d8b5c7ed06
This has big improvements to the .info file utility support and much recent OSS requires its features.
112 lines
4.1 KiB
Plaintext
112 lines
4.1 KiB
Plaintext
Getting Started with Texinfo
|
|
============================
|
|
|
|
"Texinfo" is a documentation system that uses a single source file to
|
|
produce both on-line information and printed output. Using Texinfo,
|
|
you can create a printed document with the normal features of a book,
|
|
including chapters, sections, cross references, and indices. From the
|
|
same Texinfo source file, you can create a menu-driven, on-line Info
|
|
file with nodes, menus, cross references, and indices.
|
|
|
|
The name of the Texinfo source documentation file is `texinfo.txi'.
|
|
You can produce both on-line information and printed output from this
|
|
source file. The documentation describes Texinfo in detail, including
|
|
how to write Texinfo files, how to format them for both hard copy and
|
|
Info, and how to install Info files.
|
|
|
|
To get started, you need to create either a printed manual or an
|
|
on-line Info file from the `texinfo.txi' file. You do not need to
|
|
create both, although you will probably want both eventually.
|
|
|
|
To learn how to use Info, read the info documentation. You can do this in
|
|
one of two ways: using the standalone `info' program, or using Info mode in
|
|
GNU Emacs.
|
|
|
|
* If you want to use the `info' program, run
|
|
|
|
info -f info-stnd
|
|
|
|
* If you want to use Emacs, start up emacs and type `C-h i' [M-x info].
|
|
Follow the instructions to learn how to use Info.
|
|
|
|
After learning how to use Info, you can read the Texinfo documentation.
|
|
Using the standalone `info', type the following at the shell prompt:
|
|
|
|
info -f texinfo
|
|
|
|
To use read this manual in Emacs, you first need to edit the Info-directory
|
|
menu (the file `dir' in the system info directory) to contain the
|
|
appropriate node. To learn how to do this, see node: Add in the Info
|
|
documentation.
|
|
|
|
The Texinfo documentation describes Texinfo in detail; among other things,
|
|
it tells how to install Info files in the usual manner. (See node: Install
|
|
an Info File.)
|
|
|
|
The `info-stnd.info' file describes the standalone Info reader in detail. To
|
|
read this file, type
|
|
|
|
$ info -f info-stnd
|
|
|
|
If you are using GNU Emacs, you may want to install the Emacs Lisp files
|
|
permanently. Move them them to a directory in the load-path for Emacs;
|
|
otherwise Emacs will not be able to load the autoloaded support files, such
|
|
as `texinfmt.el'.
|
|
|
|
The `texinfo.el' file contains the autoload commands; it is the only
|
|
file that needs to be loaded initially. If your Emacs does not
|
|
automatically load `texinfo.el', you can tell it to do so by placing
|
|
the following in `default.el' or in your `.emacs' file:
|
|
|
|
(load "texinfo")
|
|
|
|
|
|
To create a printed manual
|
|
==========================
|
|
|
|
You need:
|
|
|
|
* The `tex' program, which typesets the manual using TeX.
|
|
* The `texinfo.tex' definition file that tells TeX how to typeset
|
|
a Texinfo file.
|
|
* The `texindex' program, which sorts the unsorted index files
|
|
created by TeX.
|
|
* A printing program such as `lp' or `lpr',
|
|
* A printer.
|
|
|
|
This Texinfo distribution package contains `texinfo.tex', the C source
|
|
for `texindex', and the handy shell script `texi2dvi'. The `tex'
|
|
program is not part of this distribution, but is available separately.
|
|
(See `How to Obtain TeX' in the Texinfo documentation.)
|
|
|
|
* Install `tex'. (`texindex' is installed automagically by
|
|
`make install' in this distribution.)
|
|
|
|
* Move the `texinfo.tex' file to an appropriate directory; the current
|
|
directory will do. (`/usr/local/lib/tex/inputs' might be a good place.
|
|
See ``Preparing to Use TeX'' in the Texinfo manual, for more
|
|
information.)
|
|
|
|
After following those instructions, type the following to make the .dvi
|
|
files:
|
|
|
|
$ make texinfo.dvi
|
|
$ (cd info; make info.dvi info-stnd.dvi)
|
|
$ (cd makeinfo; make makeinfo.dvi)
|
|
|
|
You can then print the resulting .dvi files with the `lpr' command (on BSD
|
|
systems. On SysV systems the command is `lp'. Consult your man pages for
|
|
more information).
|
|
|
|
For example, the command to print the texinfo.dvi file might be:
|
|
|
|
$ lpr -d texinfo.dvi
|
|
|
|
The name of the printing command depends on the system; `lpr -d' is
|
|
common, and is illustrated here. You may use a different name for the
|
|
printing command.
|
|
|
|
Please report bugs to bug-texinfo@gnu.org.
|
|
|
|
Happy formatting.
|