@c This is part of the Emacs manual.
-@c Copyright (C) 1985, 86, 87, 93, 94, 95, 97, 2000, 2001, 2004
-@c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+@c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001,
+@c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
@node Help, Mark, M-x, Top
@chapter Help
@item C-h S @var{symbol} @key{RET}
Display the Info documentation on symbol @var{symbol} according to the
programming language you are editing (@code{info-lookup-symbol}).
+@item C-h .
+Display a help message associated with special text areas, such as
+links in @samp{*Help*} buffers (@code{display-local-help}).
@end table
@node Key Help
normally checks only commands (interactive functions); if you specify a
prefix argument, it checks noninteractive functions as well.
- Because @kbd{C-h a} looks only for commands whose names contain the
-string you specify, you must use ingenuity in choosing the string. If
-you are looking for commands for killing backwards and @kbd{C-h a
-kill-backwards @key{RET}} doesn't reveal any, don't give up. Try just
-@kbd{kill}, or just @kbd{backwards}, or just @kbd{back}. Be
-persistent. Also note that you can use a regular expression as the
-argument, for more flexibility (@pxref{Regexps}).
+ Because @kbd{C-h a} looks only for commands matching the string you
+specify, you may not find what you want on the first try. In that
+case, don't just give up. You can give Apropos a list of words to
+search for. When more than one word is specified, at least two of
+those words must be present for an item to match. If you are looking
+for commands to kill a chunk of text before point, try @kbd{C-h a kill
+back behind before @key{RET}}. For even greater flexibility, you can
+also supply a regular expression to Apropos (@pxref{Regexps}).
Here is a set of arguments to give to @kbd{C-h a} that covers many
classes of Emacs commands, since there are strong conventions for naming
If the variable @code{apropos-do-all} is non-@code{nil}, the commands
above all behave as if they had been given a prefix argument.
+@vindex apropos-sort-by-scores
+@cindex apropos search results, order by score
+ By default, Apropos lists the search results in alphabetical order.
+If the variable @code{apropos-sort-by-scores} is non-@code{nil},
+Apropos tries to guess the relevance of each result, and displays the
+most relevant ones first.
+
If you want more information about a function definition, variable or
symbol property listed in the Apropos buffer, you can click on it with
@kbd{Mouse-1} or @kbd{Mouse-2}, or move there and type @key{RET}.
@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
-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}.
+Areas of the mode line are examples. On most window systems, the help
+text is displayed as a ``tooltip'' (sometimes known as ``balloon
+help''). @xref{Tooltips}. Otherwise, it is shown in the echo area
+when you move point into the active text.
+
+@kindex C-h .
+@findex display-local-help
+@vindex help-at-pt-display-when-idle
+ You can also access text region help info using the keyboard. The
+command @kbd{C-h .} (@code{display-local-help}) displays any help text
+associated with the text at point, using the echo area. If you want
+help text to be displayed automatically whenever it is available at
+point, set the variable @code{help-at-pt-display-when-idle} to
+@code{t}.
@ignore
arch-tag: 6f33ab62-bc75-4367-8057-fd67cc15c3a1