diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'contrib/texinfo/info/userdoc.texi')
| -rw-r--r-- | contrib/texinfo/info/userdoc.texi | 1270 |
1 files changed, 1270 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/contrib/texinfo/info/userdoc.texi b/contrib/texinfo/info/userdoc.texi new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f9349c6 --- /dev/null +++ b/contrib/texinfo/info/userdoc.texi @@ -0,0 +1,1270 @@ +@c This file is meant to be included in any arbitrary piece of +@c documentation that wishes to describe the info program. Some day +@c info-stnd.texi should probably use this file instead of duplicating +@c its contents. +@c +@c This file documents the use of the standalone GNU Info program, +@c versions 2.7 and later. + +@ifclear InfoProgVer +@set InfoProgVer 2.11 +@end ifclear +@synindex vr cp +@synindex fn cp +@synindex ky cp + +@heading What is Info? + +This text documents the use of the GNU Info program, version +@value{InfoProgVer}. + +@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 the Emacs command @code{M-x +texinfo-format-buffer}. Finally, @dfn{texinfo} is a documentation +language which allows a printed manual and online documentation (an info +file) to be produced from a single source file. + +@menu +* Options:: 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 behaviour of Info. +@ifset NOTSET +* Info for Sys Admins:: How to setup Info. Using special options. +@end ifset +@ifset STANDALONE +* GNU Info Global Index:: Global index containing keystrokes, command names, + variable names, and general concepts. +@end ifset +@end menu + +@node Options +@chapter Command Line Options +@cindex command line options +@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-name} @var{option-value}] @var{menu-item}@dots{} +@end example + +The following @var{option-names} are available when invoking Info from +the shell: + +@table @code +@cindex directory path +@item --directory @var{directory-path} +@itemx -d @var{directory-path} +Adds @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. +Alternatively, you may specify a value for the environment variable +@code{INFOPATH}; if @code{--directory} is not given, the value of +@code{INFOPATH} is used. The value of @code{INFOPATH} is a colon +separated list of directory names. If you do not supply +@code{INFOPATH} or @code{--directory-path} a default path is used. + +@item --file @var{filename} +@itemx -f @var{filename} +@cindex info file, selecting +Specifies a particular info file to visit. Instead of visiting the file +@code{dir}, Info will start with @code{(@var{filename})Top} as the first +file and node. + +@item --node @var{nodename} +@itemx -n @var{nodename} +@cindex node, selecting +Specifies a particular node to visit in the initial file loaded. 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 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 output to. 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. + +@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 --help +@itemx -h +Produces a relatively brief description of the available Info options. + +@item --version +@cindex version information +Prints the version information of Info and exits. + +@item @var{menu-item} +@cindex menu, following +Remaining arguments to Info are treated as the names of menu items. The +first argument would be a menu item in the initial node visited, while +the second argument would be a menu item in the first argument's node. +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 + +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 + +@node Cursor Commands +@chapter Moving the Cursor +@cindex cursor, moving +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 unfamilar with the +notation. + +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 an @dfn{numeric} argument (@pxref{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 @code{C-n} (@code{next-line}) +@kindex C-n +@findex next-line +Moves the cursor down to the next line. + +@item @code{C-p} (@code{prev-line}) +@kindex C-p +@findex prev-line +Move the cursor up to the previous line. + +@item @code{C-a} (@code{beginning-of-line}) +@kindex C-a, in Info windows +@findex beginning-of-line +Move the cursor to the start of the current line. + +@item @code{C-e} (@code{end-of-line}) +@kindex C-e, in Info windows +@findex end-of-line +Moves the cursor to the end of the current line. + +@item @code{C-f} (@code{forward-char}) +@kindex C-f, in Info windows +@findex forward-char +Move the cursor forward a character. + +@item @code{C-b} (@code{backward-char}) +@kindex C-b, in Info windows +@findex backward-char +Move the cursor backward a character. + +@item @code{M-f} (@code{forward-word}) +@kindex M-f, in Info windows +@findex forward-word +Moves the cursor forward a word. + +@item @code{M-b} (@code{backward-word}) +@kindex M-b, in Info winows +@findex backward-word +Moves the cursor backward a word. + +@item @code{M-<} (@code{beginning-of-node}) +@itemx @code{b} +@kindex b, in Info winows +@kindex M-< +@findex beginning-of-node +Moves the cursor to the start of the current node. + +@item @code{M->} (@code{end-of-node}) +@kindex M-> +@findex end-of-node +Moves the cursor to the end of the current node. + +@item @code{M-r} (@code{move-to-window-line}) +@kindex M-r +@findex move-to-window-line +Moves 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 +@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. + +@table @asis +@item @code{SPC} (@code{scroll-forward}) +@itemx @code{C-v} +@kindex SPC, in Info windows +@kindex C-v +@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. + +@item @code{DEL} (@code{scroll-backward}) +@itemx @code{M-v} +@kindex DEL, in Info windows +@kindex M-v +@findex scroll-backward +Shift the text in this window down. The inverse of +@code{scroll-forward}. + +@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-behaviour}. @xref{Variables, +@code{scroll-behaviour}}, for more information. + +@table @asis +@item @code{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 @code{C-x 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. +@end table + +@node Node Commands +@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}. + +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 @code{n} (@code{next-node}) +@kindex n +@findex next-node +Selects the `Next' node. + +@item @code{p} (@code{prev-node}) +@kindex p +@findex prev-node +Selects the `Prev' node. + +@item @code{u} (@code{up-node}) +@kindex u +@findex up-node +Selects 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 through the list of already visited nodes for this +window. @samp{l} with a negative numeric argument moves forward through +the history of nodes for this window, so you can quickly step between +two adjacent (in viewing history) nodes. + +@table @asis +@item @code{l} (@code{history-node}) +@kindex l +@findex history-node +Selects the most recently selected node in this window. +@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 @code{t} (@code{top-node}) +@kindex t +@findex top-node +Selects the node @samp{Top} in the current info file. + +@item @code{d} (@code{dir-node}) +@kindex d +@findex dir-node +Selects 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 @code{<} (@code{first-node}) +@kindex < +@findex first-node +Selects the first node which appears in this file. This node is most +often @samp{Top}, but it doesn't have to be. + +@item @code{>} (@code{last-node}) +@kindex > +@findex last-node +Selects the last node which appears in this file. + +@item @code{]} (@code{global-next-node}) +@kindex ] +@findex global-next-node +Moves 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 @code{[} (@code{global-prev-node}) +@kindex [ +@findex global-prev-node +Moves 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 behaviour 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-behaviour}}, for +more information. + +@table @asis +@item @code{g} (@code{goto-node}) +@kindex g +@findex goto-node +Reads the name of a node and selects it. No completion is done while +reading the node name, since the desired node may reside in a separate +file. The node must be typed exactly as it appears in the info file. A +file name may be included as with any node specification, for example + +@example +@code{g(emacs)Buffers} +@end example + +finds the node @samp{Buffers} in the info file @file{emacs}. + +@item @code{C-x k} (@code{kill-node}) +@kindex C-x k +@findex kill-node +Kills 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 @code{C-x C-f} (@code{view-file}) +@kindex C-x C-f +@findex view-file +Reads 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 @code{C-x C-b} (@code{list-visited-nodes}) +@kindex C-x C-b +@findex list-visited-nodes +Makes 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 @code{C-x b} (@code{select-visited-node}) +@kindex C-x b +@findex select-visited-node +Selects 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 +@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 @code{s} (@code{search}) +@kindex s +@findex search +Reads a string in the echo area and searches for it. + +@item @code{C-s} (@code{isearch-forward}) +@kindex C-s +@findex isearch-forward +Interactively searches forward through the info file for a string as you +type it. + +@item @code{C-r} (@code{isearch-backward}) +@kindex C-r +@findex isearch-backward +Interactively searches backward through the info file for a string as +you type it. + +@item @code{i} (@code{index-search}) +@kindex i +@findex index-search +Looks up a string in the indices for this info file, and selects a node +where the found index entry points to. + +@item @code{,} (@code{next-index-match}) +@kindex , +@findex next-index-match +Moves 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} (@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 ocurrence 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. + +@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. + +@node Xref Commands +@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 +@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 references 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 +@section Selecting Xrefs + +The following table lists the Info commands which operate on menu items. + +@table @asis +@item @code{1} (@code{menu-digit}) +@itemx @code{2} @dots{} @code{9} +@cindex 1 @dots{} 9, in Info windows +@kindex 1 @dots{} 9, in Info windows +@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. + +@item @code{0} (@code{last-menu-item}) +@kindex 0, in Info windows +@findex last-menu-item +Select the last item in the current node's menu. + +@item @code{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. + +@item @code{M-x find-menu} +@findex find-menu +Moves the cursor to the start of this node's menu. +@end table + +This table lists the Info commands which operate on note cross references. + +@table @asis +@item @code{f} (@code{xref-item}) +@itemx @code{r} +@kindex f +@kindex r +@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. +@end table + +Finally, the next few commands operate on menu or note references alike: + +@table @asis +@item @code{TAB} (@code{move-to-next-xref}) +@kindex TAB, in Info windows +@findex move-to-next-xref +Moves 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 @code{M-TAB} (@code{move-to-prev-xref}) +@kindex M-TAB, in Info windows +@findex move-to-prev-xref +Moves the cursor the start of the nearest previous menu item or note +reference in this node. + +@item @code{RET} (@code{select-reference-this-line}) +@kindex RET, in Info windows +@findex select-reference-this-line +Selects the menu item or note reference appearing on this line. +@end table + +@node Window Commands +@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 +@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 +-----Info: (dir)Top, 40 lines --Top--------------------------------------- + ^^ ^ ^^^ ^^ + (file)Node #lines where +@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 + +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 +@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 @code{C-x o} (@code{next-window}) +@cindex windows, selecting +@kindex C-x o +@findex next-window +Selects 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 @code{M-x prev-window} +@findex prev-window +Selects the previous window on the screen. This is identical to +@samp{C-x o} with a negative argument. + +@item @code{C-x 2} (@code{split-window}) +@cindex windows, creating +@kindex C-x 2 +@findex split-window +Splits 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 @code{C-x 0} (@code{delete-window}) +@cindex windows, deleting +@kindex C-x 0 +@findex delete-window +Deletes 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 @code{C-x 1} (@code{keep-one-window}) +@kindex C-x 1 +@findex keep-one-window +Deletes all of the windows excepting the current one. + +@item @code{ESC C-v} (@code{scroll-other-window}) +@kindex ESC C-v, in Info windows +@findex scroll-other-window +Scrolls the other window, in the same fashion that @samp{C-v} might +scroll the current window. Given a negative argument, the "other" +window is scrolled backward. + +@item @code{C-x ^} (@code{grow-window}) +@kindex C-x ^ +@findex grow-window +Grows (or shrinks) the current window. Given a numeric argument, grows +the current window that many lines; with a negative numeric argument, +the window is shrunk instead. + +@item @code{C-x t} (@code{tile-windows}) +@cindex tiling +@kindex C-x t +@findex tile-windows +Divides 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 +@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 @code{C-f} (@code{echo-area-forward}) +@kindex C-f, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-forward +Moves forward a character. + +@item @code{C-b} (@code{echo-area-backward}) +@kindex C-b, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-backward +Moves backward a character. + +@item @code{C-a} (@code{echo-area-beg-of-line}) +@kindex C-a, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-beg-of-line +Moves to the start of the input line. + +@item @code{C-e} (@code{echo-area-end-of-line}) +@kindex C-e, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-end-of-line +Moves to the end of the input line. + +@item @code{M-f} (@code{echo-area-forward-word}) +@kindex M-f, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-forward-word +Moves forward a word. + +@item @code{M-b} (@code{echo-area-backward-word}) +@kindex M-b, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-backward-word +Moves backward a word. + +@item @code{C-d} (@code{echo-area-delete}) +@kindex C-d, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-delete +Deletes the character under the cursor. + +@item @code{DEL} (@code{echo-area-rubout}) +@kindex DEL, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-rubout +Deletes the character behind the cursor. + +@item @code{C-g} (@code{echo-area-abort}) +@kindex C-g, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-abort +Cancels or quits the current operation. If completion is being read, +@samp{C-g} discards the text of the input line which does not match any +completion. If the input line is empty, @samp{C-g} aborts the calling +function. + +@item @code{RET} (@code{echo-area-newline}) +@kindex RET, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-newline +Accepts (or forces completion of) the current input line. + +@item @code{C-q} (@code{echo-area-quoted-insert}) +@kindex C-q, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-quoted-insert +Inserts the next character verbatim. This is how you can insert control +characters into a search string, for example. + +@item @var{printing character} (@code{echo-area-insert}) +@kindex printing characters, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-insert +Inserts the character. + +@item @code{M-TAB} (@code{echo-area-tab-insert}) +@kindex M-TAB, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-tab-insert +Inserts a TAB character. + +@item @code{C-t} (@code{echo-area-transpose-chars}) +@kindex C-t, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-transpose-chars +Transposes the characters at the cursor. +@end table + +The next group of commands deal with @dfn{killing}, and @dfn{yanking} +text. For an in depth discussion of killing and yanking, +@pxref{Killing, , Killing and Deleting, emacs, the GNU Emacs Manual} + +@table @asis +@item @code{M-d} (@code{echo-area-kill-word}) +@kindex M-d, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-kill-word +Kills the word following the cursor. + +@item @code{M-DEL} (@code{echo-area-backward-kill-word}) +@kindex M-DEL, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-backward-kill-word +Kills the word preceding the cursor. + +@item @code{C-k} (@code{echo-area-kill-line}) +@kindex C-k, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-kill-line +Kills the text from the cursor to the end of the line. + +@item @code{C-x DEL} (@code{echo-area-backward-kill-line}) +@kindex C-x DEL, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-backward-kill-line +Kills the text from the cursor to the beginning of the line. + +@item @code{C-y} (@code{echo-area-yank}) +@kindex C-y, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-yank +Yanks back the contents of the last kill. + +@item @code{M-y} (@code{echo-area-yank-pop}) +@kindex M-y, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-yank-pop +Yanks back a previous kill, removing the last yanked text first. +@end table + +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 @code{TAB} (@code{echo-area-complete}) +@itemx @code{SPC} +@kindex TAB, in the echo area +@kindex SPC, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-complete +Inserts as much of a completion as is possible. + +@item @code{?} (@code{echo-area-possible-completions}) +@kindex ?, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-possible-completions +Displays a window containing a list of the possible completions of what +you have typed so far. For example, if the available choices are: +@example +bar +foliate +food +forget +@end example +and you have typed an @samp{f}, followed by @samp{?}, the possible +completions would contain: +@example +foliate +food +forget +@end example +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 @code{ESC C-v} (@code{echo-area-scroll-completions-window}) +@kindex ESC C-v, in the echo area +@findex echo-area-scroll-completions-window +Scrolls the completions window, if that is visible, or the "other" +window if not. +@end table + +@node Printing Nodes +@chapter Printing Out Nodes +@cindex printing + +You may wish to print out the contents of a node as a quick reference +document for later use. Info provides you with a command for doing +this. 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. + +@table @asis +@item @code{M-x print-node} +@findex print-node +@cindex INFO_PRINT_COMMAND, environment variable +Pipes the contents of the current node through the command in the +environment variable @code{INFO_PRINT_COMMAND}. If the variable doesn't +exist, the node is simply piped to @code{lpr}. +@end table + +@node Miscellaneous Commands +@chapter Miscellaneous Commands + +GNU Info contains several commands which self-document GNU Info: + +@table @asis +@item @code{M-x describe-command} +@cindex functions, describing +@cindex commands, describing +@findex describe-command +Reads the name of an Info command in the echo area and then displays a +brief description of what that command does. + +@item @code{M-x describe-key} +@cindex keys, describing +@findex describe-key +Reads a key sequence in the echo area, and then displays the name and +documentation of the Info command that the key sequence invokes. + +@item @code{M-x describe-variable} +Reads the name of a variable in the echo area and then displays a brief +description of what the variable affects. + +@item @code{M-x where-is} +@findex where-is +Reads the name of an Info command in the echo area, and then displays +a key sequence which can be typed in order to invoke that command. + +@item @code{C-h} (@code{get-help-window}) +@itemx @code{?} +@kindex C-h +@kindex ?, in Info windows +@findex get-help-window +Creates (or moves into) the window displaying @code{*Help*}, and places +a node containing a quick reference card into it. This window displays +the most concise information about GNU Info available. + +@item @code{h} (@code{get-info-help-node}) +@kindex h +@findex get-info-help-node +Tries 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 @code{C-u} (@code{universal-argument}) +@cindex numeric arguments +@kindex C-u +@findex universal-argument +Starts (or multiplies 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. + +@item @code{M-1} (@code{add-digit-to-numeric-arg}) +@itemx @code{M-2} @dots{} @code{M-9} +@kindex M-1 @dots{} M-9 +@findex add-digit-to-numeric-arg +Adds 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 +or +@example +@kbd{M-3 2 C-l} +@end example +@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 @code{C-g} (@code{abort-key}) +@cindex cancelling typeahead +@cindex cancelling the current operation +@kindex C-g, in Info windows +@findex abort-key +Cancels current operation. +@end table + +The @samp{q} command of Info simply quits running Info. + +@table @asis +@item @code{q} (@code{quit}) +@cindex quitting +@kindex q +@findex quit +Exits 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 @code{M-x set-screen-height} +@findex set-screen-height +@cindex screen, changing the height of +Reads a height value in the echo area and sets the height of the +displayed screen to that value. +@end table + +Finally, Info provides a convenient way to display footnotes which might +be associated with the current node that you are viewing: + +@table @asis +@item @code{ESC C-f} (@code{show-footnotes}) +@kindex ESC C-f +@findex show-footnotes +@cindex footnotes, displaying +Shows 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 +@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 behaviour of Info to more closely match your environment and +info file reading manner. + +@table @asis +@item @code{M-x set-variable} +@cindex variables, setting +@findex set-variable +Reads the name of a variable, and the value for it, in the echo area and +then sets the variable to that value. Completion is available when +reading the variable name; 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 @code{M-x describe-variable} +@cindex variables, describing +@findex describe-variable +Reads the name of a variable in the echo area and then displays 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-behaviour +@vindex scroll-behaviour +Controls 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 +Tries 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 behaviour is identical to using the @samp{]} +(@code{global-next-node}) and @samp{[} (@code{global-prev-node}) +commands. + +@item Next Only +Only tries to get the @samp{Next} node. + +@item Page Only +Simply gives up, changing nothing. If @code{scroll-behaviour} 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 node and its children are currently unfinished. Please feel +@c free to finish it! + +@ifset NOTSET +@node Info for Sys Admins +@chapter Info for System Administrators + +This text describes some common ways of setting up an Info heierarchy +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 flexibilty in setups. +* Using `localdir':: Building DIR on the fly. +* Example setups:: Some common ways to origanize Info files. +@end menu + +@node Setting the INFOPATH +@section Setting the INFOPATH +Where are my Info files kept? + +@node Editing the DIR node +@section Editing the DIR node +What goes in `DIR', and why? + +@node Storing Info files +@section Storing Info files +Alternate formats allow flexibilty in setups. + +@node Using `localdir' +@section Using `localdir' +Building DIR on the fly. + +@node Example setups +@section Example setups +Some common ways to origanize Info files. +@end ifset + +@ifset STANDALONE +@node GNU Info Global Index +@appendix Global Index +@printindex cp +@end ifset |
