1 01/24/82  Standard subsystem request:  help
 2 
 3 Syntax:  help {topics} {-control_args}
 4 
 5 
 6 Function:  prints information about various subsystem topics including
 7 detailed descriptions of most subsystem requests.
 8 
 9 
10 Arguments:
11 topics
12    are the topics on which information is to be printed.  The topics
13    available within a subsystem can be determined by using the
14    list_help request if available.
15 
16 
17 Control arguments:
18    The most useful control arguments for the help request are:
19 -title
20    prints section titles and section line counts, then asks if the user
21    wants to see the first paragraph of information.
22 -brief, -bf
23    prints only a summary of a request or active request, including the
24    Syntax section, list of arguments, control arguments, etc.
25 -section STRs, -scn STRs
26    begins printing at the section whose title contains all the strings
27    STRs.  By default, printing begins at the top of the information.
28 -search STRs, -srh STRs
29    begins printing with the paragraph containing all the strings STRs.
30    By default, printing begins at the top of the information.
31 
32 
33 List of responses:
34    The most useful responses which can be given to questions asked by
35    the help request are:
36 yes, y
37    prints the next paragraph of information on this topic.
38 no, n
39    stops printing information for this topic and proceeds to the next
40    topic if any.
41 quit, q
42    stops printing information for this topic and returns to the
43    subsystem's request level.
44 
45 
46 rest {-scn}, r {-scn}
47    prints remaining information for this topic without intervening
48    questions.  If -section or -scn is given, help prints only the rest
49    of the current section without questions and then asks if the user
50    wants to see the next section.
51 title {-top}
52    lists titles and line counts of the sections which follow; if -top
53    or -t is given, help lists all section titles.  help then repeats
54    the previous question after titles are printed.
55 
56 
57 section {STRs} {-top},
58 scn {STRs} {-top}
59    skips to the next section whose title contains all the strings STRs.
60    If -top or -t is given, title searching starts at the top of the
61    information.  If STRs are omitted, help uses the STRs from the
62    previous section response or the -section control argument.
63 search {STRs} {-top},
64 srh {STRs} {-top}
65    skips to the next paragraph containing all the strings STRs.  If
66    -top or -t is given, searching starts at top of the information.  If
67    STRs are omitted, help uses the STRs from the previous search
68    response or the -search control argument.
69 
70 
71 skip {-scn} {-seen}
72 s {-scn} {-seen}
73    skips to the next paragraph.  If -section or -scn is given, skips
74    all paragraphs of the current section.  If -seen is given, skips to
75    the next paragraph which the user has not seen.  Only one control
76    argument is allowed in each skip response.
77 
78 
79 ?
80    prints the list of responses allowed to help queries.
81 .
82    prints "help" to identify the current interactive environment.
83 .. command_line
84    treats the remainder of the response as a Multics command line.
85 
86 
87 Notes:
88 If given no topic names, the help request will explain what requests
89 are available in the subsystem to obtain information on the subsystem.
90 
91 For a complete description of the control arguments and responses
92 accepted by this request, type:
93    .. help help