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+CMake Documentation Guide
+*************************
+
+The following is a guide to the CMake documentation source for developers.
+See documentation on `CMake Development`_ for more information.
+
+.. _`CMake Development`: README.rst
+
+Help
+====
+
+The ``Help`` directory contains CMake help manual source files.
+They are written using the `reStructuredText`_ markup syntax and
+processed by `Sphinx`_ to generate the CMake help manuals.
+
+.. _`reStructuredText`: http://docutils.sourceforge.net/docs/ref/rst/introduction.html
+.. _`Sphinx`: http://sphinx-doc.org
+
+Markup Constructs
+-----------------
+
+In addition to using Sphinx to generate the CMake help manuals, we
+also use a C++-implemented document processor to print documents for
+the ``--help-*`` command-line help options. It supports a subset of
+reStructuredText markup. When authoring or modifying documents,
+please verify that the command-line help looks good in addition to the
+Sphinx-generated html and man pages.
+
+The command-line help processor supports the following constructs
+defined by reStructuredText, Sphinx, and a CMake extension to Sphinx.
+
+..
+ Note: This list must be kept consistent with the cmRST implementation.
+
+CMake Domain directives
+ Directives defined in the `CMake Domain`_ for defining CMake
+ documentation objects are printed in command-line help output as
+ if the lines were normal paragraph text with interpretation.
+
+CMake Domain interpreted text roles
+ Interpreted text roles defined in the `CMake Domain`_ for
+ cross-referencing CMake documentation objects are replaced by their
+ link text in command-line help output. Other roles are printed
+ literally and not processed.
+
+``code-block`` directive
+ Add a literal code block without interpretation. The command-line
+ help processor prints the block content without the leading directive
+ line and with common indentation replaced by one space.
+
+``include`` directive
+ Include another document source file. The command-line help
+ processor prints the included document inline with the referencing
+ document.
+
+literal block after ``::``
+ A paragraph ending in ``::`` followed by a blank line treats
+ the following indented block as literal text without interpretation.
+ The command-line help processor prints the ``::`` literally and
+ prints the block content with common indentation replaced by one
+ space.
+
+``note`` directive
+ Call out a side note. The command-line help processor prints the
+ block content as if the lines were normal paragraph text with
+ interpretation.
+
+``parsed-literal`` directive
+ Add a literal block with markup interpretation. The command-line
+ help processor prints the block content without the leading
+ directive line and with common indentation replaced by one space.
+
+``productionlist`` directive
+ Render context-free grammar productions. The command-line help
+ processor prints the block content as if the lines were normal
+ paragraph text with interpretation.
+
+``replace`` directive
+ Define a ``|substitution|`` replacement.
+ The command-line help processor requires a substitution replacement
+ to be defined before it is referenced.
+
+``|substitution|`` reference
+ Reference a substitution replacement previously defined by
+ the ``replace`` directive. The command-line help processor
+ performs the substitution and replaces all newlines in the
+ replacement text with spaces.
+
+``toctree`` directive
+ Include other document sources in the Table-of-Contents
+ document tree. The command-line help processor prints
+ the referenced documents inline as part of the referencing
+ document.
+
+Inline markup constructs not listed above are printed literally in the
+command-line help output. We prefer to use inline markup constructs that
+look correct in source form, so avoid use of \\-escapes in favor of inline
+literals when possible.
+
+Explicit markup blocks not matching directives listed above are removed from
+command-line help output. Do not use them, except for plain ``..`` comments
+that are removed by Sphinx too.
+
+Note that nested indentation of blocks is not recognized by the
+command-line help processor. Therefore:
+
+* Explicit markup blocks are recognized only when not indented
+ inside other blocks.
+
+* Literal blocks after paragraphs ending in ``::`` but not
+ at the top indentation level may consume all indented lines
+ following them.
+
+Try to avoid these cases in practice.
+
+CMake Domain
+------------
+
+CMake adds a `Sphinx Domain`_ called ``cmake``, also called the
+"CMake Domain". It defines several "object" types for CMake
+documentation:
+
+``command``
+ A CMake language command.
+
+``generator``
+ A CMake native build system generator.
+ See the `cmake(1)`_ command-line tool's ``-G`` option.
+
+``manual``
+ A CMake manual page, like the `cmake(1)`_ manual.
+
+``module``
+ A CMake module.
+ See the `cmake-modules(7)`_ manual
+ and the `include()`_ command.
+
+``policy``
+ A CMake policy.
+ See the `cmake-policies(7)`_ manual
+ and the `cmake_policy()`_ command.
+
+``prop_cache, prop_dir, prop_gbl, prop_sf, prop_inst, prop_test, prop_tgt``
+ A CMake cache, directory, global, source file, installed file, test,
+ or target property, respectively. See the `cmake-properties(7)`_
+ manual and the `set_property()`_ command.
+
+``variable``
+ A CMake language variable.
+ See the `cmake-variables(7)`_ manual
+ and the `set()`_ command.
+
+Documentation objects in the CMake Domain come from two sources.
+First, the CMake extension to Sphinx transforms every document named
+with the form ``Help/<type>/<file-name>.rst`` to a domain object with
+type ``<type>``. The object name is extracted from the document title,
+which is expected to be of the form::
+
+ <object-name>
+ -------------
+
+and to appear at or near the top of the ``.rst`` file before any other
+lines starting in a letter, digit, or ``<``. If no such title appears
+literally in the ``.rst`` file, the object name is the ``<file-name>``.
+If a title does appear, it is expected that ``<file-name>`` is equal
+to ``<object-name>`` with any ``<`` and ``>`` characters removed.
+
+Second, the CMake Domain provides directives to define objects inside
+other documents:
+
+.. code-block:: rst
+
+ .. command:: <command-name>
+
+ This indented block documents <command-name>.
+
+ .. variable:: <variable-name>
+
+ This indented block documents <variable-name>.
+
+Object types for which no directive is available must be defined using
+the first approach above.
+
+.. _`Sphinx Domain`: http://sphinx-doc.org/domains.html
+.. _`cmake(1)`: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/manual/cmake.1.html
+.. _`cmake-modules(7)`: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/manual/cmake-modules.7.html
+.. _`cmake-policies(7)`: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/manual/cmake-policies.7.html
+.. _`cmake-properties(7)`: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/manual/cmake-properties.7.html
+.. _`cmake-variables(7)`: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/manual/cmake-variables.7.html
+.. _`cmake_policy()`: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/command/cmake_policy.html
+.. _`include()`: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/command/include.html
+.. _`set()`: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/command/set.html
+.. _`set_property()`: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/command/set_property.html
+
+Cross-References
+----------------
+
+Sphinx uses reStructuredText interpreted text roles to provide
+cross-reference syntax. The `CMake Domain`_ provides for each
+domain object type a role of the same name to cross-reference it.
+CMake Domain roles are inline markup of the forms::
+
+ :type:`name`
+ :type:`text <name>`
+
+where ``type`` is the domain object type and ``name`` is the
+domain object name. In the first form the link text will be
+``name`` (or ``name()`` if the type is ``command``) and in
+the second form the link text will be the explicit ``text``.
+For example, the code:
+
+.. code-block:: rst
+
+ * The :command:`list` command.
+ * The :command:`list(APPEND)` sub-command.
+ * The :command:`list() command <list>`.
+ * The :command:`list(APPEND) sub-command <list>`.
+ * The :variable:`CMAKE_VERSION` variable.
+ * The :prop_tgt:`OUTPUT_NAME_<CONFIG>` target property.
+
+produces:
+
+* The `list()`_ command.
+* The `list(APPEND)`_ sub-command.
+* The `list() command`_.
+* The `list(APPEND) sub-command`_.
+* The `CMAKE_VERSION`_ variable.
+* The `OUTPUT_NAME_<CONFIG>`_ target property.
+
+Note that CMake Domain roles differ from Sphinx and reStructuredText
+convention in that the form ``a<b>``, without a space preceding ``<``,
+is interpreted as a name instead of link text with an explicit target.
+This is necessary because we use ``<placeholders>`` frequently in
+object names like ``OUTPUT_NAME_<CONFIG>``. The form ``a <b>``,
+with a space preceding ``<``, is still interpreted as a link text
+with an explicit target.
+
+.. _`list()`: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/command/list.html
+.. _`list(APPEND)`: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/command/list.html
+.. _`list(APPEND) sub-command`: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/command/list.html
+.. _`list() command`: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/command/list.html
+.. _`CMAKE_VERSION`: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/variable/CMAKE_VERSION.html
+.. _`OUTPUT_NAME_<CONFIG>`: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/prop_tgt/OUTPUT_NAME_CONFIG.html
+
+Style
+-----
+
+Style: Section Headers
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+When marking section titles, make the section decoration line as long as
+the title text. Use only a line below the title, not above. For
+example:
+
+.. code-block:: rst
+
+ Title Text
+ ----------
+
+Capitalize the first letter of each non-minor word in the title.
+
+The section header underline character hierarchy is
+
+* ``#``: Manual group (part) in the master document
+* ``*``: Manual (chapter) title
+* ``=``: Section within a manual
+* ``-``: Subsection or `CMake Domain`_ object document title
+* ``^``: Subsubsection or `CMake Domain`_ object document section
+* ``"``: Paragraph or `CMake Domain`_ object document subsection
+
+Style: Whitespace
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Use two spaces for indentation. Use two spaces between sentences in
+prose.
+
+Style: Line Length
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Prefer to restrict the width of lines to 75-80 columns. This is not a
+hard restriction, but writing new paragraphs wrapped at 75 columns
+allows space for adding minor content without significant re-wrapping of
+content.
+
+Style: Prose
+^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Use American English spellings in prose.
+
+Style: Starting Literal Blocks
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Prefer to mark the start of literal blocks with ``::`` at the end of
+the preceding paragraph. In cases where the following block gets
+a ``code-block`` marker, put a single ``:`` at the end of the preceding
+paragraph.
+
+Style: CMake Command Signatures
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Command signatures should be marked up as plain literal blocks, not as
+cmake ``code-blocks``.
+
+Signatures are separated from preceding content by a section header.
+That is, use:
+
+.. code-block:: rst
+
+ ... preceding paragraph.
+
+ Normal Libraries
+ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+ ::
+
+ add_library(<lib> ...)
+
+ This signature is used for ...
+
+Signatures of commands should wrap optional parts with square brackets,
+and should mark list of optional arguments with an ellipsis (``...``).
+Elements of the signature which are specified by the user should be
+specified with angle brackets, and may be referred to in prose using
+``inline-literal`` syntax.
+
+Style: Boolean Constants
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Use "``OFF``" and "``ON``" for boolean values which can be modified by
+the user, such as ``POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE``. Such properties
+may be "enabled" and "disabled". Use "``True``" and "``False``" for
+inherent values which can't be modified after being set, such as the
+``IMPORTED`` property of a build target.
+
+Style: Inline Literals
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Mark up references to keywords in signatures, file names, and other
+technical terms with ``inline-literal`` syntax, for example:
+
+.. code-block:: rst
+
+ If ``WIN32`` is used with :command:`add_executable`, the
+ :prop_tgt:`WIN32_EXECUTABLE` target property is enabled. That command
+ creates the file ``<name>.exe`` on Windows.
+
+Style: Cross-References
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Mark up linkable references as links, including repeats.
+An alternative, which is used by wikipedia
+(`<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:REPEATLINK>`_),
+is to link to a reference only once per article. That style is not used
+in CMake documentation.
+
+Style: Referencing CMake Concepts
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+If referring to a concept which corresponds to a property, and that
+concept is described in a high-level manual, prefer to link to the
+manual section instead of the property. For example:
+
+.. code-block:: rst
+
+ This command creates an :ref:`Imported Target <Imported Targets>`.
+
+instead of:
+
+.. code-block:: rst
+
+ This command creates an :prop_tgt:`IMPORTED` target.
+
+The latter should be used only when referring specifically to the
+property.
+
+References to manual sections are not automatically created by creating
+a section, but code such as:
+
+.. code-block:: rst
+
+ .. _`Imported Targets`:
+
+creates a suitable anchor. Use an anchor name which matches the name
+of the corresponding section. Refer to the anchor using a
+cross-reference with specified text.
+
+Imported Targets need the ``IMPORTED`` term marked up with care in
+particular because the term may refer to a command keyword, a target
+property, or a concept.
+
+Where a property, command or variable is related conceptually to others,
+by for example, being related to the buildsystem description, generator
+expressions or Qt, each relevant property, command or variable should
+link to the primary manual, which provides high-level information. Only
+particular information relating to the command should be in the
+documentation of the command.
+
+Style: Referencing CMake Domain Objects
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+When referring to `CMake Domain`_ objects such as properties, variables,
+commands etc, prefer to link to the target object and follow that with
+the type of object it is. For example:
+
+.. code-block:: rst
+
+ Set the :prop_tgt:`AUTOMOC` target property to ``ON``.
+
+Instead of
+
+.. code-block:: rst
+
+ Set the target property :prop_tgt:`AUTOMOC` to ``ON``.
+
+The ``policy`` directive is an exception, and the type us usually
+referred to before the link:
+
+.. code-block:: rst
+
+ If policy :policy:`CMP0022` is set to ``NEW`` the behavior is ...
+
+However, markup self-references with ``inline-literal`` syntax.
+For example, within the ``add_executable`` command documentation, use
+
+.. code-block:: rst
+
+ ``add_executable``
+
+not
+
+.. code-block:: rst
+
+ :command:`add_executable`
+
+which is used elsewhere.
+
+Modules
+=======
+
+The ``Modules`` directory contains CMake-language ``.cmake`` module files.
+
+Module Documentation
+--------------------
+
+To document CMake module ``Modules/<module-name>.cmake``, modify
+``Help/manual/cmake-modules.7.rst`` to reference the module in the
+``toctree`` directive, in sorted order, as::
+
+ /module/<module-name>
+
+Then add the module document file ``Help/module/<module-name>.rst``
+containing just the line::
+
+ .. cmake-module:: ../../Modules/<module-name>.cmake
+
+The ``cmake-module`` directive will scan the module file to extract
+reStructuredText markup from comment blocks that start in ``.rst:``.
+At the top of ``Modules/<module-name>.cmake``, begin with the following
+license notice:
+
+::
+
+ # Distributed under the OSI-approved BSD 3-Clause License. See accompanying
+ # file Copyright.txt or https://cmake.org/licensing for details.
+
+After this notice, add a *BLANK* line. Then, add documentation using
+a `Bracket Comment`_ of the form:
+
+::
+
+ #[=======================================================================[.rst:
+ <module-name>
+ -------------
+
+ <reStructuredText documentation of module>
+ #]=======================================================================]
+
+Any number of ``=`` may be used in the opening and closing brackets
+as long as they match. Content on the line containing the closing
+bracket is excluded if and only if the line starts in ``#``.
+
+Additional such ``.rst:`` comments may appear anywhere in the module file.
+All such comments must start with ``#`` in the first column.
+
+For example, a ``Findxxx.cmake`` module may contain:
+
+::
+
+ # Distributed under the OSI-approved BSD 3-Clause License. See accompanying
+ # file Copyright.txt or https://cmake.org/licensing for details.
+
+ #[=======================================================================[.rst:
+ FindXxx
+ -------
+
+ This is a cool module.
+ This module does really cool stuff.
+ It can do even more than you think.
+
+ It even needs two paragraphs to tell you about it.
+ And it defines the following variables:
+
+ ``VAR_COOL``
+ this is great isn't it?
+ ``VAR_REALLY_COOL``
+ cool right?
+ #]=======================================================================]
+
+ <code>
+
+ #[=======================================================================[.rst:
+ .. command:: xxx_do_something
+
+ This command does something for Xxx::
+
+ xxx_do_something(some arguments)
+ #]=======================================================================]
+ macro(xxx_do_something)
+ <code>
+ endmacro()
+
+Test the documentation formatting by running
+``cmake --help-module <module-name>``, and also by enabling the
+``SPHINX_HTML`` and ``SPHINX_MAN`` options to build the documentation.
+Edit the comments until generated documentation looks satisfactory. To
+have a .cmake file in this directory NOT show up in the modules
+documentation, simply leave out the ``Help/module/<module-name>.rst``
+file and the ``Help/manual/cmake-modules.7.rst`` toctree entry.
+
+.. _`Bracket Comment`: https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/manual/cmake-language.7.html#bracket-comment