New: apropos2, an improved apropos command

[Tony Nelson]

Apropos is a command in the man package that shows entries in the whatis
database that match a search word.  Often there are many matches, and one
might like to winnow them down by typing more words.  Instead, apropos
prints all the matches for each word, making the problem worse.  One can
pipe the apropos output to grep, but I have something better.

<http://georgeanelson.com/apropos2.htm>

Apropos2 is an improved apropos that shows only entries that match all the
words.  This makes apropos2 much better for finding a command you are
looking for.  I present it here first in hopes that it will be useful, and
that it will be used and tested by some of the people on this list.  If I
get positive feedback, I will try to submit apropos2 (and the feedback) to
the man maintainers.  This is my first RPM.  It is GPL'd, like the apropos
command it is derived from.

Apropos2 is easy to install and use.  Download and install the apropos
binary rpm:

    $ su -
    <root password>
    # rpm -i /path/to/apropos2-1.0.1-1_GAN.noarch.rpm
    # exit
    $ apropos front back

The rpm sets up an alias so you can use the apropos command name, but get
the improved apropos2.  The alias is removed if the rpm is uninstalled.
Nothing in the man package is changed, and updating man should not affect
apropos2.

--

This list is about all I know.  Where would be other good places to
publicize an improved apropos, so that people who would benefit from it
(but might not be looking for it) will notice it?
____________________________________________________________________
TonyN.:'                       <mailto:tonynelson at georgeanelson.com>
      '                              <http://www.georgeanelson.com/>