Rudy’s OBTF Rudolf Adamkovič

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Help mode

A built-in major mode in Emacs for viewing and navigating documentation.

Table 1: Help
Key Description Mnemonic
C-h R open manual read
C-h m describe active modes mode
C-h o describe symbol  
C-h f describe function function
C-h x describe command as per M-x
C-h v describe variable variable
C-h P describe package package
C-h C-\ describe input method as per C-\
C-h k describe key key
C-h b describe all bound keys bound keys
C-h l view interaction history “lossage”

See also the describe-face command.

To find a variable by its value, use apropos-value.

To view the recent input keystrokes, type C-h l or execute view-lossage.

To show the keybindings for the current unfinished command, called prefix, type C-h. For example, to see what keys can follow C-x, type C-x followed by C-h.

help-mode:

Key Description Mnemonic
l Navigate back left
r Navigate forward right
TAB Next link  
< Go to beginning like M-<
> Go to end like M->
SPC Page down  
S-SPC Page up  
s Find source code source
q Quit quit

Automatically select the help window when created.

(setopt help-window-select t)

Do not wait before echoing unfinished commands.

(setopt echo-keystrokes 1e-6)

© 2025 Rudolf Adamkovič under GNU General Public License version 3.
Made with Emacs and secret alien technologies of yesteryear.