@enumerate
@item
-It adds subdirectories to @code{load-path}, by running the file
-named @file{subdirs.el} in each directory that is listed.
+It adds subdirectories to @code{load-path}, by running the file named
+@file{subdirs.el} in each directory in the list. Normally this file
+adds the directory's subdirectories to the list, and these will be
+scanned in their turn. The files @file{subdirs.el} are normally
+generated automatically by Emacs installation.
@item
It sets the language environment and the terminal coding system,
and MS-Windows.
@end defvar
+@defun parse-colon-path path
+@tindex parse-colon-path
+This function takes a search path string such as would be the value of
+the @code{PATH} environment variable, and splits it at the separators,
+returning a list of directory names. @code{nil} in this list stands for
+``use the current directory.'' Although the function's name says
+``colon,'' it actually uses the value of @code{path-separator}.
+
+@example
+(parse-colon-path ":/foo:/bar")
+ @result{} (nil "/foo/" "/bar/")
+@end example
+@end defun
+
@defvar invocation-name
This variable holds the program name under which Emacs was invoked. The
value is a string, and does not include a directory name.
@var{dow} and @var{zone}.
@end defun
-@defun encode-time seconds minutes hour day month year &optional @dots{}zone
+@defun encode-time seconds minutes hour day month year &optional zone
This function is the inverse of @code{decode-time}. It converts seven
items of calendrical data into a time value. For the meanings of the
arguments, see the table above under @code{decode-time}.
Year numbers less than 100 are not treated specially. If you want them
-to stand for years above 1900, you must alter them yourself before you
-call @code{encode-time}.
+to stand for years above 1900, or years above 2000, you must alter them
+yourself before you call @code{encode-time}.
The optional argument @var{zone} defaults to the current time zone and
its daylight savings time rules. If specified, it can be either a list