# $EPIC: README_FIRST,v 1.7 2003/03/21 00:32:23 kitambi Exp $
How to use the EPIC help system

++ New users should use "/help 7 New_User" before proceeding further. ++

The basic system has not changed from previous releases of the client.
What has changed is the structure of the helpfiles, and the helpfiles
themselves.  Helpfiles are now organized in logical groups of commands,
similar to the Unix manual system.

   Section 1: General Commands           Section 5: Programming EPIC
   Section 2: Server Queries             Section 6: Builtin Functions
   Section 3: IRC Operator Commands      Section 7: Documentation
   Section 4: Miscellaneous Commands     Section 8: Script Library

The implication of this, however, is that HELP can't work the same way
as it used to.  In order to read a helpfile now, its section number must
also be given.  Thus, where one previously obtained help on WHOIS with
"/help whois", one must now use "/help 2 whois".

To be able to locate helpfiles without having to know the section number, 
you may load the "man" script, which is documented under "/help 8 man".

Another change is the references to related topics in individual help-
files, which is another similarity to Unix man pages.  To better help
users ease into the new format, all topic references in the "See Also"
sections will include a Unix-ish section reference, such as "whois(2)".

  ++ If you have not yet read "/help 7 New_User", please do so now. ++

VERY IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ THIS!
These help files are a work-in-progress.  Many of the files may contain 
incomplete or incorrect information.  Some of the files may be entirely 
empty (which means that feature has not been documented yet.)  Some
features may not have a help file at all.  Please be patient with us.
If you would like to help us maintain the help files, send an email to
jnelson@prbh.org.

