Chapter 3. Getting Help and Using the Unix Manual

There are four ways to get help when using Unix: from external documentation such as this book, Web sites, and other similar materials; from the extensive Unix reference manuals that come with every version of Unix, including Mac OS X; from the built-in help that comes with most commands; and from other people via online discussion systems, e-mail, user groups, and, yes, calling your friends on the telephone. You are already taking the first approach, so this chapter concentrates on the other three.

The Unix reference manual is a collection of files called man pages, which are specially formatted files intended to be viewed with the man command. Unix man pages are written for an audience of experienced ...

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