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Re: Re: Re: :: notation

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg77799] Re: [mg77772] Re: [mg77712] Re: :: notation
  • From: DrMajorBob <drmajorbob at bigfoot.com>
  • Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2007 06:02:20 -0400 (EDT)
  • References: <f4r4fu$a36$1@smc.vnet.net> <200706150839.EAA16034@smc.vnet.net> <22210468.1181983927214.JavaMail.root@m35>
  • Reply-to: drmajorbob at bigfoot.com

> Are there other issues related to finding help for a specific function
> that make 6 worse than 5.2?

Highlight ComplexMap and press the Help key.

Bobby

On Sat, 16 Jun 2007 02:33:34 -0500, Carl Woll <carlw at wolfram.com> wrote:

> Szabolcs wrote:
>
>> Andrew Moylan wrote:
>>
>>
>>> What are the properties of the :: notation? As in the following:
>>>
>>> function::usage = "bla";
>>>
>>> Where can I read about this notation in the documentation?
>>>
>>>
>>
>> You can check its FullForm and see that it is called MessageName, then
>> search for "MessageName" the the v6 doc center.
>>
>> Or you can use the much better 5.2 documentation to look it up directly  
>> ;)
>>
>>
> There are aspects of the 5.2 documentation that people miss in 6, but
> surely the documentation for a particular function is generally much
> better in 6 than in 5.2. If we compare MessageName in 5.2 vs 6, we see
> that the notes are identical, but 6 includes several examples involving
> MessageName which 5.2 does not.
>
> Also, for looking up specific function help, I don't think 5.2 and 6 are
> that different. In both 5.2 and 6 we can do
>
> ?::
>
> and then click on the link to get the MessageName help. Also, in both
> 5.2 and 6, if you type
>
> MessageName
>
> in the notebook, put the mouse pointer inside the word and then click
> find selected function, you will go directly to the MessageName page.
>
> I think the only place where 5.2 is different, and more convenient for
> finding help on a specific function, is when one looks up a function
> after opening the help browser. In this case the lookup field is
> selected and blank. Moreover, as you type different entries in an
> hierarchical table of contents are highlighted.
>
> In my usage of Mathematica, I usually know which function I want to use,
> and I'll type it into the notebook. At that point, sometimes I'm not
> sure about an aspect of using that function, so I'll move the mouse
> pointer to the function and hit 'Find selected function', bringing up
> the help for that function, which in general is very complete and
> useful. Consequently, for me the help in 6 is much better than in 5.2 as
> the function page documentation is better.
>
> Are there other issues related to finding help for a specific function
> that make 6 worse than 5.2?
>
> Carl Woll
> Wolfram Research
>
>
>
>



-- 
DrMajorBob at bigfoot.com


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