## 5.12 `@raisesections` and `@lowersections`

The `@raisesections` and `@lowersections` commands raise and lower the hierarchical level of chapters, sections, subsections and the like. The `@raisesections` command changes sections to chapters, subsections to sections, and so on. The `@lowersections` command changes chapters to sections, sections to subsections, and so on.

An `@lowersections` command is useful if you wish to include text that is written as an outer or standalone Texinfo file in another Texinfo file as an inner, included file. If you write the command at the beginning of the file, all your `@chapter` commands are formatted as if they were `@section` commands, all your `@section` command are formatted as if they were `@subsection` commands, and so on.

`@raisesections` raises a command one level in the chapter structuring hierarchy:

      Change           To

    @subsection     @section,
    @section        @chapter,
    @heading        @chapheading,
              etc.

`@lowersections` lowers a command one level in the chapter structuring hierarchy:

      Change           To

    @chapter        @section,
    @subsection     @subsubsection,
    @heading        @subheading,
              etc.

An `@raisesections` or `@lowersections` command changes only those structuring commands that follow the command in the Texinfo file. Write an `@raisesections` or `@lowersections` command on a line of its own.

An `@lowersections` command cancels an `@raisesections` command, and vice versa. Typically, the commands are used like this:

    @lowersections
    @include somefile.texi
    @raisesections

Without the `@raisesections`, all the subsequent sections in your document will be lowered.

Repeated use of the commands continue to raise or lower the hierarchical level a step at a time.

An attempt to raise above ‘chapters’ reproduces chapter commands; an attempt to lower below ‘subsubsections’ reproduces subsubsection commands.