@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 that this
-command displays to find what you are looking for. @xref{Apropos}.
+be a list of words or 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 noninteractive
functions and for variables. @xref{Apropos}.
-@item M-x apropos-documentation @key{RET} @var{topic} @key{RET}
+@item C-h d @var{topic} @key{RET}
This searches the @emph{documentation strings} (the built-in short
descriptions) of all variables and functions (not their names) for a
-match for @var{topic}, a regular expression. @xref{Apropos}.
+match for @var{topic}, a list or words or a regular expression.
+@xref{Apropos}.
@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.
pre-written file of information.
@table @kbd
-@item C-h a @var{regexp} @key{RET}
-Display a list of commands whose names match @var{regexp}
+@item C-h a @var{topic} @key{RET}
+Display a list of commands whose names match word list or regexp @var{topic}
(@code{apropos-command}).
@item C-h b
Display a table of all key bindings in effect now, in this order: minor
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 d @var{topic} @key{RET}
+Display a list of commands and variables whose documentation match
+word list or regexp @var{topic}
+(@code{apropos-documentation}).
+@item C-h e
+Display the @code{*Messages*} buffer
+(@code{view-echo-area-messages}).
@item C-h f @var{function} @key{RET}
Display documentation on the Lisp function named @var{function}
(@code{describe-function}). Since commands are Lisp functions,
@end quotation
@findex apropos-variable
- To list all user variables that match a regexp, use the command
-@kbd{M-x apropos-variable}. By default, this command shows only
-variables meant for user customization; if you specify a prefix
+ To list all user variables that match a word list or regexp, use the
+command @kbd{M-x apropos-variable}. By default, this command shows
+only variables meant for user customization; if you specify a prefix
argument, it checks all variables.
@findex apropos
- To list all Lisp symbols that contain a match for a regexp, not just
-the ones that are defined as commands, use the command @kbd{M-x apropos}
-instead of @kbd{C-h a}. This command does not check key bindings by
-default; specify a numeric argument if you want it to check them.
+ To list all Lisp symbols that contain a match for a word list or
+regexp, not just the ones that are defined as commands, use the
+command @kbd{M-x apropos} instead of @kbd{C-h a}. This command does
+not check key bindings by default; specify a numeric argument if you
+want it to check them.
+@kindex C-h d
@findex apropos-documentation
The @code{apropos-documentation} command is like @code{apropos} except
that it searches documentation strings as well as symbol names for
-matches for the specified regular expression.
+matches for the specified topic, a word list or regular expression.
@findex apropos-value
The @code{apropos-value} command is like @code{apropos} except that it
-searches symbols' values for matches for the specified regular
+searches symbols' values for matches for the specified word list or regular
expression. This command does not check function definitions or
property lists by default; specify a numeric argument if you want it to
check them.
Apropos tries to guess the relevance of each result, and displays the
most relevant ones first.
+@vindex apropos-documentation-sort-by-scores
+ By default, Apropos lists the search results for
+ @code{apropos-documentation} in order of relevance.
+If the variable @code{apropos-documentation-sort-by-scores} is @code{nil},
+Apropos will list documentation in alphabetical order.
+
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}.
the mouse or a key like @kbd{RET}, it often has associated help text.
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.
+help''), when you move the mouse over the active text. @xref{Tooltips}.
+On some systems, it is shown in the echo area. On text-only
+terminals, Emacs may not be able to follow the mouse and hence will
+not show the help text on mouse-over.
@kindex C-h .
@findex display-local-help