@c This is part of the Emacs manual.
-@c Copyright (C) 1985, 86, 87, 93, 94, 95, 97, 2000
+@c Copyright (C) 1985, 86, 87, 93, 94, 95, 97, 2000, 2001
@c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
@node Help, Mark, M-x, Top
@kindex F1
Emacs provides extensive help features accessible through a single
-character, @kbd{C-h}. @kbd{C-h} is a prefix key that is used only for
-documentation-printing commands. The characters that you can type after
+character, @kbd{C-h}. @kbd{C-h} is a prefix key that is used for
+commands that display documentation. The characters that you can type after
@kbd{C-h} are called @dfn{help options}. One help option is @kbd{C-h};
that is how you ask for help about using @kbd{C-h}. To cancel, type
@kbd{C-g}. The function key @key{F1} is equivalent to @kbd{C-h}.
@cindex searching documentation efficiently
@cindex looking for a subject in documentation
If you are looking for a certain feature, but don't know where
-exactly it is documented, and aren't even sure what is the name of the
+exactly it is documented, and aren't sure of the name of a
related command or option, we recommend trying these methods. Usually
it is best to start with an apropos command, then try searching the
manual index, then finally look in the FAQ and the package keywords.
@table @kbd
@item C-h a @var{topic} @key{RET}
This searches for commands whose names match @var{topic}, which should
-be a regular expression (@pxref{Regexps}). Browse the buffer popped
-up by Emacs, to find what you are looking for. @xref{Apropos}.
+be a regular expression (@pxref{Regexps}). Browse the buffer that this
+command displays to find what you are looking for. @xref{Apropos}.
@item M-x apropos @key{RET} @var{topic} @key{RET}
This works like @kbd{C-h a}, but it also searches for user options and
descriptions) of all variables and functions (not their names) for a
match for @var{topic}, a regular expression. @xref{Apropos}.
-@item C-h i m emacs @key{RET} i @var{topic} @key{RET}
+@item C-h i d m emacs @key{RET} i @var{topic} @key{RET}
This looks up @var{topic} in the indices of the Emacs on-line manual.
If there are several matches, Emacs displays the first one. You can then
press @key{,} to move to other matches, until you find what you are
looking for.
-@item C-h i m emacs @key{RET} s @var{topic} @key{RET}
+@item C-h i d m emacs @key{RET} s @var{topic} @key{RET}
Similar, but searches for @var{topic} (which can be a regular
expression) in the @emph{text} of the manual rather than in its
indices.
pertinent to the feature you need. @xref{Library Keywords}.
@end table
+ To find the documentation of a key sequence or a menu item, type
+@kbd{C-h C-k} and then type that key sequence or select the menu
+item. This looks up the description of the command invoked by the key
+or the menu in the appropriate manual (not necessarily the Emacs
+manual). Likewise, use @kbd{C-h C-f} for reading documentation of a
+command.
+
@menu
* Help Summary:: Brief list of all Help commands.
* Key Help:: Asking what a key does in Emacs.
mode bindings, major mode bindings, and global bindings
(@code{describe-bindings}).
@item C-h c @var{key}
-Print the name of the command that @var{key} runs
+Show the name of the command that @var{key} runs
(@code{describe-key-briefly}). Here @kbd{c} stands for ``character.''
For more extensive information on @var{key}, use @kbd{C-h k}.
@item C-h f @var{function} @key{RET}
(@code{describe-function}). Since commands are Lisp functions,
a command name may be used.
@item C-h h
-Display the @file{hello} file, which shows examples of various character
+Display the @file{HELLO} file, which shows examples of various character
sets.
@item C-h i
Run Info, the program for browsing documentation files (@code{info}).
@item C-h p
Find packages by topic keyword (@code{finder-by-keyword}).
@item C-h s
-Display current contents of the syntax table, plus an explanation of
+Display the current contents of the syntax table, plus an explanation of
what they mean (@code{describe-syntax}). @xref{Syntax}.
@item C-h t
Enter the Emacs interactive tutorial (@code{help-with-tutorial}).
Display the documentation of the Lisp variable @var{var}
(@code{describe-variable}).
@item C-h w @var{command} @key{RET}
-Print which keys run the command named @var{command} (@code{where-is}).
+Show which keys run the command named @var{command} (@code{where-is}).
@item C-h C @var{coding} @key{RET}
Describe coding system @var{coding}
(@code{describe-coding-system}).
@item C-h I @var{method} @key{RET}
Describe an input method (@code{describe-input-method}).
@item C-h L @var{language-env} @key{RET}
-Describe information on the character sets, coding systems and input
+Display information on the character sets, coding systems, and input
methods used for language environment @var{language-env}
(@code{describe-language-environment}).
@item C-h C-c
@findex describe-key-briefly
The most basic @kbd{C-h} options are @kbd{C-h c}
(@code{describe-key-briefly}) and @w{@kbd{C-h k}} (@code{describe-key}).
-@kbd{C-h c @var{key}} prints in the echo area the name of the command
-that @var{key} is bound to. For example, @kbd{C-h c C-f} prints
+@kbd{C-h c @var{key}} displays in the echo area the name of the command
+that @var{key} is bound to. For example, @kbd{C-h c C-f} displays
@samp{forward-char}. Since command names are chosen to describe what
the commands do, this is a good way to get a very brief description of
what @var{key} does.
among command names yet fail to be unique when other function names are
allowed.
- The function name for @kbd{C-h f} to describe has a default which is
-used if you type @key{RET} leaving the minibuffer empty. The default is
-the function called by the innermost Lisp expression in the buffer around
-point, @emph{provided} that is a valid, defined Lisp function name. For
-example, if point is located following the text @samp{(make-vector (car
-x)}, the innermost list containing point is the one that starts with
-@samp{(make-vector}, so the default is to describe the function
-@code{make-vector}.
+ The default function name for @kbd{C-h f} to describe, if you type
+just @key{RET}, is the name of the function called by the innermost Lisp
+expression in the buffer around point, @emph{provided} that is a valid,
+defined Lisp function name. For example, if point is located following
+the text @samp{(make-vector (car x)}, the innermost list containing
+point is the one that starts with @samp{(make-vector}, so the default is
+to describe the function @code{make-vector}.
@kbd{C-h f} is often useful just to verify that you have the right
spelling for the function name. If @kbd{C-h f} mentions a name from the
@kindex C-h w
@findex where-is
@kbd{C-h w @var{command} @key{RET}} tells you what keys are bound to
-@var{command}. It prints a list of the keys in the echo area. If it
+@var{command}. It displays a list of the keys in the echo area. If it
says the command is not on any key, you must use @kbd{M-x} to run it.
@kbd{C-h w} runs the command @code{where-is}.
terminals --- support for terminal types.
tex --- support for the @TeX{} formatter.
tools --- programming tools.
-unix --- front-ends/assistants for, or emulators of, Unix features.
+unix --- front-ends/assistants for, or emulators of, system features.
vms --- support code for VMS.
wp --- word processing.
@end display
@section Help for International Language Support
You can use the command @kbd{C-h L}
-(@code{describe-language-environment}) to find out the support for a
-specific language environment. @xref{Language Environments}. This
-tells you which languages this language environment is useful for, and
-lists the character sets, coding systems, and input methods that go with
-it. It also shows some sample text to illustrate scripts.
+(@code{describe-language-environment}) to find out information about
+the support for a specific language environment. @xref{Language
+Environments}. This tells you which languages this language
+environment is useful for, and lists the character sets, coding
+systems, and input methods that go with it. It also shows some sample
+text to illustrate scripts.
The command @kbd{C-h h} (@code{view-hello-file}) displays the file
@file{etc/HELLO}, which shows how to say ``hello'' in many languages.
@node Help Mode
@section Help Mode Commands
- Help buffers provide the commands of View mode (@pxref{Misc File
+ Help buffers provide the same commands as View mode (@pxref{Misc File
Ops}), plus a few special commands of their own.
@table @kbd
@item @key{SPC}
Scroll forward.
@item @key{DEL}
-Scroll backward.
+@itemx @key{BS}
+Scroll backward. On some keyboards, this key is known as @key{BS} or
+@key{backspace}.
@item @key{RET}
Follow a cross reference at point.
@item @key{TAB}
@var{function}. @kbd{C-h C-k @var{key}} enters Info and goes straight
to the documentation of the key @var{key}. These two keys run the
commands @code{Info-goto-emacs-command-node} and
-@code{Info-goto-emacs-key-command-node}.
+@code{Info-goto-emacs-key-command-node}. You can use @kbd{C-h C-k} to
+find the documentation of a menu item: just select that menu item when
+@kbd{C-h C-k} prompts for a key.
+
+ @kbd{C-h C-f} and @kbd{C-h C-k} know about commands and keys
+described in manuals other than the Emacs manual. Thus, they make it
+easier to find the documentation of commands and keys when you are not
+sure which manual describes them, like when using some specialized
+mode.
When editing a program, if you have an Info version of the manual for
the programming language, you can use the command @kbd{C-h C-i} to refer
@kindex C-h l
@findex view-lossage
If something surprising happens, and you are not sure what commands you
-typed, use @kbd{C-h l} (@code{view-lossage}). @kbd{C-h l} prints the last
+typed, use @kbd{C-h l} (@code{view-lossage}). @kbd{C-h l} displays the last
100 command characters you typed in. If you see commands that you don't
know, you can use @kbd{C-h c} to find out what they do.
@findex describe-mode
Emacs has numerous major modes, each of which redefines a few keys and
makes a few other changes in how editing works. @kbd{C-h m}
-(@code{describe-mode}) prints documentation on the current major mode,
+(@code{describe-mode}) displays documentation on the current major mode,
which normally describes all the commands that are changed in this
mode.
@kbd{C-h b} (@code{describe-bindings}) and @kbd{C-h s}
(@code{describe-syntax}) present other information about the current
Emacs mode. @kbd{C-h b} displays a list of all the key bindings now in
-effect; the local bindings defined by the current minor modes first,
+effect, showing the local bindings defined by the current minor modes first,
then the local bindings defined by the current major mode, and finally
the global bindings (@pxref{Key Bindings}). @kbd{C-h s} displays the
contents of the syntax table, with explanations of each character's
@findex describe-project
@kindex C-h P
@findex view-emacs-problems
- The other @kbd{C-h} options display various files of useful
+ The other @kbd{C-h} options display various files containing useful
information. @kbd{C-h C-w} displays the full details on the complete
absence of warranty for GNU Emacs. @kbd{C-h n} (@code{view-emacs-news})
displays the file @file{emacs/etc/NEWS}, which contains documentation on
@section Help on Active Text and Tooltips
@cindex tooltips
-@cindex ballon help
-When a region of text is ``active,'' so that you can select it with
+@cindex balloon help
+ When a region of text is ``active,'' so that you can select it with
the mouse or a key like @kbd{RET}, it often has associated help text.
Areas of the mode line are examples. This help will normally be
-printed in the echo area when you move point into the active text. In
-a window system you can display the help text as a ``tooltip.''
-@xref{Tooltips}.
+shown in the echo area when you move point into the active text. In
+a window system you can display the help text as a ``tooltip''
+(sometimes known as ``balloon help''). @xref{Tooltips}.
HCoop / bpt / emacs.git / blobdiff