@c This is part of the Emacs manual.
-@c Copyright (C) 1985-1987, 1993-1995, 1997, 2001-2013 Free Software
+@c Copyright (C) 1985-1987, 1993-1995, 1997, 2001-2014 Free Software
@c Foundation, Inc.
@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
@node Emacs Invocation
@cindex switches (command line)
@cindex startup (command line arguments)
@cindex invocation (command line arguments)
+@c FIXME: Document `--smid'? --xfq
Emacs supports command line arguments to request various actions
when invoking Emacs. These are for compatibility with other editors
@itemx --directory=@var{dir}
@opindex --directory
Prepend directory @var{dir} to the variable @code{load-path}.
+If you specify multiple @samp{-L} options, Emacs preserves the
+relative order; i.e., using @samp{-L /foo -L /bar} results in
+a @code{load-path} of the form @code{("/foo" "/bar" @dots{})}.
+If @var{dir} begins with @samp{:}, Emacs removes the @samp{:} and
+appends (rather than prepends) the remainder to @code{load-path}.
+(On MS Windows, use @samp{;} instead of @samp{:}; i.e., use
+the value of @code{path-separator}.)
@item -f @var{function}
@opindex -f
Directory for the documentation string file, which is used to
initialize the Lisp variable @code{doc-directory}.
@item EMACSLOADPATH
-A colon-separated list of directories@footnote{ Here and below,
+A colon-separated list of directories@footnote{Here and below,
whenever we say ``colon-separated list of directories'', it pertains
to Unix and GNU/Linux systems. On MS-DOS and MS-Windows, the
directories are separated by semi-colons instead, since DOS/Windows
-file names might include a colon after a drive letter.} to search for
-Emacs Lisp files. If set, it overrides the usual initial value of the
-@code{load-path} variable (@pxref{Lisp Libraries}).
+file names might include a colon after a drive letter.} to search for
+Emacs Lisp files. If set, it modifies the usual initial value of the
+@code{load-path} variable (@pxref{Lisp Libraries}). An empty element
+stands for the default value of @code{load-path}; e.g., using
+@samp{EMACSLOADPATH="/tmp:"} adds @file{/tmp} to the front of
+the default @code{load-path}.
@item EMACSPATH
A colon-separated list of directories to search for executable files.
If set, Emacs uses this in addition to @env{PATH} (see below) when