Info (Unix)
Encyclopedia
info is a software utility which forms a hypertext
ual, multipage documentation and help viewer working on a command line interface, useful when there is no GUI
available.
info processes info files, which are Texinfo
formatted files, and presents the documentation as a tree
, with simple commands to traverse the tree and to follow cross references. For instance
The C implementation of info was designed as the main documentation system of GNU based Operating Systems and was then ported to other Unix-like
operating systems. However, info files had already been in use on ITS
emacs
.
Hypertext
Hypertext is text displayed on a computer or other electronic device with references to other text that the reader can immediately access, usually by a mouse click or keypress sequence. Apart from running text, hypertext may contain tables, images and other presentational devices. Hypertext is the...
ual, multipage documentation and help viewer working on a command line interface, useful when there is no GUI
Gui
Gui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...
available.
info processes info files, which are Texinfo
Texinfo
Texinfo is a typesetting syntax used for generating documentation in both on-line and printed form with a single source file...
formatted files, and presents the documentation as a tree
Tree structure
A tree structure is a way of representing the hierarchical nature of a structure in a graphical form. It is named a "tree structure" because the classic representation resembles a tree, even though the chart is generally upside down compared to an actual tree, with the "root" at the top and the...
, with simple commands to traverse the tree and to follow cross references. For instance
- n goes to the next page.
- p goes to the previous page.
- u goes to the upper page.
- l goes to the last(visited) node
- To follow a cross reference, the cursor can be moved over a link (a word preceded by a *) and enter pressed.
The C implementation of info was designed as the main documentation system of GNU based Operating Systems and was then ported to other Unix-like
Unix-like
A Unix-like operating system is one that behaves in a manner similar to a Unix system, while not necessarily conforming to or being certified to any version of the Single UNIX Specification....
operating systems. However, info files had already been in use on ITS
Incompatible Timesharing System
ITS, the Incompatible Timesharing System , was an early, revolutionary, and influential time-sharing operating system from MIT; it was developed principally by the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT, with some help from Project MAC.In addition to being technically influential ITS, the...
emacs
Emacs
Emacs is a class of text editors, usually characterized by their extensibility. GNU Emacs has over 1,000 commands. It also allows the user to combine these commands into macros to automate work.Development began in the mid-1970s and continues actively...
.
List of Texinfo readers
- info
- pinfo
- tkman
- tkinfo
- khelpcenter (click "Browse Info Pages")
- emacsEmacsEmacs is a class of text editors, usually characterized by their extensibility. GNU Emacs has over 1,000 commands. It also allows the user to combine these commands into macros to automate work.Development began in the mid-1970s and continues actively...