When using the UN*X manpages, you typically need to know what you're looking for. If you don't know what you're looking for, there is what is called a "permuted index", however, obtaining it requires knowing that it exists and how to obtain information about how to obtain it. Often times, the "apropos" command can help you find what you're looking for.
The OpenVMS on-line HELP facility, in response to the "HELP" command, provides a list of topics for which HELP is available.
Here is a sample of the initial HELP display from an OpenVMS
system:
$ help
HELP
The HELP command invokes the HELP Facility to display
information about a command or topic. In response to the "Topic?"
prompt, you can:
o Type the name of the command or topic for which you need help.
o Type INSTRUCTIONS for more detailed instructions on how to use
HELP.
o Type HINTS if you are not sure of the name of the command or
topic for which you need help.
o Type HELP/MESSAGE for help with the HELP/MESSAGE command.
o Type a question mark (?) to redisplay the most recently requested
text.
o Press the Return key one or more times to exit from HELP.
You can abbreviate any topic name, although ambiguous abbreviations
result in all matches being displayed.
Additional information available:
:= = @ ACCOUNTING ALLOCATE ANALYZE APPEND
ASSIGN ATTACH AUTHORIZE AUTOGEN BACKUP CALL CANCEL
CC CLOSE CONFIGURE CONNECT CONTINUE CONVERT COPY
CREATE DCL_Tips DEALLOCATE DEASSIGN DEBUG DECK DECthreads
DEFINE DELETE DEPOSIT DIAGNOSE DIFFERENCES DIRECTORY
DISABLE DISCONNECT DISMOUNT DPML DSR DUMP EDIT
ENABLE ENDSUBROUTINE EOD EOJ Errors EXAMINE
EXCHANGE EXIT Ext_File_Specs FDL FONT GENCAT
GOSUB GOTO HELP Hints ICONV IF INITIALIZE
INQUIRE INSTALL Instructions JAVA JOB LANCP
LATCP LD Lexicals LIBRARY LICENSE Line_editing
LINK LMCP LOCALE LOGIN LOGOUT MACRO MAIL
MERGE MESSAGE MIME MONITOR MOUNT NCP NCS
ON OPEN PASSWORD PATCH PHONE PIPE POLYCENTER
PRINT PRODUCT PSWRAP PURGE Queues READ RECALL
RECOVER RENAME REPLY REQUEST RETURN RMS
RTL_Routines RUN RUNOFF SEARCH SET SHOW
SORT SPAWN START STOP SUBMIT SUBROUTINE
Symbol_Assign SYNCHRONIZE SYSGEN SYSMAN
System_Services Sys_Files Sys_Parameters TFF TYPE
UNLOCK V72_Features VIEW WAIT WRITE
Topic?
Typing a topic name at the "Topic? " prompt produces a description of that topic, and any associated sub-topics. Thus, by exploring the on-line HELP for a command you can learn about the various parameters and options (qualifiers) of that command. HELP also has on-line help, as is shown in the display. "HELP Instructions" is a good way to learn about how to use HELP.
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