Many pieces of software install additional documentation into a special info database that can be accessed via the emacs editor’s Meta-X-info command. In the emacs editor, which is covered more completely in Lesson 8, “Text Editing,” you can enter the info database by typing (in order), escape, x, info, return. This places you in a sort of (textual) menu-driven interface to certain software documentation. Menu options are navigated by using the cursor control keys; they are selected by using the return key. Most software uses the info database for the users’ manual-sized documents. There’s no need for you to worry about whether you can actually access the info database right now; when you get to Lesson 8 and get an introduction to emacs, keep the additional functionality of the info database in mind.
Program and OS Specific
Newer UNIX distributions are coming with documentation built into, or available as an option for, their desktop environments. Sun has their Answerbook database, which is updated regularly to include helpful information as well as commonly asked questions and their answers. SGI includes what is essentially a set of online books marked up in HTML format. The files include everything from simple help documents to complete editions of several published professional references. Whatever the UNIX you’re using, check around for local documentation installed on your machine—it frequently contains large amounts of information compiled in a more convenient form than you’ll find anywhere else. Linux, a variation of UNIX, has a large grassroots user base. As a result, most Linux distributions include a great deal of documentation that has been developed and maintained by users. Following is a look at a few of these resources.
The Linux Home Page
Even if you’re using a commercial UNIX, there are things to be learned from Linux, the publicly-written and supported UNIX variant. As a resource created by users for users, this documentation is frequently the most up-to-date documentation on UNIX freeware/shareware.
The Linux Home Page (http://www.linux.org/) is an excellent starting point; it provides links to vendors, applications, events, and other Linux goodies.
The Linux Documentation Project
The Linux Documentation Project (LDP) is a continuously updated collection of information related to Linux. The LDP contains FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions), HOWTOs, and other documentation related to the installation and maintenance of Linux-based systems. This is of value to UNIX users because of the similarity of the two systems. To view the most current information, check the online LDP reference located at: http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/.
Newsgroups
Newsgroups provide a less structured approach to finding information, but you’ll be surprised at the amount of support you can get from complete strangers. Whatever your need, there is a UNIX newsgroup that can provide answers. To get started, take a look at
comp.unix.advocacy comp.unix.questions comp.unix.misc
If you are using KDE for most of your day-to-day work, you’ll be glad to know that KDE has its own built-in HTML help system that is extremely well-integrated into the KDE environment.
Tip:
Tips of All Sorts If you don’t want to use the full-blown help system, KDE’s ToolTips might help you. ToolTips are quick little blips of information that are displayed when you pass your cursor over an icon or menu selection. Not all applications support ToolTips, but if you don’t know what something does, pass your cursor over it, wait a few seconds, and see if a ToolTip appears.
Each application has its own help menu that is laid out according to the KDE specification, which maintains consistency across all KDE applications.
To access the help viewer from within an application, simply select Contents from the Help menu. Figure 2.1 shows the help available from within Karm, the KDE personal information manager.
The KDE help viewer is a full-fledged HTML viewer. You can navigate through the help files by clicking on the links, as you do in any Web browser.
Tip:
Tip Trick up Your Sleeve Because the KDE help and file browser is really just an HTML browser, you can use the KDE browser to view any of the other UNIX HTML documentation. Type the URL to the file you want to view into the top of the browser window and press enter.
There are many help resources available for UNIX. Depending on your needs, you can approach your search for information in several different ways. The methods you are now familiar with are