---
name: "pod2texi"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "texinfo"
version: "7.3-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pod2texi"
---

# pod2texi(1)

convert Pod to Texinfo

## NAME

pod2texi - convert Pod to Texinfo

## SYNOPSIS

```
  pod2texi [OPTION]... POD...
```

## DESCRIPTION

Translate Pod file(s) to Texinfo.  There are two basic modes of operation.  First, by default, each Pod is translated to a standalone Texinfo manual.

Second, if `"--base-level"` is set higher than 0, each Pod is translated to a file suitable for `@include`, and one more file with a main menu and all the `@include` is generated.

## OPTIONS

- **--appendix-sections**

  Use appendix sectioning commands (`@appendix`, ...) instead of the default numbered sectioning Texinfo @-commands (`@chapter`, `@section`, ...).

- **--base-level**=*NUM\|NAME*

  Sets the level of the `"head1"` commands.  It may be an integer or a Texinfo sectioning command (without the `"@"`): 1 corresponds to the `@chapter`/`@unnumbered` level, 2 to the `@section` level, and so on. The default is 0, meaning that `"head1"` commands are still output as chapters, but the output is arranged as a standalone manual.

  If the level is not 0, the Pod file is rendered as a fragment of a Texinfo manual suitable for `@include`.  In this case, each Pod file has an additional sectioning command covering the entire file, one level above the `"--base-level"` value.  Therefore, to make each Pod file a chapter in a large manual, you should use `"section"` as the base level.

  For an example of making Texinfo out of the Perl documentation itself, see `"contrib/perldoc-all"` in the Texinfo source distribution.

- **--debug**=*NUM*

  Set debugging level to *NUM*.

- **--generate-setfilename**

  Generate a `@setfilename` line for standalone manuals.  Can be negated with `"--no-generate-setfilename"`.  Ignored if `"--base-level"` is not 0.

- **--headings-as-sections**

  Use headings commands (`@heading`, ...) instead of the default numbered sectioning Texinfo @-commands (`@chapter`, `@section`, ...). The sectioning command covering the entire file output for each Pod file if **--base-level** is not 0 is a numbered command.

- **--help**

  Display help and exit.

- **--menus**

  Output node menus. If there is a main manual, its Top node menu is always output, since a master menu is generated. Other nodes menus are not output in the default case.

- **--outdir**=*NAME*

  If there is a main manual with include files (each corresponding to an input Pod file), then the generated Texinfo files are put in directory *NAME*.  Default is based on `"--subdir"`.

- **--output**=*NAME*

  Name for the first manual, or the main manual if there is a main manual. Default is to write to standard output.

- **--no-section-nodes**

  Use anchors for sections instead of nodes.

- **--no-fill-section-gaps**

  Do not fill sectioning gaps with empty `@unnumbered` files. Ordinarily, it's good to keep the sectioning hierarchy intact.

- **--preamble**=*STR*

  Insert *STR* as top boilerplate before menu and includes.  If *STR* is set to `"-"`, read the top boilerplate from the standard input.  The default top boilerplate is a minimal beginning for a Texinfo document.

- **--setfilename**=*STR*

  Use *STR* in top boilerplate before menu and includes for `@setfilename` for the main manual, if `"--base-level"` is not set to 0.  Ignored if `"--base-level"` is 0.  No `@setfilename` is output in the default case for the main manual.

- **--subdir**=*NAME*

  If there is a main manual with include files (each corresponding to an input Pod file), then those include files are included from *NAME*.

  If `"--outdir"` is set, *NAME* should in general be set to the relative directory between the main manual and `"--outdir"` argument.

- **--unnumbered-sections**

  Use unnumbered sectioning commands (`@unnumbered`, ...) instead of the default numbered sectioning Texinfo @-commands (`@chapter`, `@section`, ...).

- **--top**=*TOP*

  Name of the `@top` element for the main manual.  May contain Texinfo code.

- **--version**

  Display version information and exit.

## SEE ALSO

Pod::Simple::Texinfo.  perlpod.  The Texinfo manual. Texinfo home page: \<https://www.gnu.org/software/texinfo/\>

## COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

Copyright 2012-2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## AUTHOR

Patrice Dumas \<bug-texinfo@gnu.org\>.