1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697
|
@c This is part of the Emacs manual.
@c Copyright (C) 1985--1987, 1993--1995, 1997, 2000--2020 Free Software
@c Foundation, Inc.
@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
@node Help
@chapter Help
@cindex help
@cindex self-documentation
@findex help-command
@kindex C-h
@kindex F1
@kindex C-h C-h
@findex help-for-help
Emacs provides a wide variety of help commands, all accessible
through the prefix key @kbd{C-h} (or, equivalently, the function key
@key{F1}). These help commands are described in the following
sections. You can also type @kbd{C-h C-h} to view a list of help
commands (@code{help-for-help}). You can scroll the list with
@key{SPC} and @key{DEL}, then type the help command you want. To
cancel, type @kbd{C-g}.
Many help commands display their information in a special @dfn{help
buffer}. In this buffer, you can type @key{SPC} and @key{DEL} to
scroll and type @key{RET} to follow hyperlinks. @xref{Help Mode}.
@cindex searching documentation efficiently
@cindex looking for a subject in documentation
If you are looking for a certain feature, but don't know what it is
called or where to look, we recommend three methods. First, try an
apropos command, then try searching the manual index, then look in the
FAQ and the package keywords.
@table @kbd
@item C-h a @var{topics} @key{RET}
This searches for commands whose names match the argument
@var{topics}. The argument can be a keyword, a list of keywords, or a
regular expression (@pxref{Regexps}). @xref{Apropos}.
@item C-h i d m emacs @key{RET} i @var{topic} @key{RET}
This searches for @var{topic} in the indices of the Emacs Info manual,
displaying the first match found. Press @kbd{,} to see subsequent
matches. You can use a regular expression as @var{topic}.
@item C-h i d m emacs @key{RET} s @var{topic} @key{RET}
Similar, but searches the @emph{text} of the manual rather than the
indices.
@item C-h C-f
This displays the Emacs FAQ, using Info.
@item C-h p
This displays the available Emacs packages based on keywords.
@xref{Package Keywords}.
@end table
@kbd{C-h} or @key{F1} mean ``help'' in various other contexts as
well. For instance, you can type them after a prefix key to view a
list of the keys that can follow the prefix key. (You can also use
@kbd{?} in this context. A few prefix keys don't support @kbd{C-h}
or @kbd{?} in this way, because they define other meanings for those
inputs, but they all support @key{F1}.)
@menu
* Help Summary:: Brief list of all Help commands.
* Key Help:: Asking what a key does in Emacs.
* Name Help:: Asking about a command, variable or function name.
* Apropos:: Asking what pertains to a given topic.
* Help Mode:: Special features of Help mode and Help buffers.
* Package Keywords:: Finding Lisp libraries by keywords (topics).
* Language Help:: Help relating to international language support.
* Misc Help:: Other help commands.
* Help Files:: Commands to display auxiliary help files.
* Help Echo:: Help on active text and tooltips (``balloon help'').
@end menu
@iftex
@node Help Summary
@end iftex
@ifnottex
@node Help Summary
@section Help Summary
@end ifnottex
Here is a summary of help commands for accessing the built-in
documentation. Most of these are described in more detail in the
following sections.
@table @kbd
@item C-h a @var{topics} @key{RET}
Display a list of commands whose names match @var{topics}
(@code{apropos-command}). @xref{Apropos}.
@item C-h b
Display all active key bindings; minor mode bindings first, then those
of the major mode, then global bindings (@code{describe-bindings}).
@xref{Misc Help}.
@item C-h c @var{key}
Show the name of the command that the key sequence @var{key} is bound
to (@code{describe-key-briefly}). Here @kbd{c} stands for
``character''. For more extensive information on @var{key}, use
@kbd{C-h k}. @xref{Key Help}.
@item C-h d @var{topics} @key{RET}
Display the commands and variables whose documentation matches
@var{topics} (@code{apropos-documentation}). @xref{Apropos}.
@item C-h e
Display the @file{*Messages*} buffer
(@code{view-echo-area-messages}). @xref{Misc Help}.
@item C-h f @var{function} @key{RET}
Display documentation on the Lisp function named @var{function}
(@code{describe-function}). Since commands are Lisp functions,
this works for commands too. @xref{Name Help}.
@item C-h h
Display the @file{HELLO} file, which shows examples of various character
sets.
@item C-h i
Run Info, the GNU documentation browser (@code{info}). The Emacs
manual is available in Info. @xref{Misc Help}.
@item C-h k @var{key}
Display the name and documentation of the command that @var{key} runs
(@code{describe-key}). @xref{Key Help}.
@item C-h l
Display a description of your last 300 keystrokes
(@code{view-lossage}). @xref{Misc Help}.
@item C-h m
Display documentation of the current major mode and minor modes
(@code{describe-mode}). @xref{Misc Help}.
@item C-h n
Display news of recent Emacs changes (@code{view-emacs-news}).
@xref{Help Files}.
@item C-h o @var{symbol}
Display documentation of the Lisp symbol named @var{symbol}
(@code{describe-symbol}). This will show the documentation of all
kinds of symbols: functions, variables, and faces. @xref{Name Help}.
@item C-h p
Find packages by topic keyword (@code{finder-by-keyword}).
@xref{Package Keywords}. This lists packages using a package menu
buffer. @xref{Packages}.
@item C-h P @var{package} @key{RET}
Display documentation about the specified package
(@code{describe-package}). @xref{Package Keywords}.
@item C-h r
Display the Emacs manual in Info (@code{info-emacs-manual}).
@item C-h s
Display the contents of the current @dfn{syntax table}
(@code{describe-syntax}). @xref{Misc Help}. The syntax table says
which characters are opening delimiters, which are parts of words, and
so on. @xref{Syntax Tables,, Syntax Tables, elisp, The Emacs Lisp
Reference Manual}, for details.
@item C-h t
Enter the Emacs interactive tutorial (@code{help-with-tutorial}).
@item C-h v @var{var} @key{RET}
Display the documentation of the Lisp variable @var{var}
(@code{describe-variable}). @xref{Name Help}.
@item C-h w @var{command} @key{RET}
Show which keys run the command named @var{command} (@code{where-is}).
@xref{Key Help}.
@item C-h C @var{coding} @key{RET}
Describe the coding system @var{coding}
(@code{describe-coding-system}). @xref{Coding Systems}.
@item C-h C @key{RET}
Describe the coding systems currently in use.
@item C-h F @var{command} @key{RET}
Enter Info and go to the node that documents the Emacs command
@var{command} (@code{Info-goto-emacs-command-node}). @xref{Name Help}.
@item C-h I @var{method} @key{RET}
Describe the input method @var{method} (@code{describe-input-method}).
@xref{Select Input Method}.
@item C-h K @var{key}
Enter Info and go to the node that documents the key sequence
@var{key} (@code{Info-goto-emacs-key-command-node}). @xref{Key Help}.
@item C-h L @var{language-env} @key{RET}
Display information on the character sets, coding systems, and input
methods used in language environment @var{language-env}
(@code{describe-language-environment}). @xref{Language Environments}.
@item C-h S @var{symbol} @key{RET}
Display the Info documentation on symbol @var{symbol} according to the
programming language you are editing (@code{info-lookup-symbol}).
@xref{Misc Help}.
@item C-h .
Display the help message for a special text area, if point is in one
(@code{display-local-help}). (These include, for example, links in
@file{*Help*} buffers.) @xref{Help Echo}.
@end table
@node Key Help
@section Documentation for a Key
@findex describe-key-briefly
@findex describe-key
The help commands to get information about a key sequence are
@kbd{C-h c} (@code{describe-key-briefly}) and @kbd{C-h k}
(@code{describe-key}).
@kindex C-h c
@kbd{C-h c @var{key}} displays in the echo area the name of the
command that @var{key} is bound to. For example, @kbd{C-h c C-f}
displays @samp{forward-char}.
@cindex documentation string
@kindex C-h k
@kbd{C-h k @var{key}} is similar but gives more information: it
displays a help buffer containing the command's @dfn{documentation
string}, which describes exactly what the command does.
@kindex C-h K
@findex Info-goto-emacs-key-command-node
@kbd{C-h K @var{key}} displays the section of the Emacs manual that
describes the command corresponding to @var{key}.
@kbd{C-h c}, @kbd{C-h k} and @kbd{C-h K} work for any sort of key
sequences, including function keys, menus, and mouse events (except
that @kbd{C-h c} ignores mouse movement events). For instance, after
@kbd{C-h k} you can select a menu item from the menu bar, to view the
documentation string of the command it runs.
@kindex C-h w
@findex where-is
@kbd{C-h w @var{command} @key{RET}} lists the keys that are bound to
@var{command}. It displays the list in the echo area. If it says the
command is not on any key, that means you must use @kbd{M-x} to run
it. @kbd{C-h w} runs the command @code{where-is}.
@node Name Help
@section Help by Command or Variable Name
@kindex C-h f
@findex describe-function
@kbd{C-h f @var{function} @key{RET}} (@code{describe-function})
displays the documentation of Lisp function @var{function}, in a
window. Since commands are Lisp functions, you can use this method to
view the documentation of any command whose name you know. For
example,
@example
C-h f auto-fill-mode @key{RET}
@end example
@noindent
displays the documentation of @code{auto-fill-mode}. This is the only
way to get the documentation of a command that is not bound to any key
(one which you would normally run using @kbd{M-x}).
@kbd{C-h f} is also useful for Lisp functions that you use in a Lisp
program. For example, if you have just written the expression
@code{(make-vector len)} and want to check that you are using
@code{make-vector} properly, type @kbd{C-h f make-vector @key{RET}}.
Because @kbd{C-h f} allows all function names, not just command names,
you may find that some of your favorite completion abbreviations that
work in @kbd{M-x} don't work in @kbd{C-h f}. An abbreviation that is
unique among command names may not be unique among all function names.
If you type @kbd{C-h f @key{RET}}, it describes the function called
by the innermost Lisp expression in the buffer around point,
@emph{provided} that function name is a valid, defined Lisp function.
(That name appears as the default while you enter the argument.) For
example, if point is located following the text @samp{(make-vector
(car x)}, the innermost list containing point is the one that starts
with @samp{(make-vector}, so @kbd{C-h f @key{RET}} describes the
function @code{make-vector}.
@kbd{C-h f} is also useful just to verify that you spelled a
function name correctly. If the minibuffer prompt for @kbd{C-h f}
shows the function name from the buffer as the default, it means that
name is defined as a Lisp function. Type @kbd{C-g} to cancel the
@kbd{C-h f} command if you don't really want to view the
documentation.
@kindex C-h v
@findex describe-variable
@kbd{C-h v} (@code{describe-variable}) is like @kbd{C-h f} but
describes Lisp variables instead of Lisp functions. Its default is
the Lisp symbol around or before point, if that is the name of a
defined Lisp variable. @xref{Variables}.
Help buffers that describe Emacs variables and functions normally
have hyperlinks to the corresponding source code, if you have the
source files installed (@pxref{Hyperlinking}).
@kindex C-h F
@findex Info-goto-emacs-command-node
To find a command's documentation in a manual, use @kbd{C-h F}
(@code{Info-goto-emacs-command-node}). This knows about various
manuals, not just the Emacs manual, and finds the right one.
@kindex C-h o
@findex describe-symbol
@kbd{C-h o} (@code{describe-symbol}) is like @kbd{C-h f} and
@kbd{C-h v}, but it describes any symbol, be it a function, a
variable, or a face. If the symbol has more than one definition, like
it has both definition as a function and as a variable, this command
will show the documentation of all of them, one after the other.
@node Apropos
@section Apropos
@cindex apropos
The @dfn{apropos} commands answer questions like, ``What are the
commands for working with files?'' More precisely, you specify an
@dfn{apropos pattern}, which means either a word, a list of words, or
a regular expression.
Each of the following apropos commands reads an apropos pattern in
the minibuffer, searches for items that match the pattern, and
displays the results in a different window.
@table @kbd
@item C-h a
@kindex C-h a
@findex apropos-command
Search for commands (@code{apropos-command}). With a prefix argument,
search for noninteractive functions too.
@item M-x apropos
@findex apropos
Search for functions and variables. Both interactive functions
(commands) and noninteractive functions can be found by this.
@item M-x apropos-user-option
@findex apropos-user-option
Search for user-customizable variables. With a prefix argument,
search for non-customizable variables too.
@item M-x apropos-variable
@findex apropos-variable
Search for variables. With a prefix argument, search for
customizable variables only.
@item M-x apropos-local-variable
@findex apropos-local-variable
Search for buffer-local variables.
@item M-x apropos-value
@findex apropos-value
Search for variables whose values match the specified pattern. With a
prefix argument, search also for functions with definitions matching
the pattern, and Lisp symbols with properties matching the pattern.
@item M-x apropos-local-value
@findex apropos-local-value
Search for buffer-local variables whose values match the specified
pattern.
@item C-h d
@kindex C-h d
@findex apropos-documentation
Search for functions and variables whose documentation strings match
the specified pattern (@code{apropos-documentation}).
@end table
The simplest kind of apropos pattern is one word. Anything
containing that word matches the pattern. Thus, to find commands that
work on files, type @kbd{C-h a file @key{RET}}. This displays a list
of all command names that contain @samp{file}, including
@code{copy-file}, @code{find-file}, and so on. Each command name
comes with a brief description and a list of keys you can currently
invoke it with. In our example, it would say that you can invoke
@code{find-file} by typing @kbd{C-x C-f}.
For more information about a function definition, variable or symbol
property listed in an apropos buffer, you can click on it with
@kbd{mouse-1} or @kbd{mouse-2}, or move there and type @key{RET}.
When you specify more than one word in the apropos pattern, a name
must contain at least two of the words in order to match. Thus, if
you are looking for commands to kill a chunk of text before point, you
could try @kbd{C-h a kill back backward behind before @key{RET}}. The
real command name @code{kill-backward} will match that; if there were
a command @code{kill-text-before}, it would also match, since it
contains two of the specified words.
For even greater flexibility, you can specify a regular expression
(@pxref{Regexps}). An apropos pattern is interpreted as a regular
expression if it contains any of the regular expression special
characters, @samp{^$*+?.\[}.
Following the conventions for naming Emacs commands, here are some
words that you'll find useful in apropos patterns. By using them in
@kbd{C-h a}, you will also get a feel for the naming conventions.
@quotation
char, line, word, sentence, paragraph, region, page, sexp, list, defun,
rect, buffer, frame, window, face, file, dir, register, mode, beginning, end,
forward, backward, next, previous, up, down, search, goto, kill, delete,
mark, insert, yank, fill, indent, case, change, set, what, list, find,
view, describe, default.
@end quotation
@vindex apropos-do-all
If the variable @code{apropos-do-all} is non-@code{nil}, most
apropos commands behave as if they had been given a prefix argument.
There is one exception: @code{apropos-variable} without a prefix
argument will always search for all variables, no matter what the
value of @code{apropos-do-all} is.
@vindex apropos-sort-by-scores
@cindex apropos search results, order by score
@vindex apropos-documentation-sort-by-scores
By default, all apropos commands except @code{apropos-documentation}
list their results in alphabetical order. If the variable
@code{apropos-sort-by-scores} is non-@code{nil}, these commands
instead try to guess the relevance of each result, and display the
most relevant ones first. The @code{apropos-documentation} command
lists its results in order of relevance by default; to list them in
alphabetical order, change the variable
@code{apropos-documentation-sort-by-scores} to @code{nil}.
@node Help Mode
@section Help Mode Commands
Help buffers provide the same commands as View mode (@pxref{View
Mode}); for instance, @key{SPC} scrolls forward, and @key{DEL} or
@kbd{S-@key{SPC}} scrolls backward. A few special commands are also
provided:
@table @kbd
@item @key{RET}
Follow a cross reference at point (@code{help-follow}).
@item @key{TAB}
Move point forward to the next hyperlink (@code{forward-button}).
@item S-@key{TAB}
Move point back to the previous hyperlink (@code{backward-button}).
@item mouse-1
@itemx mouse-2
Follow a hyperlink that you click on.
@item C-c C-c
Show all documentation about the symbol at point
(@code{help-follow-symbol}).
@item C-c C-f
@itemx r
Go forward to the next help topic (@code{help-go-forward}).
@item C-c C-b
@itemx l
Go back to the previous help topic (@code{help-go-back}).
@end table
@cindex hyperlink
@findex help-follow
@findex help-go-back
@findex help-go-forward
@kindex RET @r{(Help mode)}
@kindex C-c C-b @r{(Help mode)}
@kindex l @r{(Help mode)}
@kindex C-c C-f @r{(Help mode)}
@kindex r @r{(Help mode)}
When a function name, variable name, or face name (@pxref{Faces})
appears in the documentation in the help buffer, it is normally an
underlined @dfn{hyperlink}. To view the associated documentation,
move point there and type @key{RET} (@code{help-follow}), or click on
the hyperlink with @kbd{mouse-1} or @kbd{mouse-2}. Doing so replaces
the contents of the help buffer; to retrace your steps, type @kbd{C-c
C-b} or @kbd{l} (@code{help-go-back}). While retracing your steps,
you can go forward by using @kbd{C-c C-f} or @kbd{r}
(@code{help-go-forward}).
@cindex URL, viewing in help
@cindex help, viewing web pages
@cindex viewing web pages in help
@cindex web pages, viewing in help
A help buffer can also contain hyperlinks to Info manuals, source
code definitions, and URLs (web pages). The first two are opened in
Emacs, and the third using a web browser via the @code{browse-url}
command (@pxref{Browse-URL}).
@kindex TAB @r{(Help mode)}
@findex forward-button
@kindex S-TAB @r{(Help mode)}
@findex backward-button
In a help buffer, @key{TAB} (@code{forward-button}) moves point
forward to the next hyperlink, while @kbd{S-@key{TAB}}
(@code{backward-button}) moves point back to the previous hyperlink.
These commands act cyclically; for instance, typing @key{TAB} at the
last hyperlink moves back to the first hyperlink.
To view all documentation about any symbol in the text, move point
to the symbol and type @kbd{C-c C-c} (@code{help-follow-symbol}).
This shows the documentation for all the meanings of the symbol---as a
variable, as a function, and/or as a face.
@node Package Keywords
@section Keyword Search for Packages
@cindex finder
Most optional features in Emacs are grouped into @dfn{packages}.
Emacs contains several hundred built-in packages, and more can be
installed over the network (@pxref{Packages}).
@kindex C-h p
@findex finder-by-keyword
To make it easier to find packages related to a topic, most packages
are associated with one or more @dfn{keywords} based on what they do.
Type @kbd{C-h p} (@code{finder-by-keyword}) to bring up a list of
package keywords, together with a description of what the keywords
mean. To view a list of packages for a given keyword, type @key{RET}
on that line; this displays the list of packages in a Package Menu
buffer (@pxref{Package Menu}).
@findex describe-package
@kindex C-h P
@kbd{C-h P} (@code{describe-package}) prompts for the name of a
package (@pxref{Packages}), and displays a help buffer describing the
attributes of the package and the features that it implements. The
buffer lists the keywords that relate to the package in the form of
buttons. Click on a button with @kbd{mouse-1} or @kbd{mouse-2} to see
the list of other packages related to that keyword.
@node Language Help
@section Help for International Language Support
For information on a specific language environment (@pxref{Language
Environments}), type @kbd{C-h L}
(@code{describe-language-environment}). This displays a help buffer
describing the languages supported by the language environment, and
listing the associated character sets, coding systems, and input
methods, as well as some sample text for that language environment.
The command @kbd{C-h h} (@code{view-hello-file}) displays the file
@file{etc/HELLO}, which demonstrates various character sets by showing
how to say ``hello'' in many languages.
The command @kbd{C-h I} (@code{describe-input-method}) describes an
input method---either a specified input method, or by default the
input method currently in use. @xref{Input Methods}.
The command @kbd{C-h C} (@code{describe-coding-system}) describes
coding systems---either a specified coding system, or the ones
currently in use. @xref{Coding Systems}.
@node Misc Help
@section Other Help Commands
@kindex C-h i
@kindex C-h 4 i
@findex info
@findex info-other-window
@cindex Info
@cindex manuals, included
@kbd{C-h i} (@code{info}) runs the Info program, which browses
structured documentation files. @kbd{C-h 4 i}
(@code{info-other-window}) does the same, but shows the Info buffer in
another window. The entire Emacs manual is available within Info,
along with many other manuals for the GNU system. Type @kbd{h} after
entering Info to run a tutorial on using Info.
@cindex find Info manual by its file name
With a numeric argument @var{n}, @kbd{C-h i} selects the Info buffer
@samp{*info*<@var{n}>}. This is useful if you want to browse multiple
Info manuals simultaneously. If you specify just @kbd{C-u} as the
prefix argument, @kbd{C-h i} prompts for the name of a documentation
file, so you can browse a file which doesn't have an entry in the
top-level Info menu.
The help commands @kbd{C-h F @var{function} @key{RET}} and @kbd{C-h
K @var{key}}, described above, enter Info and go straight to the
documentation of @var{function} or @var{key}.
@kindex C-h S
@findex info-lookup-symbol
When editing a program, if you have an Info version of the manual
for the programming language, you can use @kbd{C-h S}
(@code{info-lookup-symbol}) to find an entry for a symbol (keyword,
function or variable) in the proper manual. The details of how this
command works depend on the major mode.
@kindex C-h l
@findex view-lossage
If something surprising happens, and you are not sure what you typed,
use @kbd{C-h l} (@code{view-lossage}). @kbd{C-h l} displays your last
300 input keystrokes and the commands they invoked. If you see
commands that you are not familiar with, you can use @kbd{C-h k} or
@kbd{C-h f} to find out what they do.
@kindex C-h e
@findex view-echo-area-messages
To review recent echo area messages, use @kbd{C-h e}
(@code{view-echo-area-messages}). This displays the buffer
@file{*Messages*}, where those messages are kept.
@kindex C-h m
@findex describe-mode
Each Emacs major mode typically redefines a few keys and makes other
changes in how editing works. @kbd{C-h m} (@code{describe-mode})
displays documentation on the current major mode, which normally
describes the commands and features that are changed in this mode, and
also its key bindings.
@kindex C-h b
@findex describe-bindings
@kindex C-h s
@findex describe-syntax
@kbd{C-h b} (@code{describe-bindings}) and @kbd{C-h s}
(@code{describe-syntax}) show other information about the current
environment within Emacs. @kbd{C-h b} displays a list of all the key
bindings now in effect: first the local bindings of the current minor
modes, then the local bindings defined by the current major mode, and
finally the global bindings (@pxref{Key Bindings}). @kbd{C-h s}
displays the contents of the syntax table, with explanations of each
character's syntax (@pxref{Syntax Tables,, Syntax Tables, elisp, The
Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}).
@findex describe-prefix-bindings
You can get a list of subcommands for a particular prefix key by
typing @kbd{C-h}, @kbd{?}, or @key{F1}
(@code{describe-prefix-bindings}) after the prefix key. (There are a
few prefix keys for which not all of these keys work---those that
provide their own bindings for that key. One of these prefix keys
is @key{ESC}, because @kbd{@key{ESC} C-h} is actually @kbd{C-M-h},
which marks a defun. However, @w{@kbd{@key{ESC} @key{F1}}} and
@w{@kbd{@key{ESC} ?}} work fine.)
@node Help Files
@section Help Files
Apart from the built-in documentation and manuals, Emacs contains
several other files describing topics like copying conditions, release
notes, instructions for debugging and reporting bugs, and so forth.
You can use the following commands to view these files. Apart from
@kbd{C-h g}, they all have the form @kbd{C-h C-@var{char}}.
@kindex C-h C-c
@findex describe-copying
@kindex C-h C-d
@findex view-emacs-debugging
@kindex C-h C-e
@findex view-external-packages
@kindex C-h C-f
@findex view-emacs-FAQ
@kindex C-h g
@findex describe-gnu-project
@kindex C-h C-m
@findex view-order-manuals
@kindex C-h C-n
@findex view-emacs-news
@kindex C-h C-o
@findex describe-distribution
@kindex C-h C-p
@findex view-emacs-problems
@kindex C-h C-t
@findex view-emacs-todo
@kindex C-h C-w
@findex describe-no-warranty
@table @kbd
@item C-h C-c
Display the rules under which you can copy and redistribute Emacs
(@code{describe-copying}).
@item C-h C-d
Display help for debugging Emacs (@code{view-emacs-debugging}).
@item C-h C-e
Display information about where to get external packages
(@code{view-external-packages}).
@item C-h C-f
Display the Emacs frequently-answered-questions list (@code{view-emacs-FAQ}).
@item C-h g
Visit the @uref{https://www.gnu.org, page} with information about the GNU
Project (@code{describe-gnu-project}).
@item C-h C-m
Display information about ordering printed copies of Emacs manuals
(@code{view-order-manuals}).
@item C-h C-n
Display the news, which lists the new features in this
version of Emacs (@code{view-emacs-news}).
@item C-h C-o
Display how to order or download the latest version of
Emacs and other GNU software (@code{describe-distribution}).
@item C-h C-p
Display the list of known Emacs problems, sometimes with suggested
workarounds (@code{view-emacs-problems}).
@item C-h C-t
Display the Emacs to-do list (@code{view-emacs-todo}).
@item C-h C-w
Display the full details on the complete absence of warranty for GNU
Emacs (@code{describe-no-warranty}).
@end table
@node Help Echo
@section Help on Active Text and Tooltips
@cindex tooltip help
@cindex balloon help
@cindex active text
In Emacs, stretches of @dfn{active text} (text that does something
special in response to mouse clicks or @key{RET}) often have
associated help text. This includes hyperlinks in Emacs buffers, as
well as parts of the mode line. On graphical displays, as well as
some text terminals which support mouse tracking, moving the mouse
over the active text displays the help text as a @dfn{tooltip}.
@xref{Tooltips}.
@kindex C-h .
@findex display-local-help
@vindex help-at-pt-display-when-idle
On terminals that don't support mouse-tracking, you can display the
help text for active buffer text at point by typing @kbd{C-h .}
(@code{display-local-help}). This shows the help text in the echo
area. To display help text automatically whenever it is available at
point, set the variable @code{help-at-pt-display-when-idle} to
@code{t}.
|