2.11 The Body of the Document

The body segment contains all the text of the document. A manual is divided into one or more nodes (see Nodes). The example illustrates a chapter made of three nodes, one for introductory material in the chapter, and two sections. The introductory material contains an enumerated list.

@node First Chapter
@chapter First Chapter

@cindex chapter, first
This is the first chapter.
@cindex index entry, another

Here is a numbered list.

@enumerate
@item
This is the first item.

@item
This is the second item.
@end enumerate


@node First Section
@section First Section

First section of first chapter.


@node Second Section
@section Second Section

Second section of first chapter.

In the Info output, the ‘First Chapter’ node will contain a menu listing the two sections in the chapter. Similarly, when this node is output in its own HTML file, it will contain a table of contents for the chapter.

Here is what the contents of this chapter will look like:


1. First Chapter

This is the first chapter.

Here is a numbered list.

  1. This is the first item.
  2. This is the second item.

1.1 First Section

First section of first chapter.

1.2 Second Section

Second section of first chapter.

(In the Info and HTML output, the chapter would also be split into nodes.)