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The GNU info Command

Copyright (C) 2003 by Steve Litt
[ Linux Library | Troubleshooters.Com | Email Steve Litt | Copyright Notice ]
The GNU info command fills a role like the man command, but very often has much more information. It's therefore essential.

Unfortunately, the info command's keyboard interface is unlike any other application, and VERY counterintuitive. For that reason I provide this quick guide to info keystrokes:

Func name
 Key
 Explanation
Program and Window commands
Quit
 q
 Quits the info program.
Help tutorial
 h
 Sends you to a thorough info tutorial.
Basic command reference
 ?
 Sends you to a basic command reference, which is actually much less basic than what you're reading right now.
Switch info windows
 C-x o
 If the info screen is split into multiple windows, this command moves you to another window.
Delete the current window
 C-x 0
 That's a zero, not a capital o.
Delete all windows except the current
 C-x 1
 That's one, not lowercase L.

Node Navigation commands
Next node
 n
 Moves you to the next node. The next node is defined as the current node's next sibling in the hierarchy.
Previous node
 p
 Moves you to the previous node. The previous node is defined as the current node's previous sibling in the hierarchy. DANGER WILL ROBINSON: This is not the previous node visited, but instead the previous node defined by the info author. If you want the previous node visited, that's the last (l) command.
Up to parent node
 u
 Go up to the parent node.
Last node visited
 l
 Go to the last node visited. This is like the "back button" on a browser.
Beginning of node
 b
 Go to the top of current mode. Why isn't this called t? Because t takes you to the top node in the file.
Top of node
 t
 SEE PRECEDING
Follow Reference
 Enter
 When you press Enter while the cursor is on a line that starts with an asterisk, if that line is later in the node than one that starts with an asterisk and is followed by a space and the word "menu", you will be transported to the referenced node. To come back from a referenced node, use the l (last node visited) command.

Scrolling Commands
Down 1 line
 Down
Up 1 line
 Up
Down several lines
 Space
 Walks up and down the hierarchy. This makes the info file read like a book.
Up several lines
 Backspace
 Walks up and down the hierarchy in the reverse direction of the Space command




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Copyright (C) 2003 by Steve Litt. -- Legal