Use the `C-c C-p m' (para-make-master-menu) command to create and update all the node pointers and menus, and to create a master menu for the Texinfo file.
C-c C-p m para-make-master-menu
The `para-make-master-menu' command is very useful. Use it to make a master reference for all your notes. The command creates an extended menu located after the top node. (The file must have a top node.)
In interactive use:
1. With no prefix arg, make a regular master menu, first removing detailed part of pre-existing master menu, if there is one.
2. With prefix arg, first update all existing nodes and menus (incorporating descriptions from pre-existing menus), first removing detailed part of pre-existing master menu, if there is one. The command is:
C-u C-c C-p m
3. With numeric prefix arg, insert an indented master menu. All the nodes are in sequence. The command is:
C-u 7 C-c C-p m
4. With negative numeric prefix arg, first update all existing nodes and menus (incorporating descriptions from pre-existing menus). First remove detailed part of pre-existing master menu, if there is one, then insert an indented master menu. The command is:
C-u -7 C-c C-p m
The `para-make-master-menu' command constructs a master menu that that follows the top node and includes every entry from every other menu. On a large file, the whole process may take quite awhile.
The command replaces any existing master menu, first removing the detailed part of an already existing master. (This action depends on the pre-exisitng master menu using the standard `texinfo-master-menu-header'.)
A regular master menu has the following format, which is adapted from the recommendation in the Texinfo Manual:
* The first part contains the major nodes in the Texinfo file: the nodes for the chapters, chapter-like sections, and the major appendices. This includes the indices, so long as they are in chapter-like sections, such as unnumbered sections.
* The second and subsequent parts contain a listing of the other, lower level menus, in order. This way, an inquirer can go directly to a particular node if he or she is searching for specific information.
Each of the menus in the detailed node listing is introduced by the title of the section containing the menu.
An indented master menu consists of all the menu entries in the buffer, in sequence, with lower level menus indented according to their hierarchical level.
NOTE: In Para mode, the menu commands work with indented menus. However, they do not work with indented menus in Info. Do not construct an indented menu for a Para mode file that you plan to convert to Info.
Here is a sample indented menu:
* Context:: The basis of the discussion * Locating Info:: Locating information in large stores * Locating Interface:: Need for a good user interface * Inferior Processes:: Running processes inside of Emacs * Notetaking Tool:: Taking random notes * Enhancements:: What to do next * Semi-structured Notes:: Organizing as best you can * Lost in Hyperspace:: Where is that note?
Indented menus make it easy to see the structure of a file with fewer than 15 or 20 nodes. However, the standard Texinfo master menu format provides a clearer outline of a document with many nodes.
The master menu is the first menu in a file and is the menu for which the `C-c C-p d' (para-directory) creates its special buffer.
Two other sometimes useful commands are:
C-c C-u C-e texinfo-every-node-update update every next, previous and up pointer in the file
C-c C-u C-a texinfo-all-menus-update create as needed and to update every menu in the file
You are most likely to use these two commands when you rearrange a file by moving nodes around. Generally, this is rare. Also, the `para-make-master-menu' command automatically runs both these commands whenever it is executed. Widen the file before using either of these two commands.
The `texinfo-all-menus-update' command preserves pre-existing description lines.