hel of some commands not found

hel of some commands not found

[Michele Bert]

Hello
I am using GNU Emacs 23.3.1 (i686-pc-linux-gnu, X toolkit, Xaw3d
scroll bars) of 2013-05-17 on komainu, modified by Debian, on and
Ubutu 12.04.
and I cannot find help for some commands. For example I have just
looked for command "format-decode-buffer", though I got the "Concept
index".
Where does emacs look for help? I suppose in that case the system is
missing some -doc packedge, but how can I get which one I have to
install?

Thanks
-- 
Mick

Re: hel of some commands not found

[tomas]

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On Mon, Jan 09, 2017 at 03:54:37PM +0100, Michele Bert wrote:
> Hello
> I am using GNU Emacs 23.3.1 (i686-pc-linux-gnu, X toolkit, Xaw3d
> scroll bars) of 2013-05-17 on komainu, modified by Debian, on and
> Ubutu 12.04.
> and I cannot find help for some commands. For example I have just
> looked for command "format-decode-buffer", though I got the "Concept
> index".

What are you exactly trying to do?

Trying to guess, I assumed that you are searching for a function's
description. Trying "C-h f" (same as menu "Help" -> "Describe" ->
"Describe Function...") gives for me:

  +---------
  |format-decode-buffer is an interactive compiled Lisp function in
  |‘format.el’.
  |
  |(format-decode-buffer &optional FORMAT)
  |
  |Translate the buffer from some FORMAT.
  |If the format is not specified, attempt a regexp-based guess.
  |Set ‘buffer-file-format’ to the format used, and call any
  |format-specific mode functions.
  +---------

What happens for you if you try those steps?

regards
- - tomás
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