sean@ukma.UUCP (Sean Casey) (02/06/85)
Here at Uk we have 4 3B2s running SysV R2. I have used that help system, and it is basically a menu driven version of the man command. Personally, I much prefer man to help. Sean Casey (no addresses, disclaimers, quotes, or greasy kid stuff)
Doug Gwyn (VLD/VMB) <gwyn@Brl-Vld.ARPA> (02/11/85)
How about the DEC HELP facility as implemented e.g. on VMS? I have seen such a facility implemented as a TECO macro! The important thing seems to be to get the user interface (including "functionality", how I hate that word) right. Variable-resolution help seems to be a good idea if done well.
Stephen Wolff <steve@brl-tgr> (02/11/85)
The trouble with all the `help' facilities I've suffered under is that they
are keyword-based. That's ok if I've got the right idea and the right word.
However, if I've got the right idea but the wrong word I'm out of luck:
("man -k delete" won't tell me to use `rm' to delete a file). It would seem
from my uninitiated view to be a trivial but tedious job to key on synonyms
as well.
Oddly, if I have both the wrong word and the wrong idea, then there are at
least three AI `helps' in the works that will correct my misperceptions and
tell me what I need to know.
Nothing beats the on-line manual. The VMS `HELP' is so condescending and
marginally informative I want to put a wrench through the screen every time.