### 3.5.2 Parts of a Master Menu

A master menu is a detailed main menu listing all the nodes in a file.

A master menu is enclosed in `@menu` and `@end menu` commands and does not appear in the printed document.

Generally, a master menu is divided into parts.

- The first part contains the major nodes in the Texinfo file: the nodes for the chapters, chapter-like sections, and the appendices.
- The second part contains nodes for the indices.
- The third and subsequent parts contain a listing of the other, lower level nodes, often ordered by chapter. This way, rather than go through an intermediary menu, an inquirer can go directly to a particular node when searching for specific information. These menu items are not required; add them if you think they are a convenience. If you do use them, put `@detailmenu` before the first one, and `@end detailmenu` after the last; otherwise, `makeinfo` will get confused.

Each section in the menu can be introduced by a descriptive line. So long as the line does not begin with an asterisk, it will not be treated as a menu entry. (See section Writing a Menu, for more information.)

For example, the master menu for this manual looks like the following (but has many more entries):

    @menu
    * Copying Conditions::  Your rights.
    * Overview::            Texinfo in brief.
    …

    * Command and Variable Index::
    * Concept Index::

    @detailmenu
     --- The Detailed Node Listing ---

    Overview of Texinfo

    * Reporting Bugs:: …
    …

    Beginning a Texinfo File

    * Sample Beginning:: …
    …
    @end detailmenu
    @end menu

This document was generated on a sunny day using texi2html.