05/04/84  explain_doc, edoc

Syntax as a command:  edoc manual_name {-control_args}


Function:  returns information about a specified Multics manual(s).


Arguments:
manual_name
   is the manual's name, a short name for the manual, or the manual's
   order number.  The name or the short name may contain blank spaces;
   it need not be enclosed in quotation marks.  Capitalizing letters is
   not necessary.  Use iteration to get more than one manual.


Control arguments:
-all, -a
   prints all the sections of manual information.
-audience, -aud
   describes the audience for which the manual is intended.
-database_pathname PATH, -dbpn PATH
   specifies the pathname of the data base you want instead of the
   default one.  Once you supply -database_pathname, the specified data
   base is used for all subsequent invocations of explain_doc during
   your process until you select another data base.
-description, -desc
   returns a brief description of the manual's contents.  (Default)
-new_features, -nf
   lists all new features that have been added to the manual with the
   last update (revision or addendum).


-no_audience, -no_aud
   does not describe the manual's intended audience.  (Default)
-no_description, -no_desc
   suppresses printing of the brief description of the manual's
   contents.
-no_new_features, -no_nf
   does not list new features.  (Default)
-no_request_loop, -nrql
   does not enter the request loop.


-no_table_of_contents, -no_toc
   does not print the manual's table of contents.  (Default)
-output_file PATH, -of PATH
   directs the output to a file instead of to your terminal.
-request_loop, -rql
   enters a request loop after the sections specified by control
   arguments have been printed.  (Default)
-table_of_contents, -toc
   prints the manual's table of contents.


Notes on requests:  When you have invoked explain_doc and the section
has been displayed, you are prompted
   More information?

You may respond with one of the following requests--
   yes, y
   ?  (lists available responses)
   description, desc
   audience, aud
   table_of_contents, toc
   new_features, nf
   all, a
   no, n, quit, q  (quits the request loop and returns you to
	         command level).


Notes:  When explain_doc cannot find a data base entry that matches the
manual name supplied, it may, in some cases, find a partial match that
enables it to identify that name as belonging to a particular group
such as the FORTRAN manuals or the Administrator's manuals.  In that
case, the relevant set of manual names is listed, and you can then
choose to see the information on one of those manuals or return to
command level.


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Historical Background

This edition of the Multics software materials and documentation is provided and donated
to Massachusetts Institute of Technology by Group BULL including BULL HN Information Systems Inc. 
as a contribution to computer science knowledge.  
This donation is made also to give evidence of the common contributions of Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Bell Laboratories, General Electric, Honeywell Information Systems Inc., Honeywell BULL Inc., Groupe BULL
and BULL HN Information Systems Inc. to the development of this operating system. 
Multics development was initiated by Massachusetts Institute of Technology Project MAC (1963-1970),
renamed the MIT Laboratory for Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence in the mid 1970s, under the leadership
of Professor Fernando Jose Corbato. Users consider that Multics provided the best software architecture 
for managing computer hardware properly and for executing programs. Many subsequent operating systems 
incorporated Multics principles.
Multics was distributed in 1975 to 2000 by Group Bull in Europe , and in the U.S. by Bull HN Information Systems Inc., 
as successor in interest by change in name only to Honeywell Bull Inc. and Honeywell Information Systems Inc. .

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Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute these programs and their documentation for any purpose and without
fee is hereby granted,provided that the below copyright notice and historical background appear in all copies
and that both the copyright notice and historical background and this permission notice appear in supporting
documentation, and that the names of MIT, HIS, BULL or BULL HN not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining
to distribution of the programs without specific prior written permission.
    Copyright 1972 by Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Honeywell Information Systems Inc.
    Copyright 2006 by BULL HN Information Systems Inc.
    Copyright 2006 by Bull SAS
    All Rights Reserved