info

info linux command cheatsheet by Thamizhiniyan C S

Introduction

This command is used to read the documentations of commands in the Info Format. It's an alternative to the man page. The info command reads the info files, which are stored as nodes in tree structure. Each info file contains hyperlinks to the next node. Using hyperlinks another nodes can be accessed.


Syntax

info [OPTION]... [MENU-ITEM...]


Important Flags

FlagDescription

-a, –all

Use all matching manuals.

-k, –apropos=STRING

Look up STRING in all indices of all manuals.

-d, –directory=DIR

Add DIR to INFOPATH.

-f, –file=MANUAL

Specify Info manual to visit.

-h, –help

Display this help and exit.

-n, –node=NODENAME

Specify nodes in first visited Info file.

-o, –output=FILE

Output selected nodes to FILE.

-O, –show-options, –usage

Go to command-line options node.

-v, –variable VAR=VALUE

Assign VALUE to Info variable VAR.

–version

Display version information and exit.

-w, –where, –location

Print physical location of Info file.


Interactive Mode Commands

CommandDescription

?

Display command help

PAGE UP or BACKSPACE

Display previous page

PAGE DOWN or spacebar

Display next page

n

Next—display the next node

p

Previous—display the previous node

U

Up—display the parent node of the currently displayed node, usually a menu

ENTER

Follow the hyperlink at the cursor location

Q

Quit

Examples

CommandDescription
info

show top-level dir menu

info -a ls

It uses all matching manuals and displays them for a particular command.

info -k ls

It looks up STRING in all indices of all manuals and then displays the same.

info -d ls

It adds DIR to INFOPATH and also displays the same.

info -O ls

It goes to the command-line options node for a particular command and displays the same.

info -w ls

It prints the physical location of the Info file.

man info

To check the manual page of the info command.

info --help

To check the help page of the info command.

info info-stnd

show the manual for this Info program

info emacs

start at emacs node from top-level dir

info emacs buffers

select buffers menu entry in emacs manual

info emacs -n Files

start at Files node within emacs manual

info '(emacs)Files'

alternative way to start at Files node

info --show-options emacs

start at node with emacs' command line options

info --subnodes -o out.txt emacs

dump entire emacs manual to out.txt

info -f ./foo.info

show file ./foo.info, not searching dir

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