Searching an Info File

GNU Info allows you to search for a sequence of characters throughout an entire info file, search through the indices of an info file, or find areas within an info file which discuss a particular topic.

s (search)

Reads a string in the echo area and searches for it.

C-s (isearch-forward)

Interactively searches forward through the info file for a string as you type it.

C-r (isearch-backward)

Interactively searches backward through the info file for a string as you type it.

i (index-search)

Looks up a string in the indices for this info file, and selects a node where the found index entry points to.

, (next-index-match)

Moves to the node containing the next matching index item from the last `i' command.

The most basic searching command is `s' (search). The `s' command prompts you for a string in the echo area, and then searches the remainder of the info file for an ocurrence of that string. If the string is found, the node containing it is selected, and the cursor is left positioned at the start of the found string. Subsequent `s' commands show you the default search string within `[' and `]'; pressing RET instead of typing a new string will use the default search string.

Incremental searching is similar to basic searching, but the string is looked up while you are typing it, instead of waiting until the entire search string has been specified.