Reading TeX Documentation with Emacs

Novice with Emacs

• info texinof enters the TeX online help (only alphas); q leaves it.
• ? lists commands; (ctrl)-x 0 leave list.
• At the top of any node screen is the info
  File: [name] Node: [name] Next: [next_node] Previous: [prev_node]
  N (with no ret) goes to next node;
  P (with no ret) goes to previous node.
• When a node doesn't fit inside a screen:
  (Space) moves forward; (Space) also moves thru displayed node menu;
  (Delete) returns to previous position.
  B goes back to top of node.
  (ctrl)-L restores a garbaged screen.
• Menus. Beginning of a menu is always identified by top line
  * [menu_name]:
  Subtopics in the menu have the form:
  * [subtopic_name]: [node_of_subtopic]: Brief description of subtopic
     `node_of_subtopic' is omitted (but not colon) if the same as `subtopic_name.'
  • M [subtopic_name] (ret) goes to specific subtopic.
      Notes:
    1. M requires an argument and (ret).
    2. (Ctrl)-g aborts m command.
    3. Don't need full subtopic_name; completes when unique.
       
  • U returns to menu
  • L retraces your path, using history.
• Directories.
  D goes to directory node.
  F [cross_ref] takes you to cross_refenence
  F ? list cross references of current node
     F waits for cross_ref argument; (ctrl)-G will abort.

Expert with Emacs

Note: commands with no argument execute without (ret); commands with argument require (ret).

• G [node_name] (ret) go to node_name (if you know full name!)
  G ([file_name])[node)name]* (ret) goes to node in another file that must be in ( )'s.
  G*(ret) look at all nodes of current file.
  G([file_name])(ret) look at all file_name.
• S [string] (ret) searches whole file for string.
     Repeating s (ret) search for same string again.
     (meta)-s is equivalent to s.
• E changes from info to ordinary emacs so you can edit text of current node.
     (ctrl)-c (ctrl)-c switches back to info.