1926 lines
72 KiB
Plaintext
1926 lines
72 KiB
Plaintext
\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
|
|
@comment %**start of header
|
|
@setfilename info-stnd.info
|
|
@settitle GNU Info
|
|
@synindex vr cp
|
|
@synindex fn cp
|
|
@synindex ky cp
|
|
@comment %**end of header
|
|
@comment $Id: info-stnd.texi,v 1.23 1999/06/25 21:57:04 karl Exp $
|
|
|
|
@include version.texi
|
|
|
|
@dircategory Texinfo documentation system
|
|
@direntry
|
|
* Standalone info program: (info-stnd). Standalone Info-reading program.
|
|
@end direntry
|
|
|
|
@ifinfo
|
|
This file documents GNU Info, a program for viewing the on-line formatted
|
|
versions of Texinfo files. This documentation is different from the
|
|
documentation for the Info reader that is part of GNU Emacs. If you do
|
|
not know how to use Info, but have a working Info reader, you should
|
|
read that documentation first.
|
|
|
|
Copyright @copyright{} 1992, 93, 96, 97, 98, 99 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
|
|
|
|
Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this
|
|
manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are
|
|
preserved on all copies.
|
|
|
|
@ignore
|
|
Permission is granted to process this file through TeX and print the
|
|
results, provided the printed document carries a copying permission
|
|
notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
|
|
(this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
|
|
@end ignore
|
|
|
|
Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
|
|
manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that the
|
|
sections entitled ``Copying'' and ``GNU General Public License'' are
|
|
included exactly as in the original, and provided that the entire
|
|
resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a permission
|
|
notice identical to this one.
|
|
|
|
Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
|
|
into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions,
|
|
except that this permission notice may be stated in a translation
|
|
approved by the Free Software Foundation.
|
|
@end ifinfo
|
|
|
|
@titlepage
|
|
@title GNU Info
|
|
@subtitle for version @value{VERSION}, @value{UPDATED}
|
|
@author Brian J. Fox (bfox@@gnu.org)
|
|
@page
|
|
@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
|
|
Copyright @copyright{} 1992, 93, 97, 98, 99 Free Software Foundation
|
|
|
|
This manual is for GNU Info version @value{VERSION}, @value{UPDATED}.
|
|
|
|
Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this
|
|
manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are
|
|
preserved on all copies.
|
|
|
|
Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
|
|
manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that the
|
|
sections entitled ``Copying'' and ``GNU General Public License'' are
|
|
included exactly as in the original, and provided that the entire
|
|
resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a permission
|
|
notice identical to this one.
|
|
|
|
Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
|
|
into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions,
|
|
except that this permission notice may be stated in a translation
|
|
approved by the Free Software Foundation.
|
|
@end titlepage
|
|
|
|
@ifnottex
|
|
@node Top
|
|
@top GNU Info
|
|
|
|
This file documents GNU Info, a program for viewing the on-line
|
|
formatted versions of Texinfo files, version @value{VERSION}. This
|
|
documentation is different from the documentation for the Info reader
|
|
that is part of GNU Emacs.
|
|
|
|
This manual is for Info version @value{VERSION}, updated @value{UPDATED}.
|
|
@end ifnottex
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* What is Info:: What is Info?
|
|
* Invoking Info:: Options you can pass on the command line.
|
|
* Cursor Commands:: Commands which move the cursor within a node.
|
|
* Scrolling Commands:: Commands for moving the node around
|
|
in a window.
|
|
* Node Commands:: Commands for selecting a new node.
|
|
* Searching Commands:: Commands for searching an Info file.
|
|
* Xref Commands:: Commands for selecting cross references.
|
|
* Window Commands:: Commands which manipulate multiple windows.
|
|
* Printing Nodes:: How to print out the contents of a node.
|
|
* Miscellaneous Commands:: A few commands that defy categories.
|
|
* Variables:: How to change the default behavior of Info.
|
|
* GNU Info Global Index:: Global index containing keystrokes,
|
|
command names, variable names,
|
|
and general concepts.
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node What is Info
|
|
@chapter What is Info?
|
|
|
|
@dfn{Info} is a program which is used to view Info files on an ASCII
|
|
terminal. @dfn{Info files} are the result of processing Texinfo files
|
|
with the program @code{makeinfo} or with one of the Emacs commands, such
|
|
as @code{M-x texinfo-format-buffer}. Texinfo itself is a documentation
|
|
system that uses a single source file to produce both on-line
|
|
information and printed output. You can typeset and print the files
|
|
that you read in Info.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Invoking Info
|
|
@chapter Invoking Info
|
|
@cindex invoking info
|
|
@cindex command line options
|
|
@cindex options, command line
|
|
@cindex arguments, command line
|
|
|
|
GNU Info accepts several options to control the initial node being
|
|
viewed, and to specify which directories to search for Info files. Here
|
|
is a template showing an invocation of GNU Info from the shell:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
info [@var{option}]@dots{} [@var{menu-item}@dots{}]
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
The program accepts the following options:
|
|
|
|
@table @code
|
|
@item --apropos=@var{string}
|
|
@cindex Searching all indices
|
|
@cindex Info files@r{, searching all indices}
|
|
@cindex Apropos@r{, in Info files}
|
|
Specify a string to search in every index of every Info file installed
|
|
on your system. Info looks up the named @var{string} in all the indices
|
|
it can find, prints the results to standard output, and then exits. If
|
|
you are not sure which Info file explains certain issues, this option is
|
|
your friend. Note that if your system has a lot of Info files
|
|
installed, searching all of them might take some time.
|
|
|
|
@cindex directory path
|
|
@item --directory @var{directory-path}
|
|
@itemx -d @var{directory-path}
|
|
Prepend @var{directory-path} to the list of directory paths searched
|
|
when Info needs to find a file. You may issue @code{--directory}
|
|
multiple times; once for each directory which contains Info files. The
|
|
list of directories searched by Info is constructed from the value of
|
|
the environment variable @code{INFOPATH}; @code{--directory} causes the
|
|
named @var{directory-path} to be prepended to that list. The value of
|
|
@code{INFOPATH} is a list of directories usually separated by a colon;
|
|
on MS-DOS/MS-Windows systems, the semicolon is used. If you do not
|
|
define @code{INFOPATH}, Info uses a default path defined when Info was
|
|
built as the initial list of directories. If the value of
|
|
@code{INFOPATH} ends with a colon (or semicolon on MS-DOS/MS-Windows),
|
|
the initial list of directories is constructed by appending the
|
|
build-time default to the value of @code{INFOPATH}.
|
|
|
|
@cindex keystrokes, recording
|
|
@cindex remembering user keystrokes
|
|
@item --dribble=@var{dribble-file}
|
|
Specify a file where all user keystrokes will be recorded. This file
|
|
can be used later to replay the same sequence of commands, see the
|
|
@samp{--restore} option below.
|
|
|
|
@item --file @var{filename}
|
|
@itemx -f @var{filename}
|
|
@cindex Info file, selecting
|
|
Specify a particular Info file to visit. By default, Info visits
|
|
the file @code{dir}; if you use this option, Info will start with
|
|
@code{(@var{filename})Top} as the first file and node.
|
|
|
|
@cindex relative Info file names
|
|
@cindex file names, relative
|
|
@cindex Info files, relative
|
|
If @var{filename} is an absolute file name, or begins with @file{./} or
|
|
@file{../}, Info looks for @var{filename} only in the directory of the
|
|
specified @var{filename}, and adds the directory of @var{filename} to
|
|
the value of @code{INFOPATH}. In contrast, if @var{filename} is in the
|
|
form of a relative file name, but without the @file{./} or @file{../}
|
|
prefix, Info will only look for it in the directories specified in
|
|
@code{INFOPATH}. In other words, Info does @emph{not} treat file names
|
|
which lack @file{./} and @file{../} prefix as relative to the current
|
|
directory.
|
|
|
|
@cindex compressed Info files
|
|
@cindex files, compressed
|
|
@cindex Info files, compressed
|
|
In every directory Info tries, if @var{filename} is not found, Info
|
|
looks for it with a number of known extensions of Info files@footnote{
|
|
@file{.info}, @file{-info}, @file{/index}, and @file{.inf}.}. For every
|
|
known extension, Info looks for a compressed file, if a regular file
|
|
isn't found. Info supports files compressed with @code{gzip},
|
|
@code{bzip2}, @code{compress} and @code{yabba} programs; it calls
|
|
@code{gunzip}, @code{bunzip2}, @code{uncompress} and @code{unyabba},
|
|
accordingly, to decompress such files. Compressed Info files are
|
|
assumed to have @file{.z}, @file{.gz}, @file{.bz2}, @file{.Z}, or
|
|
@file{.Y} extensions, possibly in addition to one of the known Info
|
|
files extensions@footnote{The MS-DOS version allows for the Info
|
|
extension, such as @code{.inf}, and the short compressed file
|
|
extensions, such as @file{.z} and @file{.gz}, to be merged into a single
|
|
extension, since DOS doesn't allow more than a single dot in the
|
|
basename of a file. Thus, on MS-DOS, if Info looks for @file{bison},
|
|
file names like @file{bison.igz} and @file{bison.inz} will be found and
|
|
decompressed by @code{gunzip}.}.
|
|
|
|
@item --help
|
|
@itemx -h
|
|
Produces a relatively brief description of the available Info options.
|
|
|
|
@item --index-search @var{string}
|
|
@cindex index search, selecting from the command line
|
|
@cindex online help, using Info as
|
|
After processing all command-line arguments, go to the index in the Info
|
|
file and search for index entries which matche @var{string}. If such an
|
|
entry is found, the Info session begins with displaying the node pointed
|
|
to by the first matching index entry; press @kbd{,} to step through the
|
|
rest of the matching entries. If no such entry exists, print @samp{no
|
|
entries found} and exit with nonzero status. This can be used from
|
|
another program as a way to provide online help, or as a quick way of
|
|
starting to read an Info file at a certain node when you don't know the
|
|
exact name of that node.
|
|
|
|
@item --node @var{nodename}
|
|
@itemx -n @var{nodename}
|
|
@cindex node, selecting from the command line
|
|
Specify a particular node to visit in the initial file that Info
|
|
loads. This is especially useful in conjunction with
|
|
@code{--file}@footnote{Of course, you can specify both the file and node
|
|
in a @code{--node} command; but don't forget to escape the open and
|
|
close parentheses and whitespace from the shell as in: @code{info --node
|
|
"(emacs)Buffers"}.}. You may specify @code{--node} multiple times; for
|
|
an interactive Info, each @var{nodename} is visited in its own window,
|
|
for a non-interactive Info (such as when @code{--output} is given) each
|
|
@var{nodename} is processed sequentially.
|
|
|
|
@item --output @var{filename}
|
|
@itemx -o @var{filename}
|
|
@cindex file, outputting to
|
|
@cindex outputting to a file
|
|
Specify @var{filename} as the name of a file to which to direct output.
|
|
Each node that Info visits will be output to @var{filename} instead of
|
|
interactively viewed. A value of @code{-} for @var{filename} specifies
|
|
the standard output.
|
|
|
|
@cindex replaying recorded keystrokes
|
|
@item --restore=@var{dribble-file}
|
|
Read keystrokes from @var{dribble-file}, presumably recorded during
|
|
previous Info session (see the description of the @samp{--dribble}
|
|
option above). When the keystrokes in the files are all read, Info
|
|
reverts its input to the usual interactive operation.
|
|
|
|
@anchor{--show-options}
|
|
@cindex command-line options, how to find
|
|
@cindex invocation description, how to find
|
|
@item --show-options
|
|
@itemx --usage
|
|
@itemx -O
|
|
This option causes Info to look for the node that describes how to
|
|
invoke the program and its command-line options, and begin the session
|
|
by displaying that node. It is provided to make it easier to find the
|
|
most important usage information in a manual without the need to wade
|
|
through complex menu hierarchies. The effect is similar to the
|
|
@code{M-x goto-invocation} command (@pxref{goto-invocation}) from inside
|
|
Info.
|
|
|
|
@cindex speech synthesizers
|
|
@item --speech-friendly
|
|
@itemx -b
|
|
On MS-DOS/MS-Windows only, this option causes Info to use standard file
|
|
I/O functions for screen writes. (By default, Info uses direct writes
|
|
to the video memory on these systems, for faster operation and colored
|
|
display support.) This allows the speech synthesizers used by blind
|
|
persons to catch the output and convert it to audible speech.
|
|
|
|
@item --subnodes
|
|
@cindex @code{--subnodes}, command line option
|
|
This option only has meaning when given in conjunction with
|
|
@code{--output}. It means to recursively output the nodes appearing in
|
|
the menus of each node being output. Menu items which resolve to
|
|
external Info files are not output, and neither are menu items which are
|
|
members of an index. Each node is only output once.
|
|
|
|
@item --version
|
|
@cindex version information
|
|
Prints the version information of Info and exits.
|
|
|
|
@anchor{--vi-keys}
|
|
@cindex vi-like key bindings
|
|
@cindex Less-like key bindings
|
|
@item --vi-keys
|
|
This option binds functions to keys differently, to emulate the key
|
|
bindings of @code{vi} and Less. The default key bindings are generally
|
|
modeled after Emacs.
|
|
|
|
@item @var{menu-item}
|
|
@cindex menu, following
|
|
@anchor{command-line menu items}
|
|
Info treats its remaining arguments as the names of menu items. The
|
|
first argument is a menu item in the initial node visited (generally
|
|
@code{dir}), the second argument is a menu item in the first argument's
|
|
node, etc. You can easily move to the node of your choice by specifying
|
|
the menu names which describe the path to that node. For example,
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
info emacs buffers
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
first selects the menu item @samp{Emacs} in the node @samp{(dir)Top},
|
|
and then selects the menu item @samp{Buffers} in the node
|
|
@samp{(emacs)Top}.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
To avoid searching the @file{dir} files and just show some arbitrary
|
|
file, use @samp{-f} and the filename, as in @samp{info -f ./foo.info}.
|
|
|
|
The index search and the search for the node which describes program
|
|
invocation and command-line options begins @emph{after} processing all
|
|
the command-line menu items. Therefore, the Info file searched for the
|
|
index or the invocation node is the file where Info finds itself after
|
|
following all the menu items given on the command line. This is so
|
|
@samp{info emacs --show-options} does what you'd expect.
|
|
|
|
@c FIXME: the feature with lowercasing the file name isn't documented
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Cursor Commands
|
|
@chapter Moving the Cursor
|
|
@cindex cursor, moving
|
|
@cindex moving the cursor
|
|
|
|
Many people find that reading screens of text page by page is made
|
|
easier when one is able to indicate particular pieces of text with some
|
|
kind of pointing device. Since this is the case, GNU Info (both the
|
|
Emacs and standalone versions) have several commands which allow you to
|
|
move the cursor about the screen. The notation used in this manual to
|
|
describe keystrokes is identical to the notation used within the Emacs
|
|
manual, and the GNU Readline manual. @xref{Characters, , Character
|
|
Conventions, emacs, the GNU Emacs Manual}, if you are unfamiliar with the
|
|
notation@footnote{
|
|
Here's a short summary. @kbd{C-@var{x}} means press the @kbd{CTRL} key
|
|
and the key @var{x}. @kbd{M-@var{x}} means press the @kbd{META} key and
|
|
the key @var{x}. On many terminals th @kbd{META} key is known as the
|
|
@kbd{ALT} key. @kbd{SPC} is the space bar. The other keys are usually
|
|
called by the names imprinted on them.}.
|
|
|
|
The following table lists the basic cursor movement commands in Info.
|
|
Each entry consists of the key sequence you should type to execute the
|
|
cursor movement, the @code{M-x}@footnote{@code{M-x} is also a command; it
|
|
invokes @code{execute-extended-command}. @xref{M-x, , Executing an
|
|
extended command, emacs, the GNU Emacs Manual}, for more detailed
|
|
information.} command name (displayed in parentheses), and a short
|
|
description of what the command does. All of the cursor motion commands
|
|
can take a @dfn{numeric} argument (see @ref{Miscellaneous Commands,
|
|
@code{universal-argument}, to find out how to supply them}. With a
|
|
numeric argument, the motion commands are simply executed that
|
|
many times; for example, a numeric argument of 4 given to
|
|
@code{next-line} causes the cursor to move down 4 lines. With a
|
|
negative numeric argument, the motion is reversed; an argument of -4
|
|
given to the @code{next-line} command would cause the cursor to move
|
|
@emph{up} 4 lines.
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @key{C-n} (@code{next-line})
|
|
@itemx @key{DOWN} (an arrow key)
|
|
@kindex C-n
|
|
@kindex DOWN (an arrow key)
|
|
@findex next-line
|
|
Move the cursor down to the next line.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{C-p} (@code{prev-line})
|
|
@itemx @key{UP} (an arrow key)
|
|
@kindex C-p
|
|
@kindex UP (an arrow key)
|
|
@findex prev-line
|
|
Move the cursor up to the previous line.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{C-a} (@code{beginning-of-line})
|
|
@itemx @key{Home} (on DOS/Windows only)
|
|
@kindex C-a, in Info windows
|
|
@kindex Home
|
|
@findex beginning-of-line
|
|
Move the cursor to the start of the current line.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{C-e} (@code{end-of-line})
|
|
@itemx @key{End} (on DOS/Windows only)
|
|
@kindex C-e, in Info windows
|
|
@kindex End
|
|
@findex end-of-line
|
|
Move the cursor to the end of the current line.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{C-f} (@code{forward-char})
|
|
@itemx @key{RIGHT} (an arrow key)
|
|
@kindex C-f, in Info windows
|
|
@kindex RIGHT (an arrow key)
|
|
@findex forward-char
|
|
Move the cursor forward a character.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{C-b} (@code{backward-char})
|
|
@itemx @key{LEFT} (an arrow key)
|
|
@kindex C-b, in Info windows
|
|
@kindex LEFT (an arrow key)
|
|
@findex backward-char
|
|
Move the cursor backward a character.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{M-f} (@code{forward-word})
|
|
@itemx @kbd{C-@key{RIGHT}} (on DOS/Windows only)
|
|
@kindex M-f, in Info windows
|
|
@kindex C-RIGHT
|
|
@findex forward-word
|
|
Move the cursor forward a word.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{M-b} (@code{backward-word})
|
|
@itemx @kbd{C-@key{LEFT}} (on DOS/Windows only)
|
|
@kindex M-b, in Info windows
|
|
@kindex C-LEFT
|
|
@findex backward-word
|
|
Move the cursor backward a word.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{M-<} (@code{beginning-of-node})
|
|
@itemx @key{C-@key{Home}} (on DOS/Windows only)
|
|
@itemx @key{b}
|
|
@itemx @key{M-b}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex b, in Info windows
|
|
@kindex M-<
|
|
@kindex C-Home
|
|
@kindex M-b, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex beginning-of-node
|
|
Move the cursor to the start of the current node.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{M->} (@code{end-of-node})
|
|
@itemx @key{C-@key{End}} (on DOS/Windows only)
|
|
@itemx @key{e}
|
|
@kindex M->
|
|
@kindex e, in Info windows
|
|
@kindex C-End
|
|
@findex end-of-node
|
|
Move the cursor to the end of the current node.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{M-r} (@code{move-to-window-line})
|
|
@kindex M-r
|
|
@findex move-to-window-line
|
|
Move the cursor to a specific line of the window. Without a numeric
|
|
argument, @code{M-r} moves the cursor to the start of the line in the
|
|
center of the window. With a numeric argument of @var{n}, @code{M-r}
|
|
moves the cursor to the start of the @var{n}th line in the window.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
@node Scrolling Commands, Node Commands, Cursor Commands, Top
|
|
@chapter Moving Text Within a Window
|
|
@cindex scrolling
|
|
|
|
Sometimes you are looking at a screenful of text, and only part of the
|
|
current paragraph you are reading is visible on the screen. The
|
|
commands detailed in this section are used to shift which part of the
|
|
current node is visible on the screen.
|
|
|
|
Scrolling commands are bound differently when @samp{--vi-keys} operation
|
|
(@pxref{--vi-keys}) is in effect. These key bindings are designated
|
|
with ``vi-like operation''.
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @key{SPC} (@code{scroll-forward})
|
|
@itemx @key{NEXT} (an arrow key)
|
|
@itemx @key{C-v}
|
|
@itemx @key{C-f}, vi-like operation
|
|
@itemx @key{f}, vi-like operation
|
|
@itemx @key{M-SPC}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex SPC, in Info windows
|
|
@kindex NEXT
|
|
@kindex C-v
|
|
@kindex C-f, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex f, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex M-SPC, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex scroll-forward
|
|
Shift the text in this window up. That is, show more of the node which
|
|
is currently below the bottom of the window. With a numeric argument,
|
|
show that many more lines at the bottom of the window; a numeric
|
|
argument of 4 would shift all of the text in the window up 4 lines
|
|
(discarding the top 4 lines), and show you four new lines at the bottom
|
|
of the window. Without a numeric argument, @key{SPC} takes the bottom
|
|
two lines of the window and places them at the top of the window,
|
|
redisplaying almost a completely new screenful of lines. If you are at
|
|
the end of a node, SPC takes you to the ``next'' node, so that you can
|
|
read an entire manual from start to finish by repeating SPC.
|
|
|
|
The default scroll size is one screen-full, but it can be changed by
|
|
invoking the (@code{scroll-forward-set-window}) command, @samp{z} under
|
|
@samp{--vi-keys}, with a numeric argument.
|
|
|
|
@kindex PageDown
|
|
The @key{NEXT} key is known as the @key{PageDown} key on some
|
|
keyboards. When you use @key{NEXT} or @key{PageDown} to scroll, Info
|
|
never scrolls beyond the end of the current node.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{z} (@code{scroll-forward-set-window}, vi-like operation)
|
|
@kindex z, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex scroll-forward-set-window
|
|
Scroll forward, like with @key{SPC}, but if a numeric argument is
|
|
specified, it becomes the default scroll size for subsequent
|
|
@code{scroll-forward} and @code{scroll-backward} commands.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{DEL} (@code{scroll-backward})
|
|
@itemx @key{PREVIOUS} (arrow key)
|
|
@itemx @key{PRIOR} (arrow key)
|
|
@itemx @key{M-v}
|
|
@itemx @key{b}, vi-like operation
|
|
@itemx @key{C-b}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex DEL, in Info windows
|
|
@kindex PREVIOUS
|
|
@kindex M-v
|
|
@kindex b, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex C-b, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex scroll-backward
|
|
Shift the text in this window down. The inverse of
|
|
@code{scroll-forward}. The default scroll size can be changed by
|
|
invoking the(@code{scroll-backward-set-window}) command, @samp{w} under
|
|
@samp{--vi-keys}, with a numeric argument.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{w} (@code{scroll-backward-set-window}, vi-like operation)
|
|
@kindex w, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex scroll-backward-set-window
|
|
Scroll backward, like with @key{DEL}, but if a numeric argument is
|
|
specified, it becomes the default scroll size for subsequent
|
|
@code{scroll-forward} and @code{scroll-backward} commands.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{C-n} (@code{down-line}, vi-like operation)
|
|
@itemx @key{C-e}, vi-like operation
|
|
@itemx @key{RET}, vi-like operation
|
|
@itemx @key{LFD}, vi-like operation
|
|
@itemx @key{DOWN}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex C-n, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex C-e, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex RET, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex LFD, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex DOWN, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex down-line
|
|
Scroll forward by one line. With a numeric argument, scroll forward
|
|
that many lines.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{C-p} (@code{up-line}, vi-like operation)
|
|
@itemx @key{UP}, vi-like operation
|
|
@itemx @key{y}, vi-like operation
|
|
@itemx @key{k}, vi-like operation
|
|
@itemx @key{C-k}, vi-like operation
|
|
@itemx @key{C-y}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex C-p, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex UP, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex y, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex k, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex C-k, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex C-y, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex up-line
|
|
Scroll backward one line. With a numeric argument, scroll backward that
|
|
many lines.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{d} (@code{scroll-half-screen-down}, vi-like operation)
|
|
@itemx @key{C-d}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex d, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex C-d, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex scroll-half-screen-down
|
|
Scroll forward by half of the screen size. With a numeric argument,
|
|
scroll that many lines. If an argument is specified, it becomes the new
|
|
default number of lines to scroll for subsequent @samp{d} and @samp{u}
|
|
commands.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{u} (@code{scroll-half-screen-up}, vi-like operation)
|
|
@itemx @key{C-u}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex u, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex C-u, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex scroll-half-screen-up
|
|
Scroll back by half of the screen size. With a numeric argument,
|
|
scroll that many lines. If an argument is specified, it becomes the new
|
|
default number of lines to scroll for subsequent @samp{u} and @samp{d}
|
|
commands.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
@cindex scrolling through node structure
|
|
The @code{scroll-forward} and @code{scroll-backward} commands can also
|
|
move forward and backward through the node structure of the file. If
|
|
you press @key{SPC} while viewing the end of a node, or @key{DEL} while
|
|
viewing the beginning of a node, what happens is controlled by the
|
|
variable @code{scroll-behavior}. @xref{Variables,
|
|
@code{scroll-behavior}}, for more information.
|
|
|
|
@kindex PageUp
|
|
The @key{PREVIOUS} key is the @key{PageUp} key on many keyboards. Emacs
|
|
refers to it by the name @key{PRIOR}. When you use @key{PRIOR} or
|
|
@key{PageUp} to scroll, Info never scrolls beyond the beginning of the
|
|
current node.
|
|
|
|
@kindex BS (backspace)
|
|
If your keyboard lacks the @key{DEL} key, look for a key called
|
|
@key{BS}, or @samp{BackSpace}, sometimes designated with an arrow which
|
|
points to the left, which should perform the same function.
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @key{C-l} (@code{redraw-display})
|
|
@kindex C-l
|
|
@findex redraw-display
|
|
Redraw the display from scratch, or shift the line containing the cursor
|
|
to a specified location. With no numeric argument, @samp{C-l} clears
|
|
the screen, and then redraws its entire contents. Given a numeric
|
|
argument of @var{n}, the line containing the cursor is shifted so that
|
|
it is on the @var{n}th line of the window.
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{C-x @key{w}} (@code{toggle-wrap})
|
|
@kindex C-w
|
|
@findex toggle-wrap
|
|
Toggles the state of line wrapping in the current window. Normally,
|
|
lines which are longer than the screen width @dfn{wrap}, i.e., they are
|
|
continued on the next line. Lines which wrap have a @samp{\} appearing
|
|
in the rightmost column of the screen. You can cause such lines to be
|
|
terminated at the rightmost column by changing the state of line
|
|
wrapping in the window with @code{C-x w}. When a line which needs more
|
|
space than one screen width to display is displayed, a @samp{$} appears
|
|
in the rightmost column of the screen, and the remainder of the line is
|
|
invisible. When long lines are truncated, the modeline displays the
|
|
@samp{$} character near its left edge.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
@node Node Commands, Searching Commands, Scrolling Commands, Top
|
|
@chapter Selecting a New Node
|
|
@cindex nodes, selection of
|
|
|
|
This section details the numerous Info commands which select a new node
|
|
to view in the current window.
|
|
|
|
The most basic node commands are @samp{n}, @samp{p}, @samp{u}, and
|
|
@samp{l}. Note that the commands to select nodes are mapped differently
|
|
when @samp{--vi-keys} is in effect; these keybindings are designated
|
|
below as ``vi-like operation''.
|
|
|
|
When you are viewing a node, the top line of the node contains some Info
|
|
@dfn{pointers} which describe where the next, previous, and up nodes
|
|
are. Info uses this line to move about the node structure of the file
|
|
when you use the following commands:
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @key{n} (@code{next-node})
|
|
@itemx @kbd{C-@key{NEXT}} (on DOS/Windows only)
|
|
@itemx @kbd{C-x @key{n}}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex n
|
|
@kindex C-NEXT
|
|
@kindex C-x n, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex next-node
|
|
Select the `Next' node.
|
|
|
|
@kindex C-PgDn
|
|
The @key{NEXT} key is known as the @key{PgDn} key on some
|
|
keyboards.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{p} (@code{prev-node})
|
|
@itemx @kbd{C-@key{PREVIOUS}} (on DOS/Windows only)
|
|
@kindex p
|
|
@kindex C-PREVIOUS
|
|
@findex prev-node
|
|
Select the `Prev' node.
|
|
|
|
@kindex C-PgUp
|
|
The @key{PREVIOUS} key is known as the @key{PgUp} key on some
|
|
keyboards.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{u} (@code{up-node})
|
|
@itemx @kbd{C-@key{UP}} (an arrow key on DOS/Windows only)
|
|
@itemx @kbd{C-x @key{u}}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex u
|
|
@kindex C-UP
|
|
@kindex C-x u, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex up-node
|
|
Select the `Up' node.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
You can easily select a node that you have already viewed in this window
|
|
by using the @samp{l} command -- this name stands for "last", and
|
|
actually moves backwards through the history of visited nodes for this
|
|
window. This is handy when you followed a reference to another node,
|
|
possibly to read about a related issue, and would like then to resume
|
|
reading at the same place where you started the excursion.
|
|
|
|
Each node where you press @samp{l} is discarded from the history. Thus,
|
|
by the time you get to the first node you visited in a window, the
|
|
entire history of that window is discarded.
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @key{l} (@code{history-node})
|
|
@itemx @key{C-@key{CENTER}} (on DOS/Windows only)
|
|
@itemx @key{'}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex l
|
|
@kindex C-CENTER
|
|
@kindex ', vi-like operation
|
|
@findex history-node
|
|
Pop the most recently selected node in this window from the node
|
|
history.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
Two additional commands make it easy to select the most commonly
|
|
selected nodes; they are @samp{t} and @samp{d}.
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @key{t} (@code{top-node})
|
|
@itemx @key{M-t}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex t
|
|
@kindex M-t, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex top-node
|
|
Select the node @samp{Top} in the current Info file.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{d} (@code{dir-node})
|
|
@itemx @key{M-d}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex d
|
|
@kindex M-d, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex dir-node
|
|
Select the directory node (i.e., the node @samp{(dir)}).
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
Here are some other commands which immediately result in the selection
|
|
of a different node in the current window:
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @key{<} (@code{first-node})
|
|
@itemx @key{g}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex <
|
|
@kindex g, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex first-node
|
|
Selects the first node which appears in this file. This node is most
|
|
often @samp{Top}, but it does not have to be. With a numeric argument
|
|
@var{N}, select the @var{N}th node (the first node is node 1). An
|
|
argument of zero is the same as the argument of 1.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{>} (@code{last-node})
|
|
@itemx @key{G}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex >
|
|
@kindex G, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex last-node
|
|
Select the last node which appears in this file. With a numeric argument
|
|
@var{N}, select the @var{N}th node (the first node is node 1). An
|
|
argument of zero is the same as no argument, i.e., it selects the last
|
|
node.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{]} (@code{global-next-node})
|
|
@kindex ]
|
|
@findex global-next-node
|
|
Move forward or down through node structure. If the node that you are
|
|
currently viewing has a @samp{Next} pointer, that node is selected.
|
|
Otherwise, if this node has a menu, the first menu item is selected. If
|
|
there is no @samp{Next} and no menu, the same process is tried with the
|
|
@samp{Up} node of this node.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{[} (@code{global-prev-node})
|
|
@kindex [
|
|
@findex global-prev-node
|
|
Move backward or up through node structure. If the node that you are
|
|
currently viewing has a @samp{Prev} pointer, that node is selected.
|
|
Otherwise, if the node has an @samp{Up} pointer, that node is selected,
|
|
and if it has a menu, the last item in the menu is selected.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
You can get the same behavior as @code{global-next-node} and
|
|
@code{global-prev-node} while simply scrolling through the file with
|
|
@key{SPC} and @key{DEL}; @xref{Variables, @code{scroll-behavior}}, for
|
|
more information.
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@anchor{goto-node}
|
|
@item @key{g} (@code{goto-node})
|
|
@itemx @kbd{C-x @key{g}}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex g
|
|
@kindex C-x g, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex goto-node
|
|
Read the name of a node and select it. While reading the node name,
|
|
completion (@pxref{The Echo Area, completion}) is only done for the
|
|
nodes which reside in one of the Info files that were loaded in the
|
|
current Info session; if the desired node resides in some other file,
|
|
you must type the node exactly as it appears in that Info file, and you
|
|
must include the Info file of the other file. For example,
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@code{g(emacs)Buffers}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
finds the node @samp{Buffers} in the Info file @file{emacs}.
|
|
|
|
@anchor{goto-invocation}
|
|
@item @key{O} (@code{goto-invocation}
|
|
@itemx @key{I}
|
|
@kindex O
|
|
@kindex I
|
|
@findex goto-invocation
|
|
@cindex finding the Invocation node
|
|
Read the name of a program and look for a node in the current Info file
|
|
which describes the invocation and the command-line options for that
|
|
program. The default program name is derived from the name of the
|
|
current Info file. This command does the same as the
|
|
@samp{--show-options} command-line option (@pxref{--show-options}), but
|
|
it also allows to specify the program name; this is important for those
|
|
manuals which describe several programs.
|
|
|
|
If you need to find the Invocation node of a program that is documented
|
|
in another Info file, you need to visit that file before invoking
|
|
@samp{I}. For example, if you are reading the Emacs manual and want to
|
|
see the command-line options of the @code{makeinfo} program, type @kbd{g
|
|
(texinfo) @key{RET}} and then @kbd{I makeinfo @key{RET}}. If you don't
|
|
know what Info file documents the command, or if invoking @samp{I}
|
|
doesn't display the right node, go to the @samp{(dir)} node (using the
|
|
@samp{d} command) and invoke @samp{I} from there.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{G} (@code{menu-sequence})
|
|
@kindex G
|
|
@findex menu-sequence
|
|
@cindex menu, following, from inside Info
|
|
Read a sequence of menu entries and follow it. Info prompts for a
|
|
sequence of menu items separated by commas. (Since commas are not
|
|
allowed in a node name, they are a natural choice for a delimiter in a
|
|
list of menu items.) Info then looks up the first item in the menu of
|
|
the node @samp{(dir)} (if the @samp{(dir)} node cannot be found, Info
|
|
uses @samp{Top}). If such an entry is found, Info goes to the node it
|
|
points to and looks up the second item in the menu of that node, etc.
|
|
In other words, you can specify a complete path which descends through
|
|
the menu hierarchy of a particular Info file starting at the
|
|
@samp{(dir)} node. This has the same effect as if you typed the menu
|
|
item sequence on Info's command line, see @ref{command-line menu items,,
|
|
Info command-line arguments processing}. For example,
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@kbd{G Texinfo,Overview,Reporting Bugs @key{RET}}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
displays the node @samp{Reporting Bugs} in the Texinfo manual. (You
|
|
don't actually need to type the menu items in their full length, or in
|
|
their exact letter-case. However, if you do type the menu items
|
|
exactly, Info will find it faster.)
|
|
|
|
If any of the menu items you type are not found, Info stops at the last
|
|
entry it did find and reports an error.
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{C-x @key{k}} (@code{kill-node})
|
|
@kindex C-x k
|
|
@findex kill-node
|
|
Kill a node. The node name is prompted for in the echo area, with a
|
|
default of the current node. @dfn{Killing} a node means that Info tries
|
|
hard to forget about it, removing it from the list of history nodes kept
|
|
for the window where that node is found. Another node is selected in
|
|
the window which contained the killed node.
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{C-x C-f} (@code{view-file})
|
|
@kindex C-x C-f
|
|
@findex view-file
|
|
Read the name of a file and selects the entire file. The command
|
|
@example
|
|
@code{C-x C-f @var{filename}}
|
|
@end example
|
|
is equivalent to typing
|
|
@example
|
|
@code{g(@var{filename})*}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{C-x C-b} (@code{list-visited-nodes})
|
|
@kindex C-x C-b
|
|
@findex list-visited-nodes
|
|
Make a window containing a menu of all of the currently visited nodes.
|
|
This window becomes the selected window, and you may use the standard
|
|
Info commands within it.
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{C-x @key{b}} (@code{select-visited-node})
|
|
@kindex C-x b
|
|
@findex select-visited-node
|
|
Select a node which has been previously visited in a visible window.
|
|
This is similar to @samp{C-x C-b} followed by @samp{m}, but no window is
|
|
created.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
@node Searching Commands, Xref Commands, Node Commands, Top
|
|
@chapter Searching an Info File
|
|
@cindex searching
|
|
|
|
GNU Info allows you to search for a sequence of characters throughout an
|
|
entire Info file, search through the indices of an Info file, or find
|
|
areas within an Info file which discuss a particular topic.
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @key{s} (@code{search})
|
|
@itemx @key{/}
|
|
@kindex s
|
|
@kindex /
|
|
@findex search
|
|
Read a string in the echo area and search for it. If the string
|
|
includes upper-case characters, the Info file is searched
|
|
case-sensitively; otherwise Info ignores the letter case. With a
|
|
numeric argument of @var{N}, search for @var{N}th occurrence of the
|
|
string. Negative arguments search backwards.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{?} (@code{search-backward}, vi-like operation)
|
|
@kindex ?, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex search-backward
|
|
Read a string in the echo area and search backward through the Info file
|
|
for that string. If the string includes upper-case characters, the Info
|
|
file is searched case-sensitively; otherwise Info ignores the letter
|
|
case. With a numeric argument of @var{N}, search for @var{N}th
|
|
occurrence of the string. Negative arguments search forward.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{S} (@code{search-case-sensitively}
|
|
@kindex S
|
|
@findex search-case-sensitively
|
|
@cindex search, case-sensitive
|
|
@cindex case-sensitive search
|
|
Read a string in the echo area and search for it case-sensitively, even
|
|
if the string includes only lower-case letters. With a numeric argument
|
|
of @var{N}, search for @var{N}th occurrence of the string. Negative
|
|
arguments search backwards.
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{C-x @key{n}} (@code{search-next})
|
|
@itemx @key{n}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex C-x n
|
|
@kindex n, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex search-next
|
|
@cindex repeated search
|
|
Search for the same string used in the last search command, in the same
|
|
direction, and with the same case-sensitivity option. With a numeric
|
|
argument of @var{N}, search for @var{N}th next occurrence.
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{C-x @key{N}} (@code{search-previous})
|
|
@itemx @key{N}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex C-x N
|
|
@kindex n, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex search-previous
|
|
Search for the same string used in the last search command, and with the
|
|
same case-sensitivity option, but in the reverse direction. With a
|
|
numeric argument of @var{N}, search for @var{N}th previous occurrence.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{C-s} (@code{isearch-forward})
|
|
@kindex C-s
|
|
@findex isearch-forward
|
|
@cindex incremental search
|
|
Interactively search forward through the Info file for a string as you
|
|
type it. If the string includes upper-case characters, the search is
|
|
case-sensitive; otherwise Info ignores the letter case.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{C-r} (@code{isearch-backward})
|
|
@kindex C-r
|
|
@findex isearch-backward
|
|
Interactively search backward through the Info file for a string as
|
|
you type it. If the string includes upper-case characters, the search
|
|
is case-sensitive; otherwise Info ignores the letter case.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{i} (@code{index-search})
|
|
@kindex i
|
|
@findex index-search
|
|
@cindex index, searching
|
|
@cindex searching, in the indices
|
|
Look up a string in the indices for this Info file, and select a node
|
|
where the found index entry points to.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{,} (@code{next-index-match})
|
|
@kindex ,
|
|
@findex next-index-match
|
|
Move to the node containing the next matching index item from the last
|
|
@samp{i} command.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
The most basic searching command is @samp{s} or @samp{/}
|
|
(@code{search}). The @samp{s} command prompts you for a string in the
|
|
echo area, and then searches the remainder of the Info file for an
|
|
occurrence of that string. If the string is found, the node containing
|
|
it is selected, and the cursor is left positioned at the start of the
|
|
found string. Subsequent @samp{s} commands show you the default search
|
|
string within @samp{[} and @samp{]}; pressing @key{RET} instead of
|
|
typing a new string will use the default search string. Under
|
|
@samp{--vi-keys} (@pxref{--vi-keys}), using the @samp{n} or @samp{N}
|
|
commands is a faster way of searching for the same string.
|
|
|
|
@dfn{Incremental searching} is similar to basic searching, but the
|
|
string is looked up while you are typing it, instead of waiting until
|
|
the entire search string has been specified.
|
|
|
|
@cindex search, and case-sensitivity
|
|
@cindex case-sensitivity, and search
|
|
Both incremental and non-incremental search by default ignore the case
|
|
of letters when comparing the Info file text with the search string.
|
|
However, an uppercase letter in the search string makes the search
|
|
case-sensitive. You can force a case-sensitive non-incremental search,
|
|
even for a string that includes only lower-case letters, by using the
|
|
@samp{S} command (@code{search-case-sensitively}). The @samp{n} and
|
|
@samp{N} commands operate case-sensitively if the last search command
|
|
was @samp{S}.
|
|
|
|
@node Xref Commands, Window Commands, Searching Commands, Top
|
|
@chapter Selecting Cross References
|
|
|
|
We have already discussed the @samp{Next}, @samp{Prev}, and @samp{Up}
|
|
pointers which appear at the top of a node. In addition to these
|
|
pointers, a node may contain other pointers which refer you to a
|
|
different node, perhaps in another Info file. Such pointers are called
|
|
@dfn{cross references}, or @dfn{xrefs} for short.
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Parts of an Xref:: What a cross reference is made of.
|
|
* Selecting Xrefs:: Commands for selecting menu or note items.
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
@node Parts of an Xref, Selecting Xrefs, , Xref Commands
|
|
@section Parts of an Xref
|
|
|
|
Cross references have two major parts: the first part is called the
|
|
@dfn{label}; it is the name that you can use to refer to the cross
|
|
reference, and the second is the @dfn{target}; it is the full name of
|
|
the node that the cross reference points to.
|
|
|
|
The target is separated from the label by a colon @samp{:}; first the
|
|
label appears, and then the target. For example, in the sample menu
|
|
cross reference below, the single colon separates the label from the
|
|
target.
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
* Foo Label: Foo Target. More information about Foo.
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
Note the @samp{.} which ends the name of the target. The @samp{.} is
|
|
not part of the target; it serves only to let Info know where the target
|
|
name ends.
|
|
|
|
A shorthand way of specifying references allows two adjacent colons to
|
|
stand for a target name which is the same as the label name:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
* Foo Commands:: Commands pertaining to Foo.
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
In the above example, the name of the target is the same as the name of
|
|
the label, in this case @code{Foo Commands}.
|
|
|
|
You will normally see two types of cross reference while viewing nodes:
|
|
@dfn{menu} references, and @dfn{note} references. Menu references
|
|
appear within a node's menu; they begin with a @samp{*} at the beginning
|
|
of a line, and continue with a label, a target, and a comment which
|
|
describes what the contents of the node pointed to contains.
|
|
|
|
Note references appear within the body of the node text; they begin with
|
|
@code{*Note}, and continue with a label and a target.
|
|
|
|
Like @samp{Next}, @samp{Prev}, and @samp{Up} pointers, cross references
|
|
can point to any valid node. They are used to refer you to a place
|
|
where more detailed information can be found on a particular subject.
|
|
Here is a cross reference which points to a node within the Texinfo
|
|
documentation: @xref{xref, , Writing an Xref, texinfo, the Texinfo
|
|
Manual}, for more information on creating your own texinfo cross
|
|
references.
|
|
|
|
@node Selecting Xrefs, , Parts of an Xref, Xref Commands
|
|
@section Selecting Xrefs
|
|
|
|
The following table lists the Info commands which operate on menu items.
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @key{1} (@code{menu-digit})
|
|
@itemx @key{2} @dots{} @key{9}
|
|
@itemx @key{M-1}, vi-like operation
|
|
@itemx @key{M-2} @dots{} @key{M-9}, vi-like operation
|
|
@cindex 1 @dots{} 9, in Info windows
|
|
@cindex M-1 @dots{} M-9, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex 1 @dots{} 9, in Info windows
|
|
@kindex M-1 @dots{} M-9, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex menu-digit
|
|
Within an Info window, pressing a single digit, (such as @samp{1}),
|
|
selects that menu item, and places its node in the current window.
|
|
For convenience, there is one exception; pressing @samp{0} selects the
|
|
@emph{last} item in the node's menu. When @samp{--vi-keys} is in
|
|
effect, digits set the numeric argument, so these commands are remapped
|
|
to their @samp{M-} varieties. For example, to select the last menu
|
|
item, press @key{M-0}.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{0} (@code{last-menu-item})
|
|
@itemx @key{M-0}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex 0, in Info windows
|
|
@kindex M-0, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex last-menu-item
|
|
Select the last item in the current node's menu.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{m} (@code{menu-item})
|
|
@kindex m
|
|
@findex menu-item
|
|
Reads the name of a menu item in the echo area and selects its node.
|
|
Completion is available while reading the menu label. @xref{The Echo
|
|
Area, completion}.
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{M-x find-menu}
|
|
@findex find-menu
|
|
Move the cursor to the start of this node's menu.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
This table lists the Info commands which operate on cross references.
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @key{f} (@code{xref-item})
|
|
@itemx @key{r}
|
|
@item @key{M-f}, vi-like operation
|
|
@itemx @kbd{C-x @key{r}}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex f
|
|
@kindex r
|
|
@kindex M-f, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex C-x r, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex xref-item
|
|
Reads the name of a note cross reference in the echo area and selects
|
|
its node. Completion is available while reading the cross reference
|
|
label. @xref{The Echo Area, completion}.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
Finally, the next few commands operate on menu or note references alike:
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @key{TAB} (@code{move-to-next-xref})
|
|
@kindex TAB, in Info windows
|
|
@findex move-to-next-xref
|
|
Move the cursor to the start of the next nearest menu item or note
|
|
reference in this node. You can then use @key{RET}
|
|
(@code{select-reference-this-line}) to select the menu or note reference.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{M-TAB} (@code{move-to-prev-xref})
|
|
@itemx @key{Shift-@key{TAB}} (on DOS/Windows only)
|
|
@kindex M-TAB, in Info windows
|
|
@findex move-to-prev-xref
|
|
Move the cursor the start of the nearest previous menu item or note
|
|
reference in this node.
|
|
|
|
@kindex Shift-TAB, in Info windows
|
|
@kindex BackTab, in Info windows
|
|
On DOS/Windows only, the @kbd{Shift-@key{TAB}} key is an alias for
|
|
@kbd{M-@key{TAB}}. This key is sometimes called @samp{BackTab}.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{RET} (@code{select-reference-this-line})
|
|
@itemx @key{M-g}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex RET, in Info windows
|
|
@kindex M-g, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex select-reference-this-line
|
|
Select the menu item or note reference appearing on this line.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
@node Window Commands, Printing Nodes, Xref Commands, Top
|
|
@chapter Manipulating Multiple Windows
|
|
@cindex windows, manipulating
|
|
|
|
A @dfn{window} is a place to show the text of a node. Windows have a
|
|
view area where the text of the node is displayed, and an associated
|
|
@dfn{mode line}, which briefly describes the node being viewed.
|
|
|
|
GNU Info supports multiple windows appearing in a single screen; each
|
|
window is separated from the next by its modeline. At any time, there
|
|
is only one @dfn{active} window, that is, the window in which the cursor
|
|
appears. There are commands available for creating windows, changing
|
|
the size of windows, selecting which window is active, and for deleting
|
|
windows.
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* The Mode Line:: What appears in the mode line?
|
|
* Basic Windows:: Manipulating windows in Info.
|
|
* The Echo Area:: Used for displaying errors and reading input.
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
@node The Mode Line, Basic Windows, , Window Commands
|
|
@section The Mode Line
|
|
|
|
A @dfn{mode line} is a line of inverse video which appears at the bottom
|
|
of an Info window. It describes the contents of the window just above
|
|
it; this information includes the name of the file and node appearing in
|
|
that window, the number of screen lines it takes to display the node,
|
|
and the percentage of text that is above the top of the window. It can
|
|
also tell you if the indirect tags table for this Info file needs to be
|
|
updated, and whether or not the Info file was compressed when stored on
|
|
disk.
|
|
|
|
Here is a sample mode line for a window containing an uncompressed file
|
|
named @file{dir}, showing the node @samp{Top}.
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@group
|
|
-----Info: (dir)Top, 40 lines --Top-------------------------------------
|
|
^^ ^ ^^^ ^^
|
|
(file)Node #lines where
|
|
@end group
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
When a node comes from a file which is compressed on disk, this is
|
|
indicated in the mode line with two small @samp{z}'s. In addition, if
|
|
the Info file containing the node has been split into subfiles, the name
|
|
of the subfile containing the node appears in the modeline as well:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
--zz-Info: (emacs)Top, 291 lines --Top-- Subfile: emacs-1.Z-------------
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
Truncation of long lines (as opposed to wrapping them to the next
|
|
display line, @pxref{Scrolling Commands, toggle-wrap}) is indicated by a
|
|
@samp{$} at the left edge of the mode line:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
--$--Info: (texinfo)Top, 480 lines --Top-- Subfile: texinfo-1-----------
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
When Info makes a node internally, such that there is no corresponding
|
|
info file on disk, the name of the node is surrounded by asterisks
|
|
(@samp{*}). The name itself tells you what the contents of the window
|
|
are; the sample mode line below shows an internally constructed node
|
|
showing possible completions:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
-----Info: *Completions*, 7 lines --All---------------------------------
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@node Basic Windows, The Echo Area, The Mode Line, Window Commands
|
|
@section Window Commands
|
|
|
|
It can be convenient to view more than one node at a time. To allow
|
|
this, Info can display more than one @dfn{window}. Each window has its
|
|
own mode line (@pxref{The Mode Line}) and history of nodes viewed in that
|
|
window (@pxref{Node Commands, , @code{history-node}}).
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @kbd{C-x @key{o}} (@code{next-window})
|
|
@cindex windows, selecting
|
|
@kindex C-x o
|
|
@findex next-window
|
|
Select the next window on the screen. Note that the echo area can only be
|
|
selected if it is already in use, and you have left it temporarily.
|
|
Normally, @samp{C-x o} simply moves the cursor into the next window on
|
|
the screen, or if you are already within the last window, into the first
|
|
window on the screen. Given a numeric argument, @samp{C-x o} moves over
|
|
that many windows. A negative argument causes @samp{C-x o} to select
|
|
the previous window on the screen.
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{M-x prev-window}
|
|
@findex prev-window
|
|
Select the previous window on the screen. This is identical to
|
|
@samp{C-x o} with a negative argument.
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{C-x @key{2}} (@code{split-window})
|
|
@cindex windows, creating
|
|
@kindex C-x 2
|
|
@findex split-window
|
|
Split the current window into two windows, both showing the same node.
|
|
Each window is one half the size of the original window, and the cursor
|
|
remains in the original window. The variable @code{automatic-tiling}
|
|
can cause all of the windows on the screen to be resized for you
|
|
automatically, please @pxref{Variables, , automatic-tiling} for more
|
|
information.
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{C-x @key{0}} (@code{delete-window})
|
|
@cindex windows, deleting
|
|
@kindex C-x 0
|
|
@findex delete-window
|
|
Delete the current window from the screen. If you have made too many
|
|
windows and your screen appears cluttered, this is the way to get rid of
|
|
some of them.
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{C-x @key{1}} (@code{keep-one-window})
|
|
@kindex C-x 1
|
|
@findex keep-one-window
|
|
Delete all of the windows excepting the current one.
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{ESC @key{C-v}} (@code{scroll-other-window})
|
|
@kindex ESC C-v, in Info windows
|
|
@findex scroll-other-window
|
|
Scroll the other window, in the same fashion that @samp{C-v} might
|
|
scroll the current window. Given a negative argument, scroll the
|
|
"other" window backward.
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{C-x @key{^}} (@code{grow-window})
|
|
@kindex C-x ^
|
|
@findex grow-window
|
|
Grow (or shrink) the current window. Given a numeric argument, grow
|
|
the current window that many lines; with a negative numeric argument,
|
|
shrink the window instead.
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{C-x @key{t}} (@code{tile-windows})
|
|
@cindex tiling
|
|
@kindex C-x t
|
|
@findex tile-windows
|
|
Divide the available screen space among all of the visible windows.
|
|
Each window is given an equal portion of the screen in which to display
|
|
its contents. The variable @code{automatic-tiling} can cause
|
|
@code{tile-windows} to be called when a window is created or deleted.
|
|
@xref{Variables, , @code{automatic-tiling}}.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
@node The Echo Area, , Basic Windows, Window Commands
|
|
@section The Echo Area
|
|
@cindex echo area
|
|
|
|
The @dfn{echo area} is a one line window which appears at the bottom of
|
|
the screen. It is used to display informative or error messages, and to
|
|
read lines of input from you when that is necessary. Almost all of the
|
|
commands available in the echo area are identical to their Emacs
|
|
counterparts, so please refer to that documentation for greater depth of
|
|
discussion on the concepts of editing a line of text. The following
|
|
table briefly lists the commands that are available while input is being
|
|
read in the echo area:
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @key{C-f} (@code{echo-area-forward})
|
|
@itemx @key{RIGHT} (an arrow key)
|
|
@itemx @key{M-h}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex C-f, in the echo area
|
|
@kindex RIGHT, in the echo area
|
|
@kindex M-h, in the echo area, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex echo-area-forward
|
|
Move forward a character.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{C-b} (@code{echo-area-backward})
|
|
@itemx @key{LEFT} (an arrow key)
|
|
@itemx @key{M-l}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex LEFT, in the echo area
|
|
@kindex C-b, in the echo area
|
|
@kindex M-l, in the echo area, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex echo-area-backward
|
|
Move backward a character.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{C-a} (@code{echo-area-beg-of-line})
|
|
@itemx @key{M-0}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex C-a, in the echo area
|
|
@kindex M-0, in the echo area, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex echo-area-beg-of-line
|
|
Move to the start of the input line.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{C-e} (@code{echo-area-end-of-line})
|
|
@itemx @key{M-$}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex C-e, in the echo area
|
|
@kindex M-$, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex echo-area-end-of-line
|
|
Move to the end of the input line.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{M-f} (@code{echo-area-forward-word})
|
|
@itemx @key{C-@key{RIGHT}} (DOS/Windows only)
|
|
@itemx @key{M-w}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex M-f, in the echo area
|
|
@kindex M-w, in the echo area, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex echo-area-forward-word
|
|
Move forward a word.
|
|
|
|
@kindex C-RIGHT, in the echo area
|
|
On DOS/Windows, @kbd{C-@key{RIGHT}} moves forward by words.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{M-b} (@code{echo-area-backward-word})
|
|
@itemx @key{C-@key{LEFT}} (DOS/Windows only)
|
|
@kindex M-b, in the echo area
|
|
@findex echo-area-backward-word
|
|
Move backward a word.
|
|
|
|
@kindex C-LEFT, in the echo area
|
|
On DOS/Windows, @kbd{C-@key{LEFT}} moves backward by words.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{C-d} (@code{echo-area-delete})
|
|
@itemx @key{M-x}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex C-d, in the echo area
|
|
@kindex M-x, in the echo area, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex echo-area-delete
|
|
Delete the character under the cursor.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{DEL} (@code{echo-area-rubout})
|
|
@kindex DEL, in the echo area
|
|
@findex echo-area-rubout
|
|
Delete the character behind the cursor.
|
|
|
|
On some keyboards, this key is designated @key{BS}, for
|
|
@samp{BackSpace}. Those keyboards will usually bind @key{DEL} in the
|
|
echo area to @code{echo-area-delete}.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{C-g} (@code{echo-area-abort})
|
|
@itemx @key{C-u}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex C-g, in the echo area
|
|
@kindex C-u, in the echo area, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex echo-area-abort
|
|
Cancel or quit the current operation. If completion is being read, this
|
|
command discards the text of the input line which does not match any
|
|
completion. If the input line is empty, it aborts the calling function.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{RET} (@code{echo-area-newline})
|
|
@kindex RET, in the echo area
|
|
@findex echo-area-newline
|
|
Accept (or forces completion of) the current input line.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{C-q} (@code{echo-area-quoted-insert})
|
|
@itemx @key{C-v}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex C-q, in the echo area
|
|
@kindex C-v, in the echo area, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex echo-area-quoted-insert
|
|
Insert the next character verbatim. This is how you can insert control
|
|
characters into a search string, for example, or the @samp{?} character
|
|
when Info prompts with completion.
|
|
|
|
@item @var{printing character} (@code{echo-area-insert})
|
|
@kindex printing characters, in the echo area
|
|
@findex echo-area-insert
|
|
Insert the character. Characters that have their 8th bit set, and not
|
|
bound to @samp{M-} commands, are also inserted verbatim; this is useful
|
|
for terminals which support Latin scripts.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{M-TAB} (@code{echo-area-tab-insert})
|
|
@itemx @key{Shift-@key{TAB}} (on DOS/Windows only)
|
|
@kindex M-TAB, in the echo area
|
|
@kindex Shift-TAB, in the echo area
|
|
@findex echo-area-tab-insert
|
|
Insert a TAB character.
|
|
|
|
@kindex Shift-TAB, in the echo area
|
|
@kindex BackTab, in the echo area
|
|
On DOS/Windows only, the @kbd{Shift-@key{TAB}} key is an alias for
|
|
@kbd{M-@key{TAB}}. This key is sometimes called @samp{BackTab}.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{C-t} (@code{echo-area-transpose-chars})
|
|
@kindex C-t, in the echo area
|
|
@findex echo-area-transpose-chars
|
|
Transpose the characters at the cursor.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
The next group of commands deal with @dfn{killing}, and @dfn{yanking}
|
|
text@footnote{
|
|
Some people are used to calling these operations @dfn{cut} and
|
|
@dfn{paste}, respectively.}. For an in depth discussion of killing and
|
|
yanking, @pxref{Killing, , Killing and Deleting, emacs, the GNU Emacs
|
|
Manual}
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @key{M-d} (@code{echo-area-kill-word})
|
|
@itemx @key{M-X}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex M-d, in the echo area
|
|
@kindex M-X, in the echo area, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex echo-area-kill-word
|
|
Kill the word following the cursor.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{M-DEL} (@code{echo-area-backward-kill-word})
|
|
@itemx @key{M-@key{BS}}
|
|
@kindex M-DEL, in the echo area
|
|
@findex echo-area-backward-kill-word
|
|
Kill the word preceding the cursor.
|
|
|
|
@kindex M-BS, in the echo area
|
|
On some keyboards, the @code{Backspace} key is used instead of
|
|
@code{DEL}, so @code{M-@key{Backspace}} has the same effect as
|
|
@code{M-@key{DEL}}.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{C-k} (@code{echo-area-kill-line})
|
|
@kindex C-k, in the echo area
|
|
@findex echo-area-kill-line
|
|
Kill the text from the cursor to the end of the line.
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{C-x @key{DEL}} (@code{echo-area-backward-kill-line})
|
|
@kindex C-x DEL, in the echo area
|
|
@findex echo-area-backward-kill-line
|
|
Kill the text from the cursor to the beginning of the line.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{C-y} (@code{echo-area-yank})
|
|
@kindex C-y, in the echo area
|
|
@findex echo-area-yank
|
|
Yank back the contents of the last kill.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{M-y} (@code{echo-area-yank-pop})
|
|
@kindex M-y, in the echo area
|
|
@findex echo-area-yank-pop
|
|
Yank back a previous kill, removing the last yanked text first.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
@cindex completion
|
|
Sometimes when reading input in the echo area, the command that needed
|
|
input will only accept one of a list of several choices. The choices
|
|
represent the @dfn{possible completions}, and you must respond with one
|
|
of them. Since there are a limited number of responses you can make,
|
|
Info allows you to abbreviate what you type, only typing as much of the
|
|
response as is necessary to uniquely identify it. In addition, you can
|
|
request Info to fill in as much of the response as is possible; this
|
|
is called @dfn{completion}.
|
|
|
|
The following commands are available when completing in the echo area:
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @key{TAB} (@code{echo-area-complete})
|
|
@itemx @key{SPC}
|
|
@kindex TAB, in the echo area
|
|
@kindex SPC, in the echo area
|
|
@findex echo-area-complete
|
|
Insert as much of a completion as is possible.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{?} (@code{echo-area-possible-completions})
|
|
@kindex ?, in the echo area
|
|
@findex echo-area-possible-completions
|
|
Display a window containing a list of the possible completions of what
|
|
you have typed so far. For example, if the available choices are:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@group
|
|
bar
|
|
foliate
|
|
food
|
|
forget
|
|
@end group
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
and you have typed an @samp{f}, followed by @samp{?}, Info will pop up a
|
|
window showing a node called @samp{*Completions*} which lists the
|
|
possible completions like this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@group
|
|
3 completions:
|
|
foliate food
|
|
forget
|
|
@end group
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
i.e., all of the choices which begin with @samp{f}. Pressing @key{SPC}
|
|
or @key{TAB} would result in @samp{fo} appearing in the echo area, since
|
|
all of the choices which begin with @samp{f} continue with @samp{o}.
|
|
Now, typing @samp{l} followed by @samp{TAB} results in @samp{foliate}
|
|
appearing in the echo area, since that is the only choice which begins
|
|
with @samp{fol}.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{ESC C-v} (@code{echo-area-scroll-completions-window})
|
|
@kindex ESC C-v, in the echo area
|
|
@findex echo-area-scroll-completions-window
|
|
Scroll the completions window, if that is visible, or the "other"
|
|
window if not.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
@node Printing Nodes, Miscellaneous Commands, Window Commands, Top
|
|
@chapter Printing Out Nodes
|
|
@cindex printing
|
|
|
|
In general, we recommend that you use @TeX{} to format the document and
|
|
print sections of it, by running @code{tex} on the Texinfo source file.
|
|
However, you may wish to print out the contents of a node as a quick
|
|
reference document for later use, or if you don't have @TeX{} installed.
|
|
Info provides you with a command for doing this.
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @kbd{M-x print-node}
|
|
@findex print-node
|
|
@cindex INFO_PRINT_COMMAND, environment variable
|
|
Pipe the contents of the current node through the command in the
|
|
environment variable @code{INFO_PRINT_COMMAND}. If the variable does not
|
|
exist, the node is simply piped to @code{lpr} (on DOS/Windows, the
|
|
default is to print the node to the local printer device, @file{PRN}).
|
|
|
|
@cindex printing nodes to the local printer
|
|
@cindex local printer device
|
|
The value of @code{INFO_PRINT_COMMAND} may begin with the @samp{>}
|
|
character, as in @samp{>/dev/printer}, in which case Info treats the
|
|
rest as the name of a file or a device. Instead of piping to a command,
|
|
Info opens the file, writes the node contents, and closes the file,
|
|
under the assumption that text written to that file will be printed by
|
|
the underlying OS.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
@node Miscellaneous Commands, Variables, Printing Nodes, Top
|
|
@chapter Miscellaneous Commands
|
|
|
|
GNU Info contains several commands which self-document GNU Info:
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @kbd{M-x describe-command}
|
|
@cindex functions, describing
|
|
@cindex commands, describing
|
|
@findex describe-command
|
|
Read the name of an Info command in the echo area and then display a
|
|
brief description of what that command does.
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{M-x describe-key}
|
|
@cindex keys, describing
|
|
@findex describe-key
|
|
Read a key sequence in the echo area, and then display the name and
|
|
documentation of the Info command that the key sequence invokes.
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{M-x describe-variable}
|
|
Read the name of a variable in the echo area and then display a brief
|
|
description of what the variable affects.
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{M-x where-is}
|
|
@findex where-is
|
|
Read the name of an Info command in the echo area, and then display
|
|
a key sequence which can be typed in order to invoke that command.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{C-h} (@code{get-help-window})
|
|
@itemx @key{?}
|
|
@itemx @key{F1} (on DOS/Windows only)
|
|
@itemx h, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex C-h
|
|
@kindex ?, in Info windows
|
|
@kindex F1
|
|
@kindex h, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex get-help-window
|
|
Create (or Move into) the window displaying @code{*Help*}, and place
|
|
a node containing a quick reference card into it. This window displays
|
|
the most concise information about GNU Info available.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{h} (@code{get-info-help-node})
|
|
@itemx @key{M-h}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex h
|
|
@kindex M-h, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex get-info-help-node
|
|
Try hard to visit the node @code{(info)Help}. The Info file
|
|
@file{info.texi} distributed with GNU Info contains this node. Of
|
|
course, the file must first be processed with @code{makeinfo}, and then
|
|
placed into the location of your Info directory.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
Here are the commands for creating a numeric argument:
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @key{C-u} (@code{universal-argument})
|
|
@cindex numeric arguments
|
|
@kindex C-u
|
|
@findex universal-argument
|
|
Start (or multiply by 4) the current numeric argument. @samp{C-u} is
|
|
a good way to give a small numeric argument to cursor movement or
|
|
scrolling commands; @samp{C-u C-v} scrolls the screen 4 lines, while
|
|
@samp{C-u C-u C-n} moves the cursor down 16 lines. @samp{C-u} followed
|
|
by digit keys sets the numeric argument to the number thus typed:
|
|
@kbd{C-u 1 2 0} sets the argument to 120.
|
|
|
|
@item @key{M-1} (@code{add-digit-to-numeric-arg})
|
|
@itemx @key{1}, vi-like operation
|
|
@itemx @key{M-2} @dots{} @key{M-9}
|
|
@itemx @key{2} @dots{} @key{9}, vi-like operation
|
|
@itemx @key{M-0}
|
|
@itemx @key{0}, vi-like operation
|
|
@kindex M-0 @dots{} M-9
|
|
@kindex 0 @dots{} 9, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex add-digit-to-numeric-arg
|
|
Add the digit value of the invoking key to the current numeric
|
|
argument. Once Info is reading a numeric argument, you may just type
|
|
the digits of the argument, without the Meta prefix. For example, you
|
|
might give @samp{C-l} a numeric argument of 32 by typing:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@kbd{C-u 3 2 C-l}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
or
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@kbd{M-3 2 C-l}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@item @key{M--} (@code{add-digit-to-numeric-arg}
|
|
@itemx @key{-}
|
|
@kindex M--
|
|
@kindex -
|
|
@cindex negative arguments
|
|
@cindex arguments, negative
|
|
@cindex numeric arguments, negative
|
|
To make a negative argument, type @kbd{-}. Typing @kbd{-} alone makes a
|
|
negative argument with a value of -1. If you continue to type digit or
|
|
Meta-digit keys after @kbd{-}, the result is a negative number produced
|
|
by those digits.
|
|
|
|
@kbd{-} doesn't work when you type in the echo area, because you need to
|
|
be able to insert the @samp{-} character itself; use @kbd{M--} instead,
|
|
if you need to specify negative arguments in the echo area.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
@samp{C-g} is used to abort the reading of a multi-character key
|
|
sequence, to cancel lengthy operations (such as multi-file searches) and
|
|
to cancel reading input in the echo area.
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @key{C-g} (@code{abort-key})
|
|
@itemx @key{C-u}, vi-like operation
|
|
@cindex cancelling typeahead
|
|
@cindex cancelling the current operation
|
|
@kindex C-g, in Info windows
|
|
@kindex C-u cancels typeahead, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex abort-key
|
|
Cancel current operation.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
The @samp{q} command of Info simply quits running Info. Under
|
|
@samp{--vi-keys} (@pxref{--vi-keys}), you can also exit with @samp{:q}
|
|
or @samp{ZZ}.
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @key{q} (@code{quit})
|
|
@itemx @kbd{C-x C-c}
|
|
@itemx @kbd{:q}, vi-like operation
|
|
@itemx @kbd{ZZ}, vi-like operation
|
|
@cindex quitting
|
|
@kindex q
|
|
@kindex C-x C-c
|
|
@kindex ZZ, vi-like operation
|
|
@findex quit
|
|
Exit GNU Info.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
If the operating system tells GNU Info that the screen is 60 lines tall,
|
|
and it is actually only 40 lines tall, here is a way to tell Info that
|
|
the operating system is correct.
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @kbd{M-x set-screen-height}
|
|
@findex set-screen-height
|
|
@cindex screen, changing the height of
|
|
Read a height value in the echo area and set the height of the
|
|
displayed screen to that value.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
On MS-DOS/MS-Windows, this command actually tries to change the
|
|
dimensions of the visible screen to the value you type in the echo
|
|
area.
|
|
|
|
Finally, Info provides a convenient way to display footnotes which might
|
|
be associated with the current node that you are viewing:
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @key{ESC C-f} (@code{show-footnotes})
|
|
@kindex ESC C-f
|
|
@findex show-footnotes
|
|
@cindex footnotes, displaying
|
|
Show the footnotes (if any) associated with the current node in another
|
|
window. You can have Info automatically display the footnotes
|
|
associated with a node when the node is selected by setting the variable
|
|
@code{automatic-footnotes}. @xref{Variables, , @code{automatic-footnotes}}.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
@node Variables, GNU Info Global Index, Miscellaneous Commands, Top
|
|
@chapter Manipulating Variables
|
|
|
|
GNU Info contains several @dfn{variables} whose values are looked at by
|
|
various Info commands. You can change the values of these variables,
|
|
and thus change the behavior of Info to more closely match your
|
|
environment and Info file reading manner.
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @kbd{M-x set-variable}
|
|
@cindex variables, setting
|
|
@findex set-variable
|
|
Read the name of a variable, and the value for it, in the echo area and
|
|
then set the variable to that value. Completion is available when
|
|
reading the variable name (@pxref{The Echo Area, completion}); often,
|
|
completion is available when reading the value to give to the variable,
|
|
but that depends on the variable itself. If a variable does @emph{not}
|
|
supply multiple choices to complete over, it expects a numeric value.
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{M-x describe-variable}
|
|
@cindex variables, describing
|
|
@findex describe-variable
|
|
Read the name of a variable in the echo area and then display a brief
|
|
description of what the variable affects.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
Here is a list of the variables that you can set in Info.
|
|
|
|
@table @code
|
|
@item automatic-footnotes
|
|
@vindex automatic-footnotes
|
|
When set to @code{On}, footnotes appear and disappear automatically.
|
|
This variable is @code{On} by default. When a node is selected, a
|
|
window containing the footnotes which appear in that node is created,
|
|
and the footnotes are displayed within the new window. The window that
|
|
Info creates to contain the footnotes is called @samp{*Footnotes*}. If
|
|
a node is selected which contains no footnotes, and a @samp{*Footnotes*}
|
|
window is on the screen, the @samp{*Footnotes*} window is deleted.
|
|
Footnote windows created in this fashion are not automatically tiled so
|
|
that they can use as little of the display as is possible.
|
|
|
|
@item automatic-tiling
|
|
@vindex automatic-tiling
|
|
When set to @code{On}, creating or deleting a window resizes other
|
|
windows. This variable is @code{Off} by default. Normally, typing
|
|
@samp{C-x 2} divides the current window into two equal parts. When
|
|
@code{automatic-tiling} is set to @code{On}, all of the windows are
|
|
resized automatically, keeping an equal number of lines visible in each
|
|
window. There are exceptions to the automatic tiling; specifically, the
|
|
windows @samp{*Completions*} and @samp{*Footnotes*} are @emph{not}
|
|
resized through automatic tiling; they remain their original size.
|
|
|
|
@item visible-bell
|
|
@vindex visible-bell
|
|
When set to @code{On}, GNU Info attempts to flash the screen instead of
|
|
ringing the bell. This variable is @code{Off} by default. Of course,
|
|
Info can only flash the screen if the terminal allows it; in the case
|
|
that the terminal does not allow it, the setting of this variable has no
|
|
effect. However, you can make Info perform quietly by setting the
|
|
@code{errors-ring-bell} variable to @code{Off}.
|
|
|
|
@item errors-ring-bell
|
|
@vindex errors-ring-bell
|
|
When set to @code{On}, errors cause the bell to ring. The default
|
|
setting of this variable is @code{On}.
|
|
|
|
@item gc-compressed-files
|
|
@vindex gc-compressed-files
|
|
When set to @code{On}, Info garbage collects files which had to be
|
|
uncompressed. The default value of this variable is @code{Off}.
|
|
Whenever a node is visited in Info, the Info file containing that node
|
|
is read into core, and Info reads information about the tags and nodes
|
|
contained in that file. Once the tags information is read by Info, it
|
|
is never forgotten. However, the actual text of the nodes does not need
|
|
to remain in core unless a particular Info window needs it. For
|
|
non-compressed files, the text of the nodes does not remain in core when
|
|
it is no longer in use. But de-compressing a file can be a time
|
|
consuming operation, and so Info tries hard not to do it twice.
|
|
@code{gc-compressed-files} tells Info it is okay to garbage collect the
|
|
text of the nodes of a file which was compressed on disk.
|
|
|
|
@item show-index-match
|
|
@vindex show-index-match
|
|
When set to @code{On}, the portion of the matched search string is
|
|
highlighted in the message which explains where the matched search
|
|
string was found. The default value of this variable is @code{On}.
|
|
When Info displays the location where an index match was found,
|
|
(@pxref{Searching Commands, , @code{next-index-match}}), the portion of the
|
|
string that you had typed is highlighted by displaying it in the inverse
|
|
case from its surrounding characters.
|
|
|
|
@item scroll-behavior
|
|
@vindex scroll-behavior
|
|
Control what happens when forward scrolling is requested at the end of
|
|
a node, or when backward scrolling is requested at the beginning of a
|
|
node. The default value for this variable is @code{Continuous}. There
|
|
are three possible values for this variable:
|
|
|
|
@table @code
|
|
@item Continuous
|
|
Try to get the first item in this node's menu, or failing that, the
|
|
@samp{Next} node, or failing that, the @samp{Next} of the @samp{Up}.
|
|
This behavior is identical to using the @samp{]}
|
|
(@code{global-next-node}) and @samp{[} (@code{global-prev-node})
|
|
commands.
|
|
|
|
@item Next Only
|
|
Only try to get the @samp{Next} node.
|
|
|
|
@item Page Only
|
|
Simply give up, changing nothing. If @code{scroll-behavior} is
|
|
@code{Page Only}, no scrolling command can change the node that is being
|
|
viewed.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
@item scroll-step
|
|
@vindex scroll-step
|
|
The number of lines to scroll when the cursor moves out of the window.
|
|
Scrolling happens automatically if the cursor has moved out of the
|
|
visible portion of the node text when it is time to display. Usually
|
|
the scrolling is done so as to put the cursor on the center line of the
|
|
current window. However, if the variable @code{scroll-step} has a
|
|
nonzero value, Info attempts to scroll the node text by that many lines;
|
|
if that is enough to bring the cursor back into the window, that is what
|
|
is done. The default value of this variable is 0, thus placing the
|
|
cursor (and the text it is attached to) in the center of the window.
|
|
Setting this variable to 1 causes a kind of "smooth scrolling" which
|
|
some people prefer.
|
|
|
|
@item ISO-Latin
|
|
@cindex ISO Latin characters
|
|
@vindex ISO-Latin
|
|
When set to @code{On}, Info accepts and displays ISO Latin characters.
|
|
By default, Info assumes an ASCII character set. @code{ISO-Latin} tells
|
|
Info that it is running in an environment where the European standard
|
|
character set is in use, and allows you to input such characters to
|
|
Info, as well as display them.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@c the following is incomplete
|
|
@ignore
|
|
@c node Info for Sys Admins
|
|
@c chapter Info for System Administrators
|
|
|
|
This text describes some common ways of setting up an Info hierarchy
|
|
from scratch, and details the various options that are available when
|
|
installing Info. This text is designed for the person who is installing
|
|
GNU Info on the system; although users may find the information present
|
|
in this section interesting, none of it is vital to understanding how to
|
|
use GNU Info.
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Setting the INFOPATH:: Where are my Info files kept?
|
|
* Editing the DIR node:: What goes in `DIR', and why?
|
|
* Storing Info files:: Alternate formats allow flexibility in setups.
|
|
* Using `localdir':: Building DIR on the fly.
|
|
* Example setups:: Some common ways to organize Info files.
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
@c node Setting the INFOPATH
|
|
@c section Setting the INFOPATH
|
|
|
|
Where are my Info files kept?
|
|
|
|
@c node Editing the DIR node
|
|
@c section Editing the DIR node
|
|
|
|
What goes in `DIR', and why?
|
|
|
|
@c node Storing Info files
|
|
@c section Storing Info files
|
|
|
|
Alternate formats allow flexibility in setups.
|
|
|
|
@c node Using `localdir'
|
|
@c section Using `localdir'
|
|
|
|
Building DIR on the fly.
|
|
|
|
@c node Example setups
|
|
@c section Example setups
|
|
|
|
Some common ways to organize Info files.
|
|
@end ignore
|
|
|
|
@node GNU Info Global Index, , Variables, Top
|
|
@appendix Global Index
|
|
|
|
@printindex cp
|
|
|
|
@contents
|
|
@bye
|