Graphical man page viewer

[SteveRiley]

If it doesn't already exist, create the file .bash_aliases in your home folder. Add the following line to the file:

kman () { khelpcenter "man:$@" 2>/dev/null ;}

Source the file into your environment so you can use the new command without logging out and back in:

source ~/.bash_aliases

The procedure calls khelpcenter and opens the man page viewer to the argument you supply; for example:

kman tune2fs

The 2>/dev/null bit just prevents the usual "qdbus misbehavior" warnings that we often see. It keeps your console window neat.

Now, when you're buried in a console window and want to check a man page, you can type kman manpage-name to open the page in a GUI window rather than opening a second console window. Furthermore, you can click the hyperlinks to navigate throughout the man page collection. Enjoy!

[Snowhog]

Nice. Thanks.

[Jonas]

Very nice, thanks for the info man! :cool:

Nice and easy to navigate unlike the console window.

b.r

Jonas

[Rog131]

AskUbuntu - graphical user interface to view man page?: http://askubuntu.com/questions/25370...-view-man-page

[vinnywright]

sweet ,,,,works nice

VINNY

[SteveRiley]

AskUbuntu - graphical user interface to view man page?: http://askubuntu.com/questions/25370...-view-man-page

Thanks, Rog! I figured I wasn't the first to stumble on this idea.

[texaswriter]

This is great! I always hate opening another console window and having to switch back and forth.

[GreyGeek]

I had seen KHelpCenter but never associated it with man pages. Being an old and long time user of Linux I've found it more bothersome to learn new tricks than to continue to use the old ones. That's odd, considering I love the graphical desktop, KDE.

Steve, your kman alias trick was neat! Gman seems OK, but when I investigrated KHelpCenter's menu more deeply I discovered the exact same menu structure that xman presents:

and from those options the graphical presentation continues. Using ALT+F2 avoids the Konsole altogether.
Add one new trick to this old dog's repertoire.

[MoonRise]

Never saw this post until now Cool! Thanks!

[anika200]

. Using ALT+F2 avoids the Konsole altogether.
Add one new trick to this old dog's repertoire.

How are we to use krunner with this trick? I tried "kman tune2fs" but nothing happens, maybe I need to logout and back in to get it to work with Alt-F2.

Great tip all the same, thanks SteveRiley.

[SteveRiley]

KRunner specifically won't run shell aliases. It would have to implement a full-on shell of its own to do that.

[Rog132]

KRunner & man pages

https://userbase.kde.org/Plasma/Krunner:

Incidentally, if the command line is your thing, you may appreciate the built in integration to man pages. Simply type a command name preceded by a # to open the man page formatted for easy readability in your browser...

or with the 'man:' http://askubuntu.com/questions/25370...-view-man-page



There is an option to write a plugin to launch the KDE help center with the man page: https://www.kubuntuforums.net/showth...unner&p=360816

[SteveRiley]

Neat, Rog, thanks.

Using #: didn't work here:

Apparently #: seems anchored to ~ because I can successfully open anything in my home directory (and below) using #: as a starting point.

But using man: did.

[anika200]

There is an option to write a plugin to launch the KDE help center with the man page: https://www.kubuntuforums.net/showth...unner&p=360816

I like this option, what fun. Thanks Rog132.