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tutorials:findinghelp [2011/04/30 13:08] clemenstutorials:findinghelp [2012/05/01 20:48] (current) – Add $ID tag memnon
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 ====== Finding Help From Within the Shell ====== ====== Finding Help From Within the Shell ======
  
-Note: Please look [[#sdfspecific|further down]] about help facilities specific to SDF, like the FAQ!+Note: Please look [[#SDF specific help|further down]] about help facilities specific to SDF, like the FAQ!
  
 While the UNIX shell may seem a bit daunting and cold with cryptic two-letter commands, dozens of command line switches, and no animated paper clips to show you the way, there are several different ways of getting help from the system. While the UNIX shell may seem a bit daunting and cold with cryptic two-letter commands, dozens of command line switches, and no animated paper clips to show you the way, there are several different ways of getting help from the system.
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 ---- ----
  
-===== [[|Using Manpages]] =====+===== Using Manpages =====
  
 ==== The Definitive Guide to RTFMing ==== ==== The Definitive Guide to RTFMing ====
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 Where can you find them? It's pretty simple. Think of a command. (ls, rm, chmod, kill, grep) or a program (vi, mutt, snarf, majordomo) So go ahead, type Where can you find them? It's pretty simple. Think of a command. (ls, rm, chmod, kill, grep) or a program (vi, mutt, snarf, majordomo) So go ahead, type
  
-"man //command//"+  * man //command//
  
 command being the name of the command you want to learn about. As you can see, manpages are broken down into sections. We'll use mkdir as an example. command being the name of the command you want to learn about. As you can see, manpages are broken down into sections. We'll use mkdir as an example.
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 In some cases, the same topic will appear on more than one section of the manual. For example, there is a chmod user command and a chmod() system call. How would you find the appropriate manpage? You can tell man which section you'd like to look under. If you wanted to find the user command you would type: In some cases, the same topic will appear on more than one section of the manual. For example, there is a chmod user command and a chmod() system call. How would you find the appropriate manpage? You can tell man which section you'd like to look under. If you wanted to find the user command you would type:
  
-"man 1 chmod"+  * man 1 chmod
  
 This would display the manpage for the user command chmod. References to the specific sections are traditionally placed in parenthesis after the command name like so: chmod(1) This would display the manpage for the user command chmod. References to the specific sections are traditionally placed in parenthesis after the command name like so: chmod(1)
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 Well, this is all fine and good if you know the name of the command, but what if you can't remember the name? 'man -k' can be used to search for keywords in the command descriptions. So, if you want to find a mail program you would type: Well, this is all fine and good if you know the name of the command, but what if you can't remember the name? 'man -k' can be used to search for keywords in the command descriptions. So, if you want to find a mail program you would type:
  
-"man -k editor"+  * man -k editor
  
 A list of commands with the keyword "editor" in their descriptions will be presented on the screen. A list of commands with the keyword "editor" in their descriptions will be presented on the screen.
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 However, navigation is different in the standard info reader, as it is based on the "emacs" text editor. \\ Quick key help (for more, consult "info info"): However, navigation is different in the standard info reader, as it is based on the "emacs" text editor. \\ Quick key help (for more, consult "info info"):
  
-SPACE, BACKSPACEpage forward, backwardTABplace cursor onto next menu item or link (info files are hyperlinked)RETURNjump to the place where the link the cursor is sitting on points tol (the letter ell)get back to the spot from where last jump startedu pup, next, previous node (info files are hierarchically structured)qquit the info reader+^Key ^ 
 +|SPACE, BACKSPACE | page forward, backward | 
 +|TAB|place cursor onto next menu item or link (info files are hyperlinked)
 +|RETURN|jump to the place where the link the cursor is sitting on points to| 
 +|l (the letter ell)|get back to the spot from where last jump started| 
 +|u p|up, next, previous node (info files are hierarchically structured)
 +|q|quit the info reader|
  
 With most terminals, you can also move around using the cursor keys (arrows). With most terminals, you can also move around using the cursor keys (arrows).
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 There are also a number of tools at SDF that you can use to get more help. Type the following commands at a shell prompt. There are also a number of tools at SDF that you can use to get more help. Type the following commands at a shell prompt.
  
-helpThe SDF help system.faqA collection of frequently asked questions. Type 'g ' to enter a topic, 'l' to list the questions in the topic, and 't ' to read the FAQ. The FAQ is also available [[faq|on the SDF website]].helpdeskIf you cannot find your answer in the man pages, help, faq, or googling post a question to the helpdesk and a friendly member of the community will answer your question. Any member with ARPA status can login as an attendent to answer questions. Please note: in helpdesk you should only post questions directly related to SDF's systems, but not about general UNIX, programming or gardening - these belong to the bboard!bboardcomCom and bboard are meeting places for the SDF community. You could also pose your question there. Bboard and faq have the same interface. See [[tutorials/comnotirc|COM is not IRC]] for how to use com.+=== help ===  
 +The SDF help system. 
 +=== faq ===  
 +collection of frequently asked questions. Type 'g ' to enter a topic, 'l' to list the questions in the topic, and 't ' to read the FAQ. The FAQ is also available [[faq:faq|on the SDF website]].
  
-And of course there are the online tutorials that you are reading right now! The top level page is http://sdf.lonestar.org/index.cgi?tutorials.+=== helpdesk ===  
 +If you cannot find your answer in the man pages, help, faq, or googling post a question to the helpdesk and a friendly member of the community will answer your question. Any member with ARPA status can login as an attendent to answer questions. Please note: in helpdesk you should only post questions directly related to SDF's systems, but not about general UNIX, programming or gardening - these belong to the bboard! 
 + 
 +=== bboard & com ===  
 +Com and bboard are meeting places for the SDF community. You could also pose your question there. Bboard and faq have the same interface. See [[tutorials:comnotirc|COM is not IRC]] for how to use com. 
 + 
 +And of course there are the online tutorials that you are reading right now! The top level page is [[tutorials:tutorials]]. 
 + 
 +$Id: findinghelp.html,v 1.10 2007/04/20 07:36:18 yargo Exp $