `@oddheading' command and `@oddfooting' command generate headers and footers for odd-numbered (right-hand) pages. Write custom heading specifications in the Texinfo file immediately after the `@end titlepage' command. Enclose your specifications between `@iftex' and `@end iftex' commands since the `texinfo-format-buffer' command may not recognize them. Also, you must cancel the predefined heading commands with the `@headings off' command before defining your own specifications. Here is how to tell TeX to place the chapter name at the left, the page number in the center, and the date at the right of every header for both even- and odd-numbered pages: @iftex @headings off @everyheading @thischapter @| @thispage @| @today{} @end iftex You need to divide the left part from the central part and the central part from the right part by inserting `@|' between parts. Otherwise, the specification command will not be able to tell where the text for one part ends and the next part begins. Each part can contain text or @-commands. The text is printed as if the part were within an ordinary paragraph in the body of the page. The @-commands replace themselves with the page number, date, chapter name, or whatever. Here are the six heading and footing commands: `@everyheading LEFT @| CENTER @| RIGHT' `@everyfooting LEFT @| CENTER @| RIGHT' The `every' commands specify the format for both even- and odd-numbered pages. These commands are for documents that are printed on one side of each sheet of paper, or for documents in which you want symmetrical headers or footers. `@evenheading LEFT @| CENTER @| RIGHT' `@oddheading LEFT @| CENTER @| RIGHT' `@evenfooting LEFT @| CENTER @| RIGHT' `@oddfooting LEFT @| CENTER @| RIGHT' The `even' and `odd' commands specify the format for even-numbered pages and odd-numbered pages. These commands are for books and manuals that are printed on both sides of each sheet of paper. Use the `@this...' series of @-commands to provide the names of chapters and sections and the page number. You can use the `@this...' commands in the left, center, or right portions of headers and footers, or anywhere else in a Texinfo file so long as they are between `@iftex' and `@end iftex' commands. Here are the `@this...' commands: `@thispage' Expands to the current page number. `@thischaptername' Expands to the name of the current chapter. `@thischapter' Expands to the number and name of the current chapter, in the format `Chapter 1: Title'. `@thistitle' Expands to the name of the document, as specified by the `@settitle' command. `@thisfile' For `@include' files only: expands to the name of the current `@include' file. If the current Texinfo source file is not an `@include' file, this command has no effect. This command does *not* provide the name of the current Texinfo source file unless it is an `@include' file. (*Note Include Files::, for more information about `@include' files.) You can also use the `@today{}' command, which expands to the current date, in `1 Jan 1900' format. Other @-commands and text are printed in a header or footer just as if they were in the body of a page. It is useful to incorporate text, particularly when you are writing drafts: @iftex @headings off @everyheading @emph{Draft!} @| @thispage @| @thischapter @everyfooting @| @| Version: 0.27: @today{} @end iftex Beware of overlong titles: they may overlap another part of the header or footer and blot it out.  File: texinfo.info, Node: Catching Mistakes, Next: Refilling Paragraphs, Prev: Headings, Up: Top Formatting Mistakes ******************* Besides mistakes in the content of your documentation, there are two kinds of mistake you can make with Texinfo: you can make mistakes with @-commands, and you can make mistakes with the structure of the nodes and chapters. Emacs has two tools for catching the @-command mistakes and two for catching structuring mistakes. For finding problems with @-commands, you can run TeX or a region formatting command on the region that has a problem; indeed, you can run these commands on each region as you write it. For finding problems with the structure of nodes and chapters, you can use `C-c C-s' (`texinfo-show-structure') and the related `occur' command and you can use the `M-x Info-validate' command. * Menu: * makeinfo Preferred:: `makeinfo' finds errors. * Debugging with Info:: How to catch errors with Info formatting. * Debugging with TeX:: How to catch errors with TeX formatting. * Using texinfo-show-structure:: How to use `texinfo-show-structure'. * Using occur:: How to list all lines containing a pattern. * Running Info-Validate:: How to find badly referenced nodes.  File: texinfo.info, Node: makeinfo Preferred, Next: Debugging with Info, Prev: Catching Mistakes, Up: Catching Mistakes `makeinfo' Find Errors ====================== The `makeinfo' program does an excellent job of catching errors and reporting them--far better than `texinfo-format-region' or `texinfo-format-buffer'. In addition, the various functions for automatically creating and updating node pointers and menus remove many opportunities for human error. If you can, use the updating commands to create and insert pointers and menus. These prevent many errors. Then use `makeinfo' (or its Texinfo mode manifestations, `makeinfo-region' and `makeinfo-buffer') to format your file and check for other errors. This is the best way to work with Texinfo. But if you cannot use `makeinfo', or your problem is very puzzling, then you may want to use the tools described in this appendix.  File: texinfo.info, Node: Debugging with Info, Next: Debugging with TeX, Prev: makeinfo Preferred, Up: Catching Mistakes Catching Errors with Info Formatting ==================================== After you have written part of a Texinfo file, you can use the `texinfo-format-region' or the `makeinfo-region' command to see whether the region formats properly. Most likely, however, you are reading this section because for some reason you cannot use the `makeinfo-region' command; therefore, the rest of this section presumes that you are using `texinfo-format-region'. If you have made a mistake with an @-command, `texinfo-format-region' will stop processing at or after the error and display an error message. To see where in the buffer the error occurred, switch to the `*Info Region*' buffer; the cursor will be in a position that is after the location of the error. Also, the text will not be formatted after the place where the error occurred (or more precisely, where it was detected). For example, if you accidentally end a menu with the command `@end menus' with an `s' on the end, instead of with `@end menu', you will see an error message that says: @end menus is not handled by texinfo The cursor will stop at the point in the buffer where the error occurs, or not long after it. The buffer will look like this: ---------- Buffer: *Info Region* ---------- * Menu: * Using texinfo-show-structure:: How to use `texinfo-show-structure' to catch mistakes. * Running Info-Validate:: How to check for unreferenced nodes. @end menus -!- ---------- Buffer: *Info Region* ---------- The `texinfo-format-region' command sometimes provides slightly odd error messages. For example, the following cross reference fails to format: (@xref{Catching Mistakes, for more info.) In this case, `texinfo-format-region' detects the missing closing brace but displays a message that says `Unbalanced parentheses' rather than `Unbalanced braces'. This is because the formatting command looks for mismatches between braces as if they were parentheses. Sometimes `texinfo-format-region' fails to detect mistakes. For example, in the following, the closing brace is swapped with the closing parenthesis: (@xref{Catching Mistakes), for more info.} Formatting produces: (*Note for more info.: Catching Mistakes) The only way for you to detect this error is to realize that the reference should have looked like this: (*Note Catching Mistakes::, for more info.) Incidentally, if you are reading this node in Info and type `f ' (`Info-follow-reference'), you will generate an error message that says: No such node: "Catching Mistakes) The only way ... This is because Info perceives the example of the error as the first cross reference in this node and if you type a immediately after typing the Info `f' command, Info will attempt to go to the referenced node. If you type `f catch ', Info will complete the node name of the correctly written example and take you to the `Catching Mistakes' node. (If you try this, you can return from the `Catching Mistakes' node by typing `l' (`Info-last').)