@node Line
The easiest way to write an @node line is to write @node
at the beginning of a line and then the name of the node, like
this:
@node node-name
If you are using GNU Emacs, you can use the update node commands
provided by Texinfo mode to insert the names of the pointers; or you
can leave the pointers out of the Texinfo file and let makeinfo
insert node pointers into the Info file it creates. (See Texinfo Mode, and makeinfo Pointer Creation.)
Alternatively, you can insert the `Next', `Previous', and `Up'
pointers yourself. If you do this, you may find it helpful to use the
Texinfo mode keyboard command C-c C-c n. This command inserts
@node and a comment line listing the names of the pointers in
their proper order. The comment line helps you keep track of which
arguments are for which pointers. This comment line is especially useful
if you are not familiar with Texinfo.
The template for a fully-written-out node line with `Next', `Previous', and `Up' pointers looks like this:
@node node-name, next, previous, up
If you wish, you can ignore @node lines altogether in your first
draft and then use the texinfo-insert-node-lines command to
create @node lines for you. However, we do not recommend this
practice. It is better to name the node itself at the same time that
you write a segment so you can easily make cross references. A large
number of cross references are an especially important feature of a good
Info file.
After you have inserted an @node line, you should immediately
write an @-command for the chapter or section and insert its name.
Next (and this is important!), put in several index entries. Usually,
you will find at least two and often as many as four or five ways of
referring to the node in the index. Use them all. This will make it
much easier for people to find the node.