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- $Id: INTRODUCTION,v 1.3 2004/04/11 17:56:45 karl Exp $
- Getting started with Texinfo.
-
- Copyright (C) 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
- Free Software Foundation, Inc.
-
- Copying and distribution of this file, with or without modification,
- are permitted in any medium without royalty provided the copyright
- notice and this notice are preserved.
-
-
-
- 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
-
-
- 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:
-
- $ (cd doc; make dvi)
-
- You can then print the resulting .dvi files with the `lpr' or `lp'
- commands, or maybe `dvips'.
-
- 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.
-