@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 related
-command or option, we recommend these commands:
+ If you are looking for a certain feature, but don't know where
+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 @var{topic} @key{RET}
+@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
other variables, in case the feature you are looking for is controlled
by an option, not a command. @xref{Apropos}.
-@item M-x apropos-documentation @var{topic} @key{RET}
+@item M-x apropos-documentation @key{RET} @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}.
-@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}.