\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*- @comment $Id: info-stnd.texi,v 1.4 2002/06/10 13:51:02 espie Exp $ @comment %**start of header @setfilename info-stnd.info @include version-stnd.texi @settitle GNU Info @value{VERSION} @syncodeindex vr cp @syncodeindex fn cp @syncodeindex ky cp @comment %**end of header @copying This manual is for GNU Info (version @value{VERSION}, @value{UPDATED}), a program for viewing documents in Info format (usually created from Texinfo source files). Copyright @copyright{} 1992, 93, 96, 97, 98, 99, 2001, 02 Free Software Foundation, Inc. @quotation Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU Manual,'' and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License.'' (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have freedom to copy and modify this GNU Manual, like GNU software. Copies published by the Free Software Foundation raise funds for GNU development.'' @end quotation @end copying @dircategory Texinfo documentation system @direntry * info standalone: (info-stnd). Read Info documents without Emacs. * infokey: (info-stnd)Invoking infokey. Compile Info customizations. @end direntry @titlepage @title GNU Info @subtitle for version @value{VERSION}, @value{UPDATED} @author Brian J. Fox (bfox@@gnu.org) @page @vskip 0pt plus 1filll @insertcopying @end titlepage @contents @ifnottex @node Top @top GNU Info @insertcopying 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 the Emacs documentation first, as it includes more background information and a thorough tutorial. @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 reading the text within a node. * 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. * Custom Key Bindings:: How to define your own key-to-command bindings. * Copying This Manual:: The GNU Free Documentation License. * 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 Info, invoking @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 @anchor{--apropos} @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. You can invoke the apropos command from inside Info; see @ref{Searching Commands}. @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. This command can also be invoked from inside Info; see @ref{Searching Commands}. @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 colors in man pages @cindex ANSI escape sequences in man pages @item --raw-escapes @itemx -R Do not remove ANSI escape sequences from man pages. Some versions of Groff, the GNU document formatter, produce man pages with ANSI escape sequences for bold, italics, and underlined characters, and for colorized text. By default, Info removes those escape sequences before it displays the man page. If your terminal supports these escapes, use @code{--raw-escapes} to let the terminal handle them and display the man pages with those attributes. @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. (@xref{Custom Key Bindings}, for a more general way of altering GNU Info's key bindings.) @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 @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}) @kindex SPC, in Info windows @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, @key{SPC} takes you to the ``next'' node, so that you can read an entire manual from start to finish by repeating @key{SPC}. The default scroll size is one screen-full, but it can be changed by invoking the (@code{scroll-forward-page-only-set-window}) command, @samp{z} under @samp{--vi-keys}, with a numeric argument. @item @key{NEXT} (an arrow key) (@code{scroll-forward-page-only}) @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 NEXT @kindex C-v @kindex C-f, vi-like operation @kindex f, vi-like operation @kindex M-SPC, vi-like operation @findex scroll-forward-page-only Shift the text in this window up. This is identical to the @key{SPC} operation above, except that it never scrolls beyond the end of the current node. @kindex PageDown The @key{NEXT} key is known as the @key{PageDown} key on some keyboards. @item @key{z} (@code{scroll-forward-page-only-set-window}, vi-like operation) @kindex z, vi-like operation @findex scroll-forward-page-only-set-window Scroll forward, like with @key{NEXT}, but if a numeric argument is specified, it becomes the default scroll size for subsequent @code{scroll-forward} and @code{scroll-backward} commands and their ilk. @item @key{DEL} (@code{scroll-backward}) @kindex DEL, in Info windows @findex scroll-backward Shift the text in this window down. The inverse of @code{scroll-forward}. If you are at the start of a node, @key{DEL} takes you to the ``previous'' node, so that you can read an entire manual from finish to start by repeating @key{DEL}. The default scroll size can be changed by invoking the (@code{scroll-backward-page-only-set-window}) command, @samp{w} under @samp{--vi-keys}, with a numeric argument. @itemx @key{PREVIOUS} (arrow key) (@code{scroll-backward-page-only}) @itemx @key{PRIOR} (arrow key) @itemx @key{M-v} @itemx @key{b}, vi-like operation @itemx @key{C-b}, vi-like operation @kindex PREVIOUS @kindex M-v @kindex b, vi-like operation @kindex C-b, vi-like operation @findex scroll-backward-page-only Shift the text in this window down. The inverse of @code{scroll-forward-page-only}. Does not scroll beyond the start of the current node. The default scroll size can be changed by invoking the(@code{scroll-backward-page-only-set-window}) command, @samp{w} under @samp{--vi-keys}, with a numeric argument. @item @key{w} (@code{scroll-backward-page-only-set-window}, vi-like operation) @kindex w, vi-like operation @findex scroll-backward-page-only-set-window Scroll backward, like with @key{PREVIOUS}, 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. The @code{scroll-forward-page-only} and @code{scroll-backward-page-only} commands never scroll beyond the current node. @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 @chapter Selecting a 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 @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. @item @kbd{M-x index-apropos} @findex index-apropos Grovel the indices of all the known Info files on your system for a string, and build a menu of the possible matches. @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}. The most efficient means of finding something quickly in a manual is the @samp{i} command (@code{index-search}). This command prompts for a string, and then looks for that string in all the indices of the current Info manual. If it finds a matching index entry, it displays the node to which that entry refers and prints the full text of the entry in the echo area. You can press @samp{,} (@code{next-index-match}) to find more matches. A good Info manual has all of its important concepts indexed, so the @samp{i} command lets you use a manual as a reference. If you don't know what manual documents something, try the @kbd{M-x index-apropos}. It prompts for a string and then looks up that string in all the indices of all the Info documents installed on your system. It can also be invoked from the command line; see @ref{--apropos}. @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, 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 @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 @chapter Printing 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 @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 @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. There are two ways to set the value of a variable: interactively, using the @code{set-variable} command described below, or in the @code{#var} section of the @code{.infokey} file. @xref{Custom Key Bindings}. @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 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 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. @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 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 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}. @end table @node Custom Key Bindings @chapter Customizing Key Bindings and Variables @cindex default key bindings, overriding @cindex overriding default key bindings @cindex customizing key bindings @cindex key bindings, customizing @cindex infokey @cindex .info @cindex .infokey @cindex _info file (MS-DOS) For those whose editor/pager of choice is not Emacs and who are not entirely satisfied with the --vi-keys option (@pxref{--vi-keys}), GNU Info provides a way to define different key-to-command bindings and variable settings from the defaults described in this document. On startup, GNU Info looks for a configuration file in the invoker's HOME directory called @file{.info}@footnote{Due to the limitations of DOS filesystems, the MS-DOS version of Info looks for a file @file{_info} instead. If the @env{HOME} variable is not defined, Info additionally looks in the current directory.}. If it is present, and appears to contain Info configuration data, and was created with the current version of the @code{infokey} command, then Info adopts the key bindings and variable settings contained therein. The @file{.info} file contains compact, non-textual data for reasons of efficiency and because its design was lifted wholesale from the GNU Less program, which also does it that way. It must be created by compiling a textual source file using the @code{infokey} command. @menu * Invoking infokey:: * infokey source format:: @end menu @node Invoking infokey @section Invoking @command{infokey} @cindex invoking infokey @cindex infokey, invoking @cindex _infokey file (MS-DOS) @command{infokey} compiles a source file (@file{$HOME/.infokey}@footnote{This file is named @file{_infokey} in the MS-DOS version, and is looked for in the current directory if @env{HOME} is undefined.} by default) containing Info customizations into a binary format (@file{$HOME/.info} by default). GNU Info reads the binary file at startup to override the default key bindings and variable definitions. Synopsis: @example infokey [@var{option}@dots{}] [@var{input-file}] @end example Besides the standard @option{--help} and @option{--version}, the only option is @option{--output @var{file}}. This tells @command{infokey} to write the binary data to @var{file} instead of @file{$HOME/.info}. @node infokey source format @section @command{infokey} source format @cindex infokey source format @cindex .infokey source format @cindex format of .infokey source The format of the source file read by @command{infokey} is most easily illustrated by example. For instance, here is a sample @file{.infokey} source file suitable for aficionados of @command{vi} or @command{less}: @example #info j next-line k prev-line l forward-char h backward-char \kd next-line \ku prev-line \kr forward-char \kl backward-char \ scroll-forward \kD scroll-forward-page-only b scroll-backward \kU scroll-backward-page-only g beginning-of-node \kh beginning-of-node G end-of-node \ke end-of-node \t select-reference-this-line - history-node n next-node p prev-node u up-node t top-node d dir-node #var scroll-step=1 @end example The source file consists of one or more @dfn{sections}. Each section starts with a line that identifies the type of section. Possible sections are: @table @code @item #info Key bindings for Info windows. The start of this section is indicated by a line containing just @code{#info} by itself. If this is the first section in the source file, the @code{#info} line can be omitted. The rest of this section consists of lines of the form: @example @var{string} whitespace @var{action} [ whitespace [ # comment ] ] newline @end example Whitespace is any sequence of one or more spaces and/or tabs. Comment is any sequence of any characters, excluding newline. @var{string} is the key sequence which invokes the action. @var{action} is the name of an Info command. The characters in @var{string} are interpreted literally or prefixed by a caret (@code{^}) to indicate a control character. A backslash followed by certain characters specifies input keystrokes as follows: @table @code @item \b Backspace @item \e Escape (ESC) @item \n Newline @item \r Return @item \t Tab @item \ku Up arrow @item \kd Down arrow @item \kl Left arrow @item \kr Right arrow @item \kU Page Up @item \kD Page Down @item \kh HOME @item \ke END @item \kx Delete (DEL) @item \m@var{x} Meta-@var{x} where @var{x} is any character as described above. @end table Backslash followed by any other character indicates that character is to be taken literally. Characters which must be preceded by a backslash include caret, space, tab, and backslash itself. @item #echo-area Key bindings for the echo area. The start of this section is indicated by a line containing just @code{#echo-area} by itself. The rest of this section has a syntax identical to that for the key definitions for the Info area, described above. @item #var Variable initializations. The start of this section is indicated by a line containing just @code{#var} by itself. Following this line is a list of variable assignments, one per line. Each line consists of a variable name (@xref{Variables},) followed by @code{=} followed by a value. There may be no white space between the variable name and the @code{=}, and all characters following the @code{=}, including white space, are included in the value. @end table Blank lines and lines starting with @code{#} are ignored, except for the special section header lines. Key bindings defined in the @file{.info} file take precedence over GNU Info's default key bindings, whether or not @samp{--vi-keys} is used. A default key binding may be disabled by overriding it in the @file{.info} file with the action @code{invalid}. In addition, @emph{all} default key bindings can be disabled by adding this line @emph{anywhere} in the relevant section: @example #stop @end example This will cause GNU Info to ignore all the default key commands for that section. Beware: @code{#stop} can be dangerous. Since it disables all default key bindings, you must supply enough new key bindings to enable all necessary actions. Failure to bind any key to the @code{quit} command, for example, can lead to frustration. The order in which key bindings are defined in the @file{.info} file is not important, except that the command summary produced by the @code{get-help-window} command only displays the @emph{first} key that is bound to each command. @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 Copying This Manual @appendix Copying This Manual @menu * GNU Free Documentation License:: License for copying this manual. @end menu @include fdl.texi @node Index @appendix Index @printindex cp @bye