GNU Emacs Help Mode
The disadvantage of key combinations (e.g. C-xC-f), as opposed to clicking on a menu item (e.g. File -> Open), is that they offer very little information about what it is they do. The large number of key combinations available makes it quite a challenge to remember exactly which combination does the particular bit of magic that you want.
The big advantage of key combinations is of course that, once you know them, lightning speed as opposed to fumbling with the mouse - you can do many things with the keyboard in the time it would take to select a menu entry three levels down with the mouse. :-)
Command | Description |
---|---|
C-h | Invoke the Help system - type "?" to display all help options. |
C-hk key | Indicates the name of the function which is run by a key combination, and displays the documentation for the function. |
C-hf function-name | Display the complete function doc string. |
C-ha keywords | Search for commands whose name contain the keywords. |
C-hr | Opens the Emacs Manual (in Info mode). |