AIS AI2524 Understanding the User Interface Get Word Help, Get Command Syntax Help, Examples

Chapter 4: Understanding the User Interface

Warning: When using context-sensitive help, the space (or lack of a space) before the question mark (?) is significant.

Get Word Help

To obtain a list of commands that begin with a particular character se- quence, type in those characters followed immediately by the question mark (?). Do not include a space. This is called word help because it completes a word for you.

Get Command Syntax Help

To list keywords or arguments, enter a question mark (?) in place of a keyword or argument. Include a space before the question mark (?). This form of help is called command syntax help, because it lists key- words or arguments that are applicable based on the command, key- words, and arguments you already have entered.

Get Help for Abbreviated Commands

You can abbreviate commands and keywords to the number of charac- ters that allow a unique abbreviation. For example, you can abbreviat the show command to sh.

Examples

Enter the help command, which is available in any command mode, for a brief description of the help system:

Router# help

Help may be requested at any point in a command by entering a question mark '?'. If nothing matches, the help list will be empty and you must back up until entering a '?' shows the available options. Two styles of help are provided:

1.Full help is available when you are ready to enter a command argument (e.g. 'show ?') and describes each possible argument.

2.Partial help is provided when an abbreviated argument is entered and you want to know what arguments match the input (e.g. 'show pr?'.)

These examples illustrate how the context-sensitive help feature en- ables you to create an access list from configuration mode.

zType the letters co at the system prompt, followed by a question mark (?). Do not leave a space between the last letter and the ques- tion mark (?). The system provides the commands that begin with co.

August 1997	Page 4-19
2524UM