Re: LYNX-DEV one-screen lynx -help page proposal

[Al Gilman]

  From: Mike Brown <address@hidden>

  Comments/suggestions welcome.
  
For your consideration...

  Lynx Version 2.7
  (c)1997 GNU General Public License
  <URL:http://lynx.browser.org/>
 
Reduce this to one line, e.g.

Lynx Version 2.7 (c)1997  -+- see lynx.browser.org
 
Note: the pros and cons of the <URL:...> wrapper rages through
faq-maintainers mailing list recurringly.  Defacto it's
expendable, and particularly here where the consumer is the
eyeball.  Dropping the http:// is more risky, but I would do it.

  Lynx is a fully-featured World Wide Web (WWW) client for users running
  cursor-addressable, character-cell display devices (e.g., vt100 terminals
  or emulators, or any other "curses-oriented" displays).

Lose the above paragraph in its entirety.  

  USAGE:  lynx [options] [file or URL]
  
Use the space saved for some examples, for example

EXAMPLES:
        lynx                -- starts program at pre-defined STARTFILE.
        lynx -book           -- starts program viewing saved bookmarks.
        lynx http://lynx.browser.org -- starts program at Lynx HomePage
        lynx -dump <RELEASE statement URL>
                -- writes formatted page of distribution conditions to
                -- a file on the system where Lynx is running.

    To see a full list of startup options, execute 'lynx -help2'

-options probably gets my vote.
  
    From within Lynx, use the '?' key to view an extensive users guide.
    The 'o' key will bring up a set of user-definable preferences.
  
    Many options have been compiled into your local installation of lynx by
    your system administrator.  Some options for your local system are also
    defined in a global lynx.cfg file that is checked by lynx upon startup.
  
The above paragraph is on the ragged edge of making the cut for inclusion
in this display.

  Check the online users guide ('?' key within Lynx) for answers to the most
  frequently asked questions and help with all aspects of Lynx usage.

For real disaster situations, that is to say Lynx is non-functional for
some reason, my inclination is that we should document a bootstrap
sequence that only assumes the user has working email.  The following
is a possible response to a hypothetical command option  

lynx -bymail

If Lynx does not work for you at all, you can work with the online Lynx
information through some HTTP-by-mail gateway.  To find these send email

To: address@hidden 
Leave Subject blank, and enter only this line in the body of the note:
  GET INTERNET BY-EMAIL NETTRAIN F=MAIL

And then retrieve the Lynx information starting with the URL
http://lynx.browser.org/


--
Al Gilman
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