1.7 Following Cross-References

In Info documentation, you will see many cross references. Cross references look like this: See Cross. That text is a real, live cross reference, whose name is `Cross' and which points to the node named `Help-Cross'. (The node name is hidden in Emacs. Do M-x visible-mode to show or hide it.)

There are two ways to follow a cross reference. You can move the cursor to it and press <RET>, just as in a menu. <RET> follows the cross reference that the cursor is on. Or you can type f and then specify the name of the cross reference (in this case, `Cross') as an argument. In Emacs Info, f runs Info-follow-reference,

In the f command, you select the cross reference with its name, so it does not matter where the cursor was. If the cursor is on or near a cross reference, f suggests that reference name in parentheses as the default; typing <RET> will follow that reference. However, if you type a different reference name, f will follow the other reference which has that name.

>> Type f, followed by Cross, and then <RET>.

As you enter the reference name, you can use the <DEL> (or <BACKSPACE>) key to edit your input. If you change your mind about following any reference, you can use Control-g to cancel the command. Completion is available in the f command; you can complete among all the cross reference names in the current node by typing a <TAB>.

To get a list of all the cross references in the current node, you can type ? after an f. The f continues to await a cross reference name even after displaying the list, so if you don't actually want to follow a reference, you should type a Control-g to cancel the f.

>> Type f? to get a list of the cross references in this node.  Then
   type a Control-g and see how the `f' gives up.

The <TAB> and M-<TAB> key, which move between menu items in a menu, also move between cross references outside of menus.

Sometimes a cross reference (or a node) can lead to another file (in other words another “manual”), or, on occasion, even a file on a remote machine (although Info files distributed with Emacs or the stand-alone Info avoid using remote links). Such a cross reference looks like this: See Overview of Texinfo. (After following this link, type l to get back to this node.) Here the name `texinfo' between parentheses (shown in the stand-alone version) refers to the file name. This file name appears in cross references and node names if it differs from the current file. In Emacs, the file name is hidden (along with other text). (Use M-x visible-mode to show or hide it.)

The remainder of this node applies only to the Emacs version. If you use the stand-alone version, you can type n immediately.

To some users, switching manuals is a much bigger switch than switching sections. These users like to know that they are going to be switching to another manual (and which one) before actually doing so, especially given that, if one does not notice, Info commands like t (see the next node) can have confusing results.

If you put your mouse over the cross reference and if the cross reference leads to a different manual, then the information appearing in a separate box (tool tip) or in the echo area, will mention the file the cross reference will carry you to (between parentheses). This is also true for menu subtopic names. If you have a mouse, just leave it over the `Overview' cross reference above and watch what happens.

If you always like to have that information available without having to move your mouse over the cross reference, set Info-hide-note-references to a value other than t (see Emacs Info Variables). You might also want to do that if you have a lot of cross references to files on remote machines and have non-permanent or slow access, since otherwise you might not be able to distinguish between local and remote links.

>> Now type n to learn more commands.