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diff --git a/lynx_help/Lynx_users_guide.html b/lynx_help/Lynx_users_guide.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b493e51 --- /dev/null +++ b/lynx_help/Lynx_users_guide.html @@ -0,0 +1,5260 @@ +<!-- $LynxId: Lynx_users_guide.html,v 1.141 2018/07/08 15:22:44 tom Exp $ --> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN"> + +<html> +<head> + <meta name="generator" content= + "HTML Tidy for Linux (vers 25 March 2009), see www.w3.org"> + + <title>Lynx Users Guide v2.8.9</title> + <link rev="made" href="mailto:lynx-dev@nongnu.org"> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= + "text/html; charset=us-ascii"> + <meta name="description" content= + "This is the user's guide to Lynx, giving detailed information on how to use the program, and how to change its configuration using the options menu."> + </head> + +<body> + <h1>Lynx Users Guide v2.8.9</h1> + + <p>Lynx is a fully-featured <em>World Wide Web</em> + (<em>WWW</em>) client for users running cursor-addressable, + character-cell display devices (e.g., vt100 terminals, vt100 + emulators running on PCs or Macs, or any other character-cell + display). It will display <em>Hypertext Markup Language</em> + (<em>HTML</em>) documents containing links to files on the local + system, as well as files on remote systems running <em>http</em>, + <em>gopher</em>, <em>ftp</em>, <em>wais</em>, <em>nntp</em>, + <em>finger</em>, or <em>cso</em>/<em>ph</em>/<em>qi</em> servers, + and services accessible via logins to <em>telnet</em>, + <em>tn3270</em> or <em>rlogin</em> accounts (see <a href= + "lynx_url_support.html">URL Schemes Supported by Lynx</a>). + <a href="#Hist">Current</a> versions of Lynx run on Unix, VMS, + Windows3.x/9x/NT and later, 386DOS and OS/2 EMX.</p> + + <p>Lynx can be used to access information on the <em>WWW</em>, or + to build information systems intended primarily for local access. + For example, Lynx has been used to build several <em>Campus Wide + Information Systems</em> (<em>CWIS</em>). In addition, Lynx can + be used to build systems isolated within a single LAN.</p> + + <h2 id="TOC"><a name="Contents" id="Contents">Table of + Contents</a></h2> + + <ul> + <li><a href="#Help" name="ToC-Help" id="ToC-Help">Lynx online + help</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Local" name="ToC-Local" id="ToC-Local">Viewing + local files with Lynx</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Leaving" name="ToC-Leaving" id= + "ToC-Leaving">Leaving Lynx</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Remote" name="ToC-Remote" id= + "ToC-Remote">Starting Lynx with a Remote File</a></li> + + <li><a href="#EnVar" name="ToC-EnVar" id="ToC-EnVar">Starting + Lynx with the WWW_HOME environment variable.</a></li> + + <li><a href="#IntraDocNav" name="ToC-IntraDocNav" id= + "ToC-IntraDocNav">Navigating hypertext documents with + Lynx</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Disposing" name="ToC-Disposing" id= + "ToC-Disposing">Printing, Mailing, and Saving rendered files to + disk.</a></li> + + <li><a href="#LocalSource" name="ToC-LocalSource" id= + "ToC-LocalSource">Viewing the HTML document source and editing + documents</a></li> + + <li><a href="#RemoteSource" name="ToC-RemoteSource" id= + "ToC-RemoteSource">Downloading and Saving source + files.</a></li> + + <li><a href="#ReDo" name="ToC-ReDo" id="ToC-ReDo">Reloading + files and refreshing the display</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Search" name="ToC-Search" id="ToC-Search">Lynx + searching commands</a></li> + + <li><a href="#InteractiveOptions" name="ToC-InteractiveOptions" + id="ToC-InteractiveOptions">Lynx Options Menu</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Mail" name="ToC-Mail" id="ToC-Mail">Comments and + mailto: links</a></li> + + <li><a href="#News" name="ToC-News" id="ToC-News">USENET News + posting</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Bookmarks" name="ToC-Bookmarks" id= + "ToC-Bookmarks">Lynx bookmarks</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Jumps" name="ToC-Jumps" id="ToC-Jumps">Jump + command</a></li> + + <li><a href="#DirEd" name="ToC-DirEd" id="ToC-DirEd">Directory + Editing</a></li> + + <li><a href="#ColorMouse" name="ToC-ColorMouse" id= + "ToC-ColorMouse">Using Color & the Mouse</a></li> + + <li><a href="#MiscKeys" name="ToC-MiscKeys" id= + "ToC-MiscKeys">Scrolling and Other useful commands</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Forms" name="ToC-Forms" id="ToC-Forms">Lynx and + HTML Forms</a> | <a href="#Images" name="ToC-Images" id= + "ToC-Images">Lynx and HTML Images</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Tables" name="ToC-Tables" id="ToC-Tables">Lynx + and HTML Tables</a> | <a href="#Tabs" name="ToC-Tabs" id= + "ToC-Tabs">Lynx and HTML Tabs</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Frames" name="ToC-Frames" id="ToC-Frames">Lynx + and HTML Frames</a> | <a href="#Banners" name="ToC-Banners" id= + "ToC-Banners">Lynx and HTML Banners</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Footnotes" name="ToC-Footnotes" id= + "ToC-Footnotes">Lynx and HTML Footnotes</a> | <a href="#Notes" + name="ToC-Notes" id="ToC-Notes">Lynx and HTML Notes</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Lists" name="ToC-Lists" id="ToC-Lists">Lynx and + HTML Lists</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Quotes" name="ToC-Quotes" id="ToC-Quotes">Lynx + and HTML Quotes</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Eightbit" name="ToC-Eightbit" id= + "ToC-Eightbit">Lynx and HTML Internationalization: 8bit, + UNICODE, etc.</a></li> + + <li><a href="#USEMAP" name="ToC-USEMAP" id="ToC-USEMAP">Lynx + and Client-Side-Image-Maps</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Refresh" name="ToC-Refresh" id="ToC-Refresh">Lynx + and Client-Side-Pull</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Cookies" name="ToC-Cookies" id="ToC-Cookies">Lynx + and State Management</a> (Me want <em>cookie</em>!)</li> + + <li><a href="#Cache" name="ToC-Cache" id="ToC-Cache">Lynx and + Cached Documents</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Sessions" name="ToC-Sessions" id= + "ToC-Sessions">Lynx and Sessions</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Invoking" name="ToC-Invoking" id= + "ToC-Invoking">The Lynx command line</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Environment" name="ToC-Environment" id= + "ToC-Environment">Environment variables used by Lynx</a></li> + + <li><a href="#lynx.cfg" name="ToC-lynx.cfg" id= + "ToC-lynx.cfg">Main configuration file lynx.cfg</a></li> + + <li><a href="#Hist" name="ToC-Hist" id="ToC-Hist">Lynx + development history</a></li> + </ul> + + <h2 id="id-Help"><a name="Help" id="Help">Lynx online + help</a></h2> + + <p>Online help is available while viewing any document. Press the + “<samp>?</samp>” or “<samp>H</samp>” key + (or the “<samp>h</samp>” key if vi-like key movement + is not on) to see a list of help topics. See the section titled + <a href="#IntraDocNav">Navigating hypertext documents with + Lynx</a> for information on navigating through the help + files.</p> + + <p>In addition, a summary description of all the Lynx keystroke + commands and their key bindings is available by pressing the + “<samp>K</samp>” key (or the + “<samp>k</samp>” key if vi-like key movement is not + on).</p> + + <p>If you want to recall recent status-line messages, you can do + so by entering the “g” command, followed by + “LYNXMESSAGES:”.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Help">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Local"><a name="Local" id="Local">Viewing local files + with Lynx</a></h2> + + <p>Lynx can be started by entering the Lynx command along with + the name of a file to display. For example these commands could + all be used to display an arbitrary ASCII text or HTML file:</p> + + <dl> + <dt>UNIX</dt> + + <dd><code>lynx filename</code></dd> + + <dd><code>lynx /home/my-dir/filename</code></dd> + + <dd><code>lynx ~/filename</code></dd> + + <dt>VMS</dt> + + <dd><code>lynx filename</code></dd> + + <dd><code>lynx dua5:[my-directory]filename</code></dd> + + <dd><code>lynx /dua5/my-directory/filename</code></dd> + + <dd><code>lynx ~/filename</code></dd> + + <dd><code>lynx sys$login:filename</code></dd> + + <dd><code>lynx /sys$login/filename</code></dd> + + <dt>Win32/DOS</dt> + + <dd><code>lynx file:///filename</code></dd> + + <dd><code>lynx filename</code></dd> + + <dd><code>lynx c:/dir/filename</code></dd> + + <dd><code>lynx //n/dir/filename</code></dd> + </dl> + + <p>When executed, Lynx will clear the screen and display as much + of the specified file as will fit on the screen. Pressing a + <em>down-arrow</em> will bring up the next screen, and pressing + an <em>up-arrow</em> will bring up the previous screen. If no + file is specified at startup, a default file will be displayed, + depending on settings e.g., in <em>lynx.cfg</em>.</p> + + <p>Lynx will display local files written in the <em>HyperText + Markup Language</em> (<em>HTML</em>), if the file's name ends + with the characters <em>.html</em>, <em>.htm</em>, + <em>.shtml</em>, <em>.htmlx</em>, <em>.html3</em>, or + <em>.ht3</em>. HTML is a file format that allows users to create + a file that contains (among other things) hypertext links to + other files. Several files linked together may be described as a + <em>hypertext document</em>. If the filename does not have one of + the suffixes mapped by Lynx to HTML, the <em>-force_html</em> + command line option can be included to force treatment of the + file as hypertext.</p> + + <p>When Lynx displays an HTML file, it shows links as "bold face" + text, except for one link, which is shown as "highlighted" text. + Whether "boldface" or "highlighted" text shows up as reverse + video, boldface type, or a color change, etc. depends on the + display device being used (and the way in which that device has + been configured). Lynx has no control over the exact presentation + of links.</p> + + <p>The one link displayed as "highlighted" text is the currently + "selected" link. Lynx will display the file associated with the + selected link when a <em>right-arrow</em> or a <em>Return</em> + key is pressed. To select a particular link, press the + <em>up-arrow</em> or <em>down-arrow</em> keys until the desired + link becomes "highlighted," and then press the + <em>right-arrow</em> or <em>Return</em> key to view the linked + information. Information included in the HTML file tells Lynx + where to find the linked file and what kind of server will + provide it (i.e., HTTP, Gopher, etc.).</p> + + <p>Lynx renders HTML files and saves the rendition (and the + source, if so configured in the <a href="#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a> + file) for initial display and should you select the link again. + If you do select a link again and have reason to desire a new + fetch and rendering of the file, use the NOCACHE command, + normally mapped to “<samp>x</samp>” and + “<samp>X</samp>”, instead of the <em>right-arrow</em> + or <em>Return</em> key when positioned on the link. You also can + force a new fetch and rendering of the currently displayed + document via the RELOAD command, normally mapped to + <em>Control-R</em>.</p> + + <p>When a binary file is encountered Lynx will ask the user if + he/she wishes to download the file or cancel. If the user selects + “<samp>D</samp>” for download, Lynx will transfer the + file into a temporary location and present the user with a list + of options. The only default option is <em>Save to disk</em>, + which is disabled if Lynx is running in anonymous mode. + Additional download methods may be defined in the <a href= + "#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a> file. Programs like kermit, zmodem and + FTP are some possible options.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Local">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Leaving"><a name="Leaving" id="Leaving">Leaving + Lynx</a></h2> + + <p>To exit Lynx use the “<samp>q</samp>” command. You + will be asked whether you really want to quit. Answering + “<samp>y</samp>” will exit and + “<samp>n</samp>” will return you to the current + document. Use “<samp>Q</samp>” or <em>Control-D</em> + to quit without verification.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Leaving">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Remote"><a name="Remote" id="Remote">Starting Lynx + with a Remote File</a></h2> + + <p>If you wish to view a remote file (that is, a file residing on + some computer system other than the one upon which you are + running Lynx) without first viewing a local file, you must + identify that file by using a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). + URLs take the general form:</p> + + <blockquote> + <p><code>PROTOCOL :// HOST / PATH</code></p> + </blockquote> + + <p>where</p> + + <dl> + <dt><code>PROTOCOL</code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>identifies the communications protocol (<em>scheme</em>) + used by the server that will provide the file. As mentioned + earlier, Lynx (and any WWW client) can interact with a + variety of servers, each with its own protocol.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code>HOST</code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>is the Internet address of the computer system on which + the server is running, and</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code>PATH</code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>is a scheme-specific field which for some schemes may + correspond to a directory path and/or filename.</p> + </dd> + </dl> + + <p>Here are some sample URLs.</p> + + <dl> + <dt>HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)</dt> + + <dd><code>https://invisible-island.net/lynx/</code></dd> + + <dt>Gopher</dt> + + <dd><code>gopher://gopher.micro.umn.edu/11/</code></dd> + + <dt>FTP (File Transfer Protocol)</dt> + + <dd><code>ftp://ftp2.cc.ukans.edu/pub/lynx/README</code></dd> + + <dt>WAIS (Wide Area Information Service protocol)</dt> + + <dd><code>wais://cnidr.org/directory-of-servers</code></dd> + + <dt>A URL may be specified to Lynx on the command line, as + in:</dt> + + <dd><code>lynx + http://kufacts.cc.ukans.edu/cwis/kufacts_start.html</code></dd> + </dl> + + <p>Lynx also will attempt to create a complete URL if you include + adequate portions of it in the startfile argument. For + example:</p> + <pre> +1234.6789.1234.6789.1234.6789.1234.6789.1234.6789.1234.6789.1234.6789.1234.6789 + <em>wfbr</em> will be expanded to: + <em>http://www.wfbr.edu/</em> and: + <em>ftp.more.net/pub</em> will be expanded to: + <em>ftp://ftp.more.net/pub</em> +</pre> + + <p>See <a href="lynx_url_support.html">URL Schemes Supported by + Lynx</a> for more detailed information.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Remote">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-EnVar"><a name="EnVar" id="EnVar">Starting Lynx with + the WWW_HOME environment variable.</a></h2> + + <p>You may also specify a starting file for Lynx using the + WWW_HOME environment variable,</p> + + <dl> + <dt>UNIX</dt> + + <dd> + <dl> + <dt>ksh</dt> + + <dd><code>export WWW_HOME=http://www.w3.org/</code></dd> + + <dt>csh</dt> + + <dd><code>setenv WWW_HOME http://www.w3.org/</code></dd> + </dl> + </dd> + + <dt>VMS</dt> + + <dd><code>define "WWW_HOME" "http://www.w3.org/"</code></dd> + + <dt>win32</dt> + + <dd><code>WWW_HOME=http://www.w3.org/ [or in + registry]</code></dd> + </dl> + + <p>Note that on VMS the double-quoting <em>must</em> be included + to preserve casing.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-EnVar">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-IntraDocNav"><a name="IntraDocNav" id= + "IntraDocNav">Navigating hypertext documents with Lynx</a></h2> + + <p>The process of moving within a hypertext web, selecting and + displaying links is known as "navigation." With Lynx almost all + navigation can be accomplished with the arrow keys and the + numeric keypad.</p> + <pre> + +-------+-------+-------+ + | TOP | /|\ | Page | + arrow keys | of | | | UP | + | text 7| | 8| 9| + +---------+ +-------+-------+-------+ + | SELECT | | | | | + | prev /|\| | <--- | | ---> | + | link | | | 4| 5| 6| + +---------+---------+---------+ +-------+-------+-------+ + | BACK | SELECT | DISPLAY | | END | | | Page | + |<-- prev | next | | sel. -->| | of | | | DOWN | + | doc. | link \|/| link | | text 1| \|/ 2| 3| + +---------+---------+---------+ +-------+-------+-------+ +</pre> + + <p>There are also a few other keyboard commands to aid in + navigation. The Control and Function keys used for navigation + within the current document are described in <a href= + "#MiscKeys"><em>Scrolling and Other useful commands</em></a>.</p> + + <p>Some additional commands depend on the fact that Lynx keeps a + list of each link you visited to reach the current document, + called the <a href="keystrokes/history_help.html">History + Page</a>, and a list of all links visited during the current Lynx + session, called the <a href= + "keystrokes/visited_help.html">Visited Links Page</a>.</p> + + <ul> + <li> + <p>The HISTORY keystroke command, normally mapped to + <em>Backspace</em> or <em>Delete</em>, will show you the + <em>History Page</em> of links leading to your access of the + current document. Any of the previous documents shown in the + list may be revisited by selecting them from the history + screen.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>The VLINKS keystroke command, normally mapped to uppercase + “<samp>V</samp>”, will show the <em>Visited Links + Page</em>, and you similarly can select links in that + list.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>The MAIN_MENU keystroke command, normally mapped to + “<samp>m</samp>” and + “<samp>M</samp>”, will take you back to the + starting document unless you specified the + <em>-homepage=URL</em> option at the command line.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>Also, the LIST and ADDRLIST keystroke commands, normally + mapped to “<samp>l</samp>” and + “<samp>A</samp>” respectively, will create a + compact lists of all the links in the current document, and + they can be selected via those lists.</p> + </li> + </ul> + + <p>The “<samp>i</samp>” key presents an index of + documents. The default index offered contains many useful links, + but can be changed in <em>lynx.cfg</em> or on the command line + using the <em>-index=URL</em> switch.</p> + + <p>If you choose a link to a server with active access + authorization, Lynx will automatically prompt for a username and + a password. If you give the correct information, you will then be + served the requested information. Lynx will automatically send + your username and password to the same server if it is needed + again.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-IntraDocNav">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Disposing"><a name="Disposing" id= + "Disposing">Printing, Mailing, and Saving rendered files to + disk.</a></h2> + + <p>Rendered HTML documents, and plain text files, may be printed + using the “<samp>p</samp>” command while viewing the + document. After pressing the “<samp>p</samp>” key a + menu of <em>Print Options</em> will be displayed. The menu will + vary according to several factors. First, some sites set up + special accounts to let users run Lynx to access local + information systems. Typically these accounts require no + passwords and do not require users to identify themselves. As a + result such accounts are called "anonymous" accounts, and their + users are considered "anonymous" users. In most configurations, + all Lynx users (including anonymous users) are able to mail files + to themselves and print the entire file to the screen.</p> + + <p>Additional print options are available for users who are using + Lynx from their own accounts (that is, so-called "non-anonymous + users"). In particular, the <em>Save to a local file</em> option + allows you to save the document into a file on your disk space. + Additional print options may also be available as configured in + the <a href="#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a> file.</p> + + <p>Some options, such as <em>Save to a local file</em>, involve + prompting for an output filename. All output filename entries are + saved in a circular buffer, and any previous entries can be + retrieved for re-use by pressing the <em>up-arrow</em> or + <em>down-arrow</em> keys at the prompt.</p> + + <p>Note that if you want exact copies of text files without any + expansions of TAB characters to spaces you should use the + <a href="#RemoteSource">Download</a> options.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Disposing">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-LocalSource"><a name="LocalSource" id= + "LocalSource">Viewing the HTML document source and editing + documents</a></h2> + + <p>When viewing HTML documents it is possible to retrieve and + display the unrendered (i.e., the original HTML) source of the + document by pressing the “<samp>\</samp>” (backslash) + key. Lynx usually caches only the rendering of the document and + does not keep the source (unless it is configured to do so in the + <a href="#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a> file), so to display the source + unrendered, Lynx must reload it from the server or disk. When + viewing unrendered documents you may print them as any normal + document.</p> + + <p>Selecting the <em>Print to a local file</em> option from the + Print Menu, makes it possible to save the source of the document + to disk so that you may have a local copy of the document source, + but it is better to <a href="#RemoteSource">Download</a> the + source.</p> + + <p>NOTE: When saving an HTML document it is important to name the + document with a <em>.html</em> or <em>.htm</em> extension, if you + want to read it with Lynx again later.</p> + + <p id="FileEdit">Lynx can allow users to edit documents that + reside on the local system. To enable editing, documents must be + referenced using a "file:" URL or by specifying a plain filename + on the command line as in the following two examples:</p> + + <dl> + <dt>Command</dt> + + <dd><code>lynx file://localhost/FULL/PATH/FILENAME</code></dd> + + <dd><code>lynx path/filename.html</code></dd> + </dl> + + <p>In addition, the user must also specify an editor in the + <em>Options Menu</em> so that Lynx knows which editor to use. If + the file is specified correctly and an editor is defined, then + you may edit documents by using the “<samp>e</samp>” + command. When the “<samp>e</samp>” command is entered + your specified editor is spawned to edit the file. After changes + are completed, exit your editor and you will return to Lynx. Lynx + will reload and render the file so that changes can be + immediately examined.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-LocalSource">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-RemoteSource"><a name="RemoteSource" id= + "RemoteSource">Downloading and Saving source files.</a></h2> + + <p>If the DOWNLOAD keystroke command + (“<samp>d</samp>” or “<samp>D</samp>”) is + used when positioned on a link for an HTML, plain text, or binary + file, Lynx will transfer the file, without rendering, into a + temporary location and present the user with a list of options, + just as it does when a link for a binary file of a type for which + no viewer has been mapped is activated.</p> + + <p>There is a default <em>Download option</em> of <em>Save to + disk</em>. This is disabled if Lynx is running in anonymous mode. + Any number of download methods such as kermit and zmodem may be + defined in addition to this default in the <em>lynx.cfg</em> + file. Using the <em>Save to disk</em> option under the PRINT + command after viewing the source of an HTML with the VIEW SOURCE + (<samp>\</samp>) command will result in a file which differs from + the original source in various ways such as tab characters + expanded to spaces. Lynx formats the source presentation in this + mode. On the other hand, if the DOWNLOAD command is used, the + only change will be that Lynx optionally puts</p> + + <blockquote> + <p><!--X-URL: http://www.site.foo/path/to/file.html + --><br> + <BASE href="http://www.site.foo/path/to/file.html"></p> + </blockquote> + + <p>at the start of the file so that relative URLs in the document + will still work. Even this modification can be prevented by + setting PREPEND_BASE_TO_SOURCE:FALSE in lynx.cfg.</p> + + <p>Some options, such as <em>Save to disk</em>, involve prompting + for an output filename. All output filename entries are saved in + a circular buffer, and any previous entries can be retrieved for + re-use by pressing the <em>up-arrow</em> or <em>down-arrow</em> + keys at the prompt.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-RemoteSource">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-ReDo"><a name="ReDo" id="ReDo">Reloading files and + refreshing the display</a></h2> + + <p>The RELOAD (<em>Control-R</em>) command will reload and + re-render the file that you are currently viewing. The REFRESH + (<em>Control-L</em> or <em>Control-W</em>) command will refresh + or wipe the screen to remove or correct any errors that may be + caused by operating system or other messages.</p> + + <p>The NOCACHE (“<samp>x</samp>” or + “<samp>X</samp>”) command can be used in lieu of + ACTIVATE (<em>Return</em> or <em>right-arrow</em>) to request an + uncached copy and new rendition for the current link, or + resubmission of a FORM, if a cache from a previous request or + submission exits. The request or submission will include + <em>Pragma: no-cache</em> and <em>Cache-Control: no-cache</em> in + its headers. Note that FORMs with POST content will be + resubmitted regardless of whether the NOCACHE or ACTIVATE command + is used (see <a href="#Forms"><em>Lynx and HTML + Forms</em></a>).</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-ReDo">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Search"><a name="Search" id="Search">Lynx searching + commands</a></h2> + + <p>Two commands activate searching in Lynx: + “<samp>/</samp>” and + “<samp>s</samp>”.</p> + + <p>While viewing a normal document use the + “<samp>/</samp>” command to find a word or phrase + within the current document. The search type will depend on the + search option setting in the <a href= + "#InteractiveOptions">Options Menu</a>. The search options are + case sensitive and case insensitive. These searches are entirely + local to Lynx.</p> + + <p>Some documents are designated <em>index documents</em> by + virtue of an ISINDEX element in their HEAD section. These + documents can be used to retrieve additional information based on + searches using words or phrases submitted to an index server. The + Lynx statusline will indicate that you are viewing such a + document, and if so, the “<samp>s</samp>” key will + invoke a statusline prompt to enter a query string. The prompt + can be specified via a PROMPT attribute in the ISINDEX element. + Otherwise, Lynx will use an internally configured prompt. The + address for submitting the search can be specified via an HREF or + ACTION attribute. Otherwise, Lynx will use the current document's + URL and append your query string as a <em>?searchpart</em> (see + <a href="lynx_url_support.html">Supported URLs</a>).</p> + + <p>All search words or strings which you have entered during a + Lynx session are saved in a circular buffer, and can be retrieved + for re-use by pressing the <em>up-arrow</em> or + <em>down-arrow</em> keys at the prompt for a search word or + string. Also, you can use the “<samp>n</samp>”ext + command to repeat a search with the last-entered search word or + phrase, starting from the current position in the document. The + word or phrase matches will be highlighted throughout the + document, but such highlighting will not persist for new + documents, or if the current document is reloaded. The search + cycles to the top of the document if the word or phrase is not + located below your current position.</p> + + <p>Although <a href="#Forms">HTML Forms</a> have largely replaced + index documents for searches via http servers, they are still + useful for performing searches directly via WAIS or Gopher + servers in conjunction with the internal gateways for such + servers. For example, an HTML index document can act as a + <em>cover page</em> describing a WAIS database and how to + formulate query strings for searching it, and include an element + such as:</p> + <pre> + <em><ISINDEX PROMPT="Enter WAIS query:" + HREF="wais://net.bio.net/biologists-addresses"></em> +</pre> + + <p>for submitting a search of the Biologist's Addresses database + directly to the net.bio.net WAIS server.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Search">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-InteractiveOptions"><a name="InteractiveOptions" id= + "InteractiveOptions">Lynx Options Menu</a></h2> + + <p>The Lynx <em>Options Menu</em> may be accessed by pressing the + “<samp>o</samp>” key. It allows you to change options + at runtime, if you need to. Most changes are read from & + saved to your .lynxrc file; those which are not are marked (!) in + the form-based menu (as below). Many other options are stored in + the <a href="#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a> file.</p> + + <p>Lynx supports two styles of Options Menu, key-based & + form-based. The form-based menu shown below is an HTML file + generated at runtime, in which the user fills in choices as in + any ordinary HTML form.</p> + <pre> + Options Menu (Lynx Version 2.8.9dev.15) + + Accept Changes - Reset Changes - Left Arrow cancels changes - HELP! + + Save options to disk: [ ] + (options marked with (!) will not be saved) + + General Preferences + User mode : [Advanced____] + Editor : vile______________________________________ + Type of Search : [Case insensitive] + + Security and Privacy + Cookies : [ask user__] + Invalid-Cookie Prompting (!) : [prompt normally___] + SSL Prompting (!) : [prompt normally___] + + Keyboard Input + Keypad mode : [Numbers act as arrows_____________] + Emacs keys : [OFF] + VI keys : [OFF] + Line edit style : [Bash-like Bindings] + + Display and Character Set + Use locale-based character set : [ON_] + Use HTML5 charset replacements(!): [OFF] + Display character set : [UNICODE (UTF-8)________________] + Assumed document character set(!): [iso-8859-1______] + Raw 8-bit : [OFF] + X Display : localhost:0.0_____________________________ + + Document Appearance + Show color : [ON____] + Color style (!) : [lynx.lss___________] + Default colors (!) : [ON_] + Show cursor : [OFF] + Underline links (!) : [OFF] + Show scrollbar : [ON_] + Popups for select fields : [ON_] + HTML error recovery : [strict (SortaSGML mode)] + Bad HTML messages (!) : [Warn, point to trace-file] + Show images : [ignore___] + Verbose images : [OFF__________] + Collapse BR tags (!) : [OFF_____] + Trim blank lines (!) : [trim-lines] + + Headers Transferred to Remote Servers + Personal mail address : __________________________________________ + Personal name for mail : __________________________________________ + Password for anonymous ftp : __________________________________________ + Preferred media type (!) : [Accept lynx's internal types] + Preferred encoding (!) : [All_____] + Preferred document character set : _________________________________ + Preferred document language : en_______________________________ + HTTP protocol (!) : [HTTP 1.0] + Send User-Agent header (!) : [X] + User-Agent header (!) : Lynx/2.8.9rel.1 libwww-FM/2.14 SSL-MM/1.4. + + Listing and Accessing Files + Use Passive FTP (!) : [ON_] + FTP sort criteria : [By Date] + Local directory sort criteria : [Directories first] + Local directory sort order : [By Date_] + Show dot files : [OFF] + Pause when showing message (!) : [ON_] + Show transfer rate : [Show KiB/sec (2-digits), ETA__] + + Special Files and Screens + Multi-bookmarks : [ADVANCED] + Review/edit Bookmarks files : Goto multi-bookmark menu + Auto Session (!) : [OFF] + Session file (!) : __________________________________________ + Visited Pages : [By Last Visit Reversed_] + + View the file lynx.cfg. + + + Accept Changes - Reset Changes - Left Arrow cancels changes + +</pre> + + <p>The key-based menu depends on key-strokes to identify options + which the user wants to change. It is compiled into Lynx and is + accessed by setting FORMS_OPTIONS to TRUE in <a href= + "#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a>.</p> + <pre> + Options Menu (Lynx Version 2.8.9dev.15) + + (E)ditor : emacs + (D)ISPLAY variable : aixtest.cc.ukans.edu:0.0 + mu(L)ti-bookmarks: OFF B)ookmark file: lynx_bookmarks.html + (F)TP sort criteria : By Filename + (P)ersonal mail address : montulli@netscape.com + (S)earching type : CASE INSENSITIVE + preferred document lan(G)uage: en + preferred document c(H)arset : NONE + display (C)haracter set : Western (ISO-8859-1) + raw 8-bit or CJK m(O)de : ON show color (&) : OFF + (V)I keys: OFF e(M)acs keys: OFF sho(W) dot files: OFF + popups for selec(T) fields : ON show cursor (@) : OFF + (K)eypad mode : Numbers act as arrows + li(N)e edit style : Default Binding + l(I)st directory style : Mixed style + (U)ser mode : Advanced verbose images (!) : ON + user (A)gent : [User-Agent header] + local e(X)ecution links : FOR LOCAL FILES ONLY +</pre> + + <p>An option can be changed by entering the capital letter or + character in parentheses for the option you wish to change (e.g., + “<samp>E</samp>” for Editor or + “<samp>@</samp>” for show cursor). For fields where + text must be entered, simply enter the text by typing on the + keyboard. The <a href="keystrokes/edit_help.html">Line Editor</a> + can be used to correct mistakes, and <em>Control-U</em> can be + used to erase the line. When you are done entering a change press + the <em>Return</em> key to get back to the <em>Command?</em> + prompt.</p> + + <p>For fields where you must choose one of two choices, press any + key to toggle the choices and press the <em>Return</em> key to + finish the change.</p> + + <p>For fields where you potentially have more than two choices, + popup windows may be evoked which function homologously to those + for select fields in <a href="#Forms">HTML Forms</a>. The popup + windows will be invoked only if you have popups for select fields + set to ON (see below). Otherwise, your cursor will be positioned + at the current choice, and you can press any key to cycle through + the choices, then press the <em>Return</em> key to finish the + change.</p> + + <p>When you are done changing options use the + “<samp>r</samp>” command to return to Lynx or the + “<samp>></samp>” command to save the options to a + <em>.lynxrc</em> file and return to Lynx.</p> + + <p>The following table describes the options available on the + <em>Options Menu</em>:</p> + + <dl> + <dt>Assumed document character set</dt> + + <dd> + <p>This option changes the handling of documents which do not + explicitly specify a charset. Normally Lynx assumes that + 8-bit characters in those documents are encoded according to + iso-8859-1 (the official default for the HTTP protocol). + Unfortunately, many non-English web pages "forget" to include + proper charset info; this option helps you to browse those + broken pages if you know by some means what the charset + is.</p> + + <p>When the value given here or by an -assume_charset command + line flag is in effect, Lynx will treat documents as if they + were encoded accordingly. This option active when “Raw + 8-bit or CJK Mode” is OFF.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Auto Session</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Lynx can save and restore useful information about your + browsing history. Use this setting to enable or disable the + feature.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Bad HTML messages</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Suppress or redirect Lynx's messages about "Bad HTML":</p> + + <dl> + <dt>Ignore</dt> + + <dd> + <p>do not warn; no details are written to the + trace-file.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Add to trace-file</dt> + + <dd> + <p>add the detailed warning message to the + trace-file.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Add to LYNXMESSAGES</dt> + + <dd> + <p>add the detailed warning message to the message page + at "LYNXMESSAGES:".</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Warn, point to trace-file</dt> + + <dd> + <p>show a warning message on the status line; the + complete message is written to the trace-file.</p> + </dd> + </dl> + </dd> + + <dt>Bookmark file</dt> + + <dd> + <p>When multi-bookmarks is OFF, this is the filename and + location of your default personal bookmark file. Enter + “<samp>B</samp>” to modify the filename and/or + location via the <a href="keystrokes/edit_help.html">Line + Editor</a>. Bookmark files allow frequently traveled links to + be stored in personal easy to access files.</p> + + <p>Using the “<samp>a</samp>”dd bookmark link + command (see <a href="#Bookmarks">Lynx bookmarks</a>) you may + save any link that does not have associated POST content into + a bookmark file. All bookmark files must be in or under your + account's home directory. If the location specified does not + begin with a dot-slash (./), its presence will still be + assumed, and referenced to the home directory.</p> + + <p>When multi-bookmarks is STANDARD or ADVANCED, entering + “<samp>B</samp>” will invoke a menu of up to 26 + bookmark files (associated with the letters of the English + alphabet), for editing their filenames and locations + (<em>filepath</em>), and descriptions.</p> + + <p>Lynx will create bookmark files, if they do not already + exist, when you first “<samp>a</samp>”dd a + bookmark link to them. However, if you've specified a + subdirectory (e.g., ./BM/lynx_bookmarks.html), that + subdirectory must already exist. Note that on VMS you should + use the URL syntax for the filepath (e.g., <em>not</em> + [.BM]lynx_bookmarks.html).</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Collapse BR tags</dt> + + <dd> + <p>If <em>Collapse BR tags</em> is turned off, Lynx will not + collapse serial <code>BR</code> tags. If turned on, i.e., + “collapse”, two or more concurrent + <code>BR</code>s will be collapsed into a single line break. + Note that the valid way to insert extra blank lines in HTML + is via a <code>PRE</code> block with only newlines in the + block.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Cookies</dt> + + <dd> + <p>This option allows you to tell how to handle cookies: + <em>ignore</em>, prompt (<em>ask user</em>) or <em>accept + all</em>.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Display Character set</dt> + + <dd> + <p>This option allows you to set up the default character set + for your specific terminal. The display character set + provides a mapping from the character encodings of viewed + documents and from HTML entities into viewable characters. It + should be set according to your terminal's character set so + that characters other than 7-bit ASCII can be displayed + correctly, using approximations if necessary. You must have + the selected character set installed on your terminal. (Since + Lynx supports a wide range of platforms it may be useful to + note that cpXXX codepages used within IBM PC computers, and + windows-xxxx within native MS-Windows apps.)</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Editor</dt> + + <dd> + <p>The editor to be invoked when editing browsable files, + when sending mail or comments, when preparing a news article + for posting, and for external TEXTAREA editing. The full + pathname of the editor command should be specified when + possible.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Emacs keys</dt> + + <dd> + <p>If set to ON then the CTRL-P, CTRL-N, CTRL-F, and CTRL-B + keys will be mapped to up-arrow, down-arrow, right-arrow, and + left-arrow, respectively. Otherwise, they remain mapped to + their configured bindings (normally UP_TWO lines, DOWN_TWO + lines, NEXT_PAGE, and PREV_PAGE, respectively).</p> + + <p>Note: this has no direct effect on the line-editor's key + bindings.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Execution links<br></dt> + + <dd> + <p>This deals with execution of local scripts or links. Local + execution is activated when Lynx is first set up. If it has + not been activated you will not see this option in the + <em>Options Menu</em>.</p> + + <p>When a local execution script is encountered Lynx checks + the users options to see whether the script can be executed. + Users have the following options:</p> + + <dl> + <dt>Always off</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Local execution scripts will never be executed</p> + </dd> + + <dt>For Local files only</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Local execution scripts will only be executed if the + script to be executed resides on the local machine, and + is referenced by a URL that begins with + <em>file://localhost</em></p> + </dd> + + <dt>Always on</dt> + + <dd> + <p>All local execution scripts will be executed</p> + </dd> + </dl> + </dd> + + <dd> + <p>If the users options permit the script to be executed Lynx + will spawn a shell and run the script. If the script cannot + be executed Lynx will show the script within the Lynx window + and inform the user that the script is not allowed to be + executed and will ask the user to check his/her options.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>FTP sort criteria</dt> + + <dd> + <p>This option allows you to specify how files will be sorted + within FTP listings. The current options include "<code>By + Filename</code>", "<code>By Size</code>", "<code>By + Type</code>", and "<code>By Date</code>".</p> + </dd> + + <dt>HTML error recovery</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Select the <a href= + "keystrokes/option_help.html#tagsoup">recovery mode</a> used + by Lynx.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>HTTP protocol</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Normally Lynx negotiates HTTP/1.0, because it does not + support chunked transfer (a requirement for all HTTP/1.1 + clients), although it supports several other features of + HTTP/1.1. You may encounter a server which does not support + HTTP/1.0 which can be used by switching to the later + protocol.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Invalid-Cookie Prompting</dt> + + <dd> + <p>This allows you to tell how to handle invalid cookies: + <em>prompt normally</em> to prompt for each cookie, <em>force + yes-response</em> to reply "yes" to each prompt, <em>force + no-response</em> to reply "no" to each prompt.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Keypad mode</dt> + + <dd> + <p>This option gives the choice among navigating with the + arrow keys, or having every link numbered so that the links + may be selected or made current by numbers as well as using + the arrow keys, or having every link as well as every form + field numbered so that they can be selected or sought by + numbers. See the<br> + <a href="keystrokes/follow_help.html">Follow link + (or page) number:</a> and<br> + <a href= + "keystrokes/follow_help.html#select-option">Select option (or + page) number:</a><br> + help for more information.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Line edit style</dt> + + <dd> + <p>This option allows you to set alternative key bindings for + the built-in line editor, if alternative line-edit bindings + have been compiled in. Otherwise, Lynx uses the <a href= + "keystrokes/edit_help.html">Default Binding</a>.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Local directory sort criteria</dt> + + <dd> + <p>This applies to directory editing. Files and directories + can be presented in the following ways:</p> + + <dl> + <dt>Mixed style</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Files and directories are listed together in + alphabetical order.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Directories first</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Files and directories are separated into two + alphabetical lists. Directories are listed first.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Files first</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Files and directories are separated into two + alphabetical lists. Files are listed first.</p> + </dd> + </dl> + </dd> + + <dt>Local directory sort order</dt> + + <dd> + <p>The Options Form also allows you to sort by the file + attributes.</p> + + <dl> + <dt>By name</dt> + + <dd> + <p>by filename (the default)</p> + </dd> + + <dt>By size</dt> + + <dd> + <p>by file size, in descending order</p> + </dd> + + <dt>By date</dt> + + <dd> + <p>by file modification time, in descending order</p> + </dd> + + <dt>By mode</dt> + + <dd> + <p>by file protection</p> + </dd> + + <dt>By type</dt> + + <dd> + <p>by filename suffix, e.g., the text beginning with + “.”</p> + </dd> + + <dt>By user</dt> + + <dd> + <p>by file owner's user-id</p> + </dd> + + <dt>By group</dt> + + <dd> + <p>by file owner's group-id</p> + </dd> + </dl> + </dd> + + <dt>Multi-bookmarks</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Lynx supports a default bookmark file, and up to 26 total + bookmark files (see below). When multi-bookmarks is OFF, the + default bookmark file is used for the + “<samp>v</samp>”iew bookmarks and + “<samp>a</samp>”dd bookmark link commands. If + multi-bookmark support is available in your account, the + setting can be changed to STANDARD or ADVANCED. In STANDARD + mode, a menu of available bookmarks always is invoked when + you seek to view a bookmark file or add a link, and you + select the bookmark file by its letter token (see + <em>Bookmark file</em>, below) in that menu. In ADVANCED + mode, you instead are prompted for the letter of the desired + bookmark file, but can enter “<samp>=</samp>” to + invoke the STANDARD selection menu, or <em>RETURN</em> for + the default bookmark file.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Password for anonymous ftp</dt> + + <dd> + <p>If this is blank, Lynx will use your personal mail address + as the anonymous ftp password. Though that is the convention, + some users prefer to use some other string which provides + less information. If the given value lacks a "@", Lynx also + will use your computer's hostname as part of the password. If + both this field and the personal mail address are blank, Lynx + will use your $USER environment variable, or "WWWuser" if + even the environment variable is unset.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Pause when showing message</dt> + + <dd> + <p>If set to "off", this overrides the INFOSECS setting in + lynx.cfg, to eliminate pauses when displaying informational + messages, like the "-nopause" command line option.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Personal mail address</dt> + + <dd> + <p>This mail address will be used to help you send files to + yourself and will be included as the From: address in any + mail or comments that you send. It will also be sent as the + From: field in HTTP or HTTPS requests if inclusion of that + header has been enabled via the NO_FROM_HEADER definition in + <a href="#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a> (the compilation default is + not to send the header), or via the <em>-from</em> command + line toggle.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Personal mail name</dt> + + <dd> + <p>This mail name will be included as the "X-Personal_Name" + field in any mail or comments that you send if that header + has not been disabled via the NO_ANONYMOUS_EMAIL definition + in <a href="#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a>.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Popups for select fields</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Lynx normally uses a popup window for the OPTIONs in form + SELECT fields when the field does not have the MULTIPLE + attribute specified, and thus only one OPTION can be + selected. The use of popup windows can be disabled by + changing this setting to OFF, in which case the OPTIONs will + be rendered as a list of radio buttons. Note that if the + SELECT field does have the MULTIPLE attribute specified, the + OPTIONs always are rendered as a list of checkboxes.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Preferred document language</dt> + + <dd> + <p>The language you prefer if multi-language files are + available from servers. Use RFC 1766 abbreviations, e.g., en + for English, fr for French, etc. Can be a comma-separated + list, which may be interpreted by servers as descending order + of preferences. You can also make your order of preference + explicit by using q factors as defined by the HTTP protocol, + for servers which understand it, for example: + da, en-gb;q=0.8, en;q=0.7</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Preferred document charset</dt> + + <dd> + <p>The character set you prefer if sets in addition to + ISO-8859-1 and US-ASCII are available from servers. Use MIME + notation (e.g., ISO-8859-2) and do not include ISO-8859-1 or + US-ASCII, since those values are always assumed by default. + Can be a comma-separated list, which may be interpreted by + servers as descending order of preferences. You can also make + your order of preference explicit by using q factors as + defined by the HTTP protocol, for servers which understand + it, for example: iso-8859-5, utf-8;q=0.8</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Preferred encoding</dt> + + <dd> + <p>When doing a GET, lynx tells what types of compressed data + it can decompress (the "Accept-Encoding:" string). This is + determined by compiled-in support for decompression or + external decompression programs. Use this option to select + none, one or all of the supported decompression types.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Preferred media type</dt> + + <dd> + <p>When doing a GET, lynx lists the MIME types which it knows + how to present (the "Accept:" string). Depending on your + system configuration, the mime.types or other data given by + the GLOBAL_EXTENSION_MAP may include many entries that lynx + really does not handle. Use this option to select one of the + built-in subsets of the MIME types that lynx could list in + the Accept.</p> + + <dl> + <dt>Accept lynx's internal types</dt> + + <dd> + <p>list only the types that are compiled into lynx.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Also accept lynx.cfg's types</dt> + + <dd> + <p>lists types defined in lynx.cfg, e.g., the VIEWER and + Cern RULE or RULESFILE settings.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Also accept user's types</dt> + + <dd> + <p>lists types from the PERSONAL_EXTENSION_MAP setting in + lynx.cfg</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Also accept system's types</dt> + + <dd> + <p>lists types from the GLOBAL_EXTENSION_MAP setting in + lynx.cfg</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Accept all types</dt> + + <dd> + <p>adds the types that are in lynx's built-in tables for + external programs that may be used to present a + document.</p> + </dd> + </dl> + </dd> + + <dt>Raw 8-bit or CJK Mode</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Tells Lynx whether 8-bit characters are assumed to + correspond with the display character set and therefore are + processed without translation via the chartrans conversion + tables:</p> + + <ul> + <li>Should be ON by default when the display character set + is one of the Asian (CJK) sets and the 8-bit characters are + Kanji multibytes.</li> + + <li>Should be OFF for the other display character sets, but + can be turned ON when the document's charset is unknown + (e.g., is not ISO-8859-1 and no charset parameter was + specified in a reply header from an HTTP server to indicate + what it is) but you know by some means that you have the + matching display character set selected.</li> + + <li>Should be OFF when an Asian (CJK) set is selected but + the document is ISO-8859-1 or another “assumed + document character set”.</li> + </ul> + + <p>The setting also can be toggled via the RAW_TOGGLE + command, normally mapped to “<samp>@</samp>”, and + at startup via the <em>-raw</em> switch.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Send User-Agent header</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Controls whether the user-agent string will be sent.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Session file</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Define the file name where lynx will store user sessions. + This setting is used only when <em>Auto Session</em> is + enabled.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Show color</dt> + + <dd> + <p>This option will be present if color support is available. + If set to ON or ALWAYS, color mode will be forced on if + possible. If (n)curses color support is available but cannot + be used for the current terminal type, selecting ON is + rejected with a message. If set to OFF or NEVER, color mode + will be turned off.</p> + + <p>ALWAYS and NEVER are not offered in anonymous accounts. If + saved to a <em>.lynxrc</em> file in non-anonymous accounts, + ALWAYS will cause Lynx to set color mode on at startup if + supported. If Lynx is built with the slang library, this is + equivalent to having included the <em>-color</em> command + line switch or having the <em>COLORTERM</em> environment + variable set. If color support is provided by curses or + ncurses, this is equivalent to the default behavior of using + color when the terminal type supports it. If (n)curses color + support is available but cannot be used for the current + terminal type, the preference can still be saved but will + have no effect.</p> + + <p>A saved value of NEVER will cause Lynx to assume a + monochrome terminal at startup. It is similar to the + <em>-nocolor</em> switch, but (when the slang library is + used) can be overridden with the <em>-color</em> switch.</p> + + <p>If the setting is OFF or ON when the current options are + saved to a <em>.lynxrc</em> file, the default startup + behavior is retained, such that color mode will be turned on + at startup only if the terminal info indicates that you have + a color-capable terminal, or (when the slang library is used) + if forced on via the <em>-color</em> switch or + <em>COLORTERM</em> variable. This default behavior always is + used in anonymous accounts, or if the <em>option_save</em> + restriction is set explicitly. If for any reason the startup + color mode is incorrect for your terminal, set it + appropriately on or off via this option.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Show cursor</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Lynx normally hides the cursor by positioning it to the + right and if possible the very bottom of the screen, so that + the current link or OPTION is indicated solely by its + highlighting or color. If show cursor is set to ON, the + cursor will be positioned at the left of the current link or + OPTION. This is helpful when Lynx is being used with a speech + or braille interface. It also is useful for sighted users + when the terminal cannot distinguish the character attributes + used to distinguish the current link or OPTION from the + others in the screen display.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Show dot files</dt> + + <dd> + <p>If display/creation of hidden (dot) files/directories is + enabled, you can turn the feature on or off via this + setting.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Show images</dt> + + <dd> + <p>This allows you to select the way in which Lynx shows + image links. These are the available selections:</p> + + <ul> + <li><em>ignore</em> to suppress the links altogether,</li> + + <li><em>as labels</em> to show the descriptive text for the + link</li> + + <li><em>as links</em>, which allows you to use an external + viewer</li> + </ul><br> + </dd> + + <dt>Show scrollbar</dt> + + <dd> + <p>This allows you to enable (show) or disable (hide) the + scrollbar on the right-margin of the display. This feature is + available with ncurses or slang libraries.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Show transfer rate</dt> + + <dd> + <p>This allows you to select the way in which Lynx shows its + progress in downloading large pages. It displays its progress + in the status line. These are the available selections:</p> + + <ul> + <li>Do not show rate</li> + + <li>Local directory sort order</li> + + <li>Show dot files</li> + + <li>Execution links</li> + + <li>Pause when showing message</li> + + <li>Show transfer rate</li> + </ul><br> + </dd> + + <dt>SSL Prompting</dt> + + <dd> + <p>This allows you to tell how to handle errors detected in + SSL connections <em>prompt normally</em> to prompt for each + cookie, <em>force yes-response</em> to reply "yes" to each + prompt, <em>force no-response</em> to reply "no" to each + prompt.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Trim blank lines</dt> + + <dd> + <p>If <em>Trim blank lines</em> is turned off, Lynx will not + trim trailing blank lines from the document. Also, Lynx will + not collapse <code>BR</code>-tags onto the previous line when + it happens to be empty as part of the <em>Collapse BR + tags</em> feature.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Type of Search</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Searching type has two possible values: CASE INSENSITIVE + (default) and CASE SENSITIVE. The searching type effects + inter-document searches only, and determines whether searches + for words within documents will be done in a case-sensitive + or case-insensitive manner.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Use HTML5 charset replacements</dt> + + <dd> + <p>This option allows lynx to treat pages with ISO-8859-1 + (Latin1) or ASCII encoding as if they were Windows 1252. That + allows a few punctuation characters to be shown.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Use locale-based character set</dt> + + <dd> + <p>This option allows you to request lynx to obtain a MIME + name from the operating system which corresponds to your + locale setting. If successful, it overrides the normal + setting of the display character set.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Underline links</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Use underline-attribute rather than bold for links.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Use Passive FTP</dt> + + <dd> + <p>This allows you to change whether Lynx uses passive ftp + connections.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>User Agent header</dt> + + <dd> + <p>The header string which Lynx sends to HTTP servers to + indicate the User-Agent is displayed here. Changes may be + disallowed via the <em>-restrictions</em> switch. Otherwise, + the header can be changed temporarily to a string such as + <em>L_y_n_x/2.8.9</em> for access to sites which discriminate + against Lynx based on checks for the presence of "Lynx" in + the header. If the User-Agent header has been changed, it can + be restored to the built-in default value by deleting the + modified string in the Options Menu. Whenever the User-Agent + header is changed, the current document is reloaded, with the + no-cache flags set, on exit from the Options Menu. Changes of + the header are not saved in the RC file.</p> + </dd> + + <dd> + <p><em id="noteUA">NOTE:</em> Some sites may regard + misrepresenting the browser as fraudulent deception, or as + gaining unauthorized access, if it is used to circumvent + blocking that was intentionally put in place. Some browser + manufacturers may find the transmission of their product's + name objectionable. If you change the User-Agent string, it + is your responsibility. The Options Menu issues a reminder + whenever the header is changed to one which does not include + "Lynx" or "L_y_n_x".</p> + </dd> + + <dt>User Mode</dt> + + <dd> + <p>There are three possible choices: Novice, Intermediate, + and Advanced.</p> + + <dl> + <dt>Novice</dt> + + <dd> + <p>In Novice mode two lines of help are displayed at the + bottom of the screen.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Intermediate</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Intermediate mode turns off the help lines.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Advanced</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Advanced mode displays the URL of the currently + selected link at the bottom of the screen.</p> + </dd> + </dl> + </dd> + + <dt>Verbose Images</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Controls whether or not Lynx replaces the [LINK], [INLINE] + and [IMAGE] comments (for images without ALT) with filenames + of these images. This is extremely useful because now we can + determine immediately what images are just decorations + (button.gif, line.gif) and what images are important. This + setting can also be toggled on startup via the + <em>-verbose</em> switch.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>VI keys</dt> + + <dd> + <p>If set to ON then the lowercase h, j, k, and l keys will + be mapped to left, down, up, and right arrow, respectively. + The uppercase H, J, K, and L keys remain mapped to their + configured bindings (normally HELP, JUMP, KEYMAP, and LIST, + respectively).</p> + + <p>Note: this has no effect on the line-editor's key + bindings.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Visited Pages</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Enable several different views of the visited links:</p> + + <dl> + <dt>By First Visit</dt> + + <dt>By First Visit Reversed</dt> + + <dt>As Visit Tree</dt> + + <dt>By Last Visit</dt> + + <dt>By Last Visit Reversed</dt> + </dl><br> + </dd> + + <dt>X Display</dt> + + <dd> + <p>This option is only relevant to X Window users. The + DISPLAY (Unix) or DECW$DISPLAY (VMS) variable is picked up + automatically from the environment if it has been previously + set.</p> + </dd> + </dl> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-InteractiveOptions">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Mail"><a name="Mail" id="Mail">Comments and mailto: + links</a></h2> + + <p>At any time while viewing documents within Lynx, you may use + the “<samp>c</samp>” command to send a mail message + to the owner of the current document if the author of the + document has specified ownership. (Note to authors: if you want + to assign the ownership to your document, you need to add into + HEAD section a LINK element with appropriate value for REV + attribute. Two values are recognized: <em>owner</em> and + <em>made</em> (these are case insensitive). For example,</p> + <pre> +<HEAD> + … + <LINK REV="made" HREF="mailto:user@somedomain.com"> + … +</HEAD> +</pre> + + <p>You may also add a TITLE attribute with, for example, the name + of your page) If no ownership is specified then comments are + disabled. Certain links called <a href= + "lynx_url_support.html#mailto_url">mailto:</a> links will also + allow you to send mail to other people. Using the mail features + within Lynx is straightforward.</p> + + <p>Once you have decided to send a comment or have selected a + <em>mailto:</em> link a new screen will appear showing you to + whom you are sending the message. Lynx will ask for your name, + your e-mail address, and the subject of the message. If you have + filled in the "personal mail address" field in the <em>Options + Menu</em>, your e-mail address will be filled in automatically. + After entering the above information, if you have an editor + defined in the <em>Options Menu</em> and you are not an anonymous + user then your specified editor will be spawned for you so that + you can enter your message. If you do not have an editor defined + or you are an anonymous user, a simple line mode input scheme + will allow you to enter your message.</p> + + <p>To finish sending the message, exit your spawned editor or, if + you are using the simple line mode input scheme, type a + “<samp>.</samp>” (period) on a line by itself. You + will be asked a final time whether to send the message. If you + press “<samp>y</samp>”, you will be prompted whether + to append your signature file if one was defined in <a href= + "#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a> and is accessible, and then the message + will be sent, whereas if you press “<samp>n</samp>” + the message will be deleted. Entering Control-G in response to + any prompts also will cancel the mailing.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Mail">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-News"><a name="News" id="News">USENET News + posting</a></h2> + + <p>While reading <a href= + "http://www.w3.org/LineMode/User/AboutNewsServers.html">news</a> + articles with Lynx you should see a link that says <em>Reply to: + user@host</em> and, if the nntp server from which you received + the article supports posting from your site, a link that says + <em>Followup to: newsgroup(s)</em></p> + + <dl> + <dt>Reply to user@host</dt> + + <dd> + <p>user@host will correspond to the mail address of the + person who posted the news article. Selecting the link will + allow you to send a message to the person who wrote the + message you are currently viewing. You will be given the + option of including the original message in your reply.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Followup to newsgroup(s)</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Selecting this link will allow you to post back to the + newsgroup that you are currently reading and any newsgroups + to which the message was cross-posted. You will be given the + option of including the original message in your reply. Once + you have typed in your message, you will be asked for + confirmation of whether to proceed with the posting, and + whether to append your signature file if one was defined in + <a href="#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a> and is accessible. See + <a href="lynx_url_support.html">Supported URLs</a> for more + information about the URL schemes for posting or sending + followups (replies) to nntp servers with Lynx. [<a href= + "#ToC-News">ToC</a>]</p> + </dd> + </dl> + + <p>See also <a href= + "http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc977/rfc977">RFC 977</a>.</p> + + <h2 id="id-Bookmarks"><a name="Bookmarks" id="Bookmarks">Lynx + bookmarks</a></h2> + + <p>Bookmarks are entries in your <em>bookmark file</em>, which + record the URL of a document you may want to return to easily, + with a name of your choice to identify the document. To use + bookmarks you must first have specified a name for your bookmark + file in <a href="#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a> or via the <em>Options + Menu</em>.</p> + + <p>To save a bookmark to the document you wish to place in the + bookmark file press the “<samp>a</samp>” key and you + will be asked:</p> + + <blockquote> + <p>Save D)ocument or L)ink to bookmark file or C)ancel? + (d,l,c):</p> + </blockquote> + + <p>Answer “<samp>d</samp>” to save a link to the + document you are currently viewing or + “<samp>l</samp>” to save the link that is currently + selected on the page. Selecting “<samp>c</samp>” will + cancel without saving anything to your bookmark file.</p> + + <p>A bookmark file will be created in conjunction with acting on + the “<samp>a</samp>”dd command if it does not already + exist. Otherwise, the link will be added to the bottom of the + pre-existing bookmark file. You must have created a bookmark file + via the “<samp>a</samp>”dd command before you can + view it.</p> + + <p>Use the “<samp>v</samp>” command to view the list + of bookmarks you have saved. While viewing the bookmark list you + may select a bookmark as you would any other link.</p> + + <p>You can remove a link from the bookmark list by pressing the + “<samp>r</samp>” key when positioned on that link. + You also can use a standard text editor (e.g., via the + “<samp>e</samp>”dit command while viewing a bookmark + file, if an external editor has been defined via the <em>Options + menu</em>) to delete or re-order links in the bookmark file, or + to modify a link name by editing the content of the + <em>A</em>nchor element for the link, but you should not change + the format within the line for the link, consisting of an + <em>LI</em> element followed by the <em>A</em>nchor element, nor + cause the line to become wrapped to a second line. You similarly + can change the link destination by editing the double-quoted + value for the <em>HREF</em> attribute in the <em>A</em>nchor + start tag, but you should not otherwise change the spacing within + the start tag, nor add other attributes. You can add a new link + while editing by copying an existing line for a link, to ensure + the proper format, and then modifying its <em>HREF</em> value and + <em>A</em>nchor content, but you should not add any other HTML + markup to the bookmark file. If the format and spacing (other + than the <em>A</em>nchor content or <em>HREF</em> value) within + lines is changed or other HTML markup is added, the + “<samp>a</samp>”dd and + “<samp>r</samp>”emove commands may not work + properly.</p> + + <p>When multi-bookmarks (see <a href= + "#InteractiveOptions">Options Menu</a>) is OFF, you will always + view or add links to the default bookmark file. When it is + STANDARD, a menu of up to 26 bookmark files will be invoked, and + you select the bookmark file by entering its letter token. When + it is ADVANCED, you will be prompted for the letter token, but + can enter “<samp>=</samp>” to invoke the STANDARD + selection menu, or <em>RETURN</em> for the default bookmark file. + [<a href="#ToC-Bookmarks">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Jumps"><a name="Jumps" id="Jumps">Jump + Command</a></h2> + + <p>Similar to the bookmarks file is the jumps file: for an + example, look in the <em>samples</em> subdirectory in the + distribution package. To use the jumps command, create a + <em>jumps file</em> with the same format as the sample file, but + containing your own URLs & short-cut names. Once you have + done that, typing “<samp>j</samp>” prompts you to + enter a short-cut name, which will take you straight to the URL + associated with the short-cut in the jumps file, much like using + “<samp>g</samp>”. If you want to check which + short-cuts are available, type “<samp>?</samp>” at + the jump prompt for the full list.</p> + + <p>You can set up a jumps file which makes Lynx prompt for + parameters, e.g., as part of a search. Do this by putting a "%s" + marker in the URL at each point where you want Lynx to fill in + text. When you activate the corresponding jump, Lynx will prompt + you for the parameters, one by one.</p> + + <p>All jump short-cuts you have entered are saved in a circular + buffer in the same way as with “<samp>g</samp>” and + “<samp>/</samp>>” (search):</p> + + <p>previous entries can be retrieved with <em>up-arrow</em> or + <em>down-arrow</em>.</p> + + <p>The jumps feature is especially useful for system + administrators who have unsophisticated users to care for, but + ordinary Lynx users who have a number of URLs they regularly + visit while browsing may find using the jumps command speeds + their movements.</p> + + <p>For more advice how to set up the jumps command on your system + and how to define short-cut names, read <a href= + "#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a> .</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Jumps">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-DirEd"><a name="DirEd" id="DirEd">Directory + Editing</a></h2> + + <p>Lynx offers extended DIRED support on Unix (on VMS the more + powerful CSwing program is recommended for character cell + terminals, and can be offered via Lynx as a jump shortcut or + execution link). When a local directory is accessed using a URL + of the form <em>file://localhost/path/</em>, a new set of + commands is available. With DIRED support you can create, edit, + delete, copy, and move files on your local system. The commands + available in DIRED mode are</p> + + <dl> + <dt><code>C)reate</code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>Type “<samp>c</samp>” to create a new file. + New file will be empty.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code>D)ownload</code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>Type “<samp>d</samp>” to download using one of + the pre-defined options.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code>E)dit</code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>Type “<samp>e</samp>” to spawn the editor + defined in <em>Options Menu</em> and load a selected file for + editing.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code>F)ull Menu</code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>Type “<samp>f</samp>” to show full menu of + options available for selection. Menu may vary according to + type of file selected and compression facilities available. + <!-- List of full menu options --></p> + </dd> + + <dt><code>M)odify</code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>Type “<samp>m</samp>” to modify the name or + location of file. Then type “<samp>n</samp>” to + rename the file or “<samp>l</samp>” to move the + file to a different location.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code>R)emove</code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>Type “<samp>r</samp>” to remove the selected + file or directory.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code>T)ag</code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>Type “<samp>t</samp>” to tag highlighted file. + Further operations will be performed on tagged files instead + of highlighted ones.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code>U)pload</code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>Type “<samp>u</samp>” to upload a file to the + present directory. An uploading method must have been + pre-defined in <a href="#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a> .</p> + </dd> + </dl> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-DirEd">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-ColorMouse"><a name="ColorMouse" id="ColorMouse">Using + Color & the Mouse</a></h2> + + <p>A limited range of colors & mouse commands are available, + if the user chooses: see <em>lynx.cfg</em> for details. [<a href= + "#ToC-ColorMouse">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-MiscKeys"><a name="MiscKeys" id="MiscKeys">Scrolling + and Other useful commands</a></h2> + + <p>A summary of all the keystroke commands and their key bindings + can be invoked via the KEYMAP command, normally mapped to + “<samp>k</samp>” and “<samp>K</samp>”. + The following describes some of the most commonly used + commands.</p> + + <dl> + <dt><strong><em>^A</em></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p><em>Control-A</em> jumps you to the beginning of the + current document. It is a synonym for the Keypad + <em>Home</em> key, and can be used also when <em>Links are + numbered</em> mode is on. The <em>Find</em> Function key also + is a synonym, and ideally the latter has been mapped to the + Function key labeled <em>Home</em> if you are using an IBM + Enhanced Keyboard.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><em>^E</em></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p><em>Control-E</em> jumps you to the end of the current + document. It is a synonym for the Keypad <em>End</em> key, + and can be used also when <em>Links are numbered</em> mode is + on. The <em>Select</em> Function key also is a synonym, and + ideally the latter has been mapped to the Function key + labeled <em>End</em> if you are using an IBM Enhanced + Keyboard.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><em>^B</em></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p><em>Control-B</em> normally jumps you to the previous page + of the current document, and thus is a synonym for the Keypad + and Function <em>Page-Up</em> keys. However, + <em>Control-B</em> acts as <em>right-arrow</em> when + emacs-like key movement is enabled (see <a href= + "#InteractiveOptions">Lynx Options Menu</a>).</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><em>^F</em></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p><em>Control-F</em> normally jumps you to the next page of + the current document, and thus is a synonym for the Keypad + and Function <em>Page-Down</em> keys. However, + <em>Control-F</em> becomes <em>right-arrow</em> when + emacs-like key movement is enabled.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><em>^N</em></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p><em>Control-N</em> normally jumps you forward two lines in + the current document. The VT220 <em>Remove</em> Function key + (labeled <em>Delete</em> on IBM Enhanced keyboards, and + distinct from their <em>Backspace</em> key) is a synonym. + <em>Control-N</em> becomes <em>down-arrow</em> when + emacs-like key movement is enabled.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><em>^P</em></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p><em>Control-P</em> normally jumps you back two lines in + the current document. The <em>Insert</em> Function key is a + synonym. <em>Control-P</em> becomes <em>up-arrow</em> when + emacs-like key movement is enabled.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><em>^K</em></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p><em>Control-K</em> invokes the <a href= + "keystrokes/cookie_help.html">Cookie Jar Page</a> if it + contains cookies.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><em>^T</em></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p><em>Control-T</em> toggles Lynx trace mode on and off. + This is useful for diagnosing bad html. If you get a <em>Bad + HTML</em> statusline message when loading a document, enter + <em>Control-T</em> and then <em>Control-R</em> to reload the + document in trace mode. You may then examine the <em>Lynx + Trace Log</em> file with the <samp>;</samp> command if + enabled (see below), watch out especially for lines marked + with a number of asterisks “<code>*****</code>”. + You also can submit the document for validation via links in + the online help menu. If you are able to diagnose the + problem, send a message about it to the document's + author.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><em>^X</em></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p><em>Control-X</em> invokes the <a href="#Cache">Cache Jar + Page</a> if it contains cached documents.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>E</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>The “<samp>E</samp>” command allows you to + edit the URL (or ACTION) of the current link and then use + that as a goto URL. Pressing the “<samp>E</samp>” + command will bring up a prompt asking you to edit the current + link's URL. If you do not modify it, or completely delete it, + or enter Control-G, the command will be cancelled. Otherwise, + the request for the “E”dited URL will be sent + with method GET, and will be entered into the circular buffer + for goto URLs so that it can be accessed for further + modification via the “<samp>g</samp>” command. + Note that lower case “e” invokes the external + editor for the current document.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>g</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>The “<samp>g</samp>” command allows any URL to + be viewed. Pressing the “<samp>g</samp>” command + will bring up a prompt asking for a URL. Type in the URL that + you wish to view. All previously entered goto URLs are saved + in a circular buffer, and can be accessed at the prompt by + pressing the <em>up-arrow</em> or <em>down-arrow</em> + keys.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>G</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>The “<samp>G</samp>” command allows you to + edit the URL of the current document and then use that as a + goto URL. Pressing the “<samp>G</samp>” command + will bring up a prompt asking you to edit the current + document's URL. If you do not modify it, or completely delete + it, or enter Control-G, the command will be cancelled. If the + current document has POST content associated with it, an + Alert will be issued. If you do edit that URL, and it does + not simply involve a fragment change (for seeking a position + in the current document), the modified URL will be submitted + with method GET and no POST content. If a modification of the + current document's URL results in a submission, that modified + URL will be entered into the circular buffer for goto URLs, + and can be accessed for further modification via the + “<samp>g</samp>” command.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>z</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>Lynx supports completely interruptible I/O processes. + Press the “<samp>z</samp>” key at any time during + a connect or transfer process and the process will be halted. + If any data was transferred before the interrupt, it will be + displayed.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>)</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>The <samp>)</samp> command jumps you forward half a page + in the current document.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>(</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>The <samp>(</samp> command jumps you back half a page in + the current document.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>#</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>The “<samp>#</samp>” command jumps you to the + pseudo Toolbar or Banner if present in the current document. + Use <em>left-arrow</em> to return from there to your previous + position in the document.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>!</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>When “<samp>!</samp>” is pressed your default + shell will be spawned. When you quit or exit the shell you + will return to Lynx (usually <em>exit</em> under Unix and + <em>logout</em> under VMS). This command is usually disabled + for anonymous users. On VMS, “<samp>$</samp>” + normally is a synonym.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>=</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>The “<samp>=</samp>” command shows information + about the current document and the currently selected link if + there is one. The number of lines in the file, URL, title, + owner, and type are shown.</p> + + <p>Normally the information is shown formatted (with margins) + for readability. You can make Lynx show the URL wrapped + without margins, e.g., making it convenient for select/paste, + by doing this:</p> + + <ul> + <li>toggle line-wrapping off using + “<samp>|</samp>”</li> + + <li>when line-wrapping is off, use the + “<samp>=</samp>” command</li> + </ul> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>;</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>The <samp>;</samp> command shows the <em>Lynx Trace + Log</em> (<em>Lynx.trace</em> in the home directory) if one + has been started for the current session. If a log has not + been started, any trace messages will be sent to the screen + (and will disturb the normal display) unless the system + supports piping and that was used to redirect stderr messages + to a file. The log is started when Lynx trace mode is turned + on via the <em>-trace</em> command line switch, or via the + <em>Control-T</em> toggle, if Lynx has been compiled to log + the trace and other stderr messages by default. If not, + ability to create a log can be toggled on with the + <em>-tlog</em> switch. Note that this ability is probably + disabled in anonymous or validation accounts.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><a name="asterisk-key" id= + "asterisk-key"><strong><samp>*</samp></strong></a></dt> + + <dd> + <p>The “<samp>*</samp>” command toggles + image_links mode on and off. When on, links will be created + for all images, including inline images. If you have an image + viewer mapped to the image's MIME type, you can activate such + links to view an inline image. You should normally have this + mode toggled off.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>@</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>The “<samp>@</samp>” command toggles raw 8-bit + or CJK mode on and off. When on, the charset is assumed to + match the selected character set and 8-bit characters are not + reverse translated with respect to the ISO-8859-1 conversion + tables.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><a name="lbracket-key" id= + "lbracket-key"><strong><samp>[</samp></strong></a></dt> + + <dd> + <p>The “<samp>[</samp>” command toggles + pseudo_inlines mode on and off. When on, inline images which + have no ALT string specified will have an <em>[INLINE]</em> + pseudo-ALT string inserted in the Lynx display. When off, + they will be treated as having ALT="" (i.e., they will be + ignored). If image_links mode is toggled on, the pseudo-ALT + strings will be restored, to serve as links to the inline + images' sources.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>]</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>The “<samp>]</samp>” command is used to send + HEAD requests for the current document or link. It applies + only to documents or links (or form submit buttons) of http + servers. A statusline message will notify you if the context + for this command was inappropriate. The HEAD requests always + are sent to the http server, i.e., Lynx does not retrieve any + previous server replies from its cache. Note that for form + submissions, http servers vary in whether they'll treat HEAD + requests as valid and return the CGI script's headers, or + treat it as invalid and return an error message.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>{</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>If the line-wrapping margin is wider than the terminal's + display, scroll left by half of the display's width.</p> + + <p>This feature is not available when Lynx is built using the + slang library.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>|</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>“<samp>|</samp>” toggles Lynx line-wrapping + on/off. Normally Lynx fits text onto the screen, wrapping + lines. With this feature, Lynx provides the ability to + eliminate line-wrapping (up to an internal line-limit of 1000 + characters). Lynx uses the curses “pad” feature + to support left/right scrolling. You can scroll left and + right in the screen to view the wide lines.</p> + + <p>The popup menu for the command shows the other choices + which extend the wrapping margin:</p> + + <blockquote> + <pre> +/----------------------------------\ +| Try to fit screen width | +| No line wrap in columns | +| Wrap columns at screen width | +| Wrap columns at 3/4 screen width | +| Wrap columns at 2/3 screen width | +| Wrap columns at 1/2 screen width | +| Wrap columns at 1/3 screen width | +| Wrap columns at 1/4 screen width | +\----------------------------------/ +</pre> + </blockquote> + + <p>This feature is not available when Lynx is built using the + slang library.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>}</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>If the line-wrapping margin is wider than the terminal's + display, scroll right by half of the display's width.</p> + + <p>This feature is not available when Lynx is built using the + slang library.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><em>numbers</em></dt> + + <dd> + <p>Lynx offers other, advanced navigation features when + numbers are used to invoke the <a href= + "keystrokes/follow_help.html">Follow Link (or goto link or + page) number:</a> or <a href= + "keystrokes/follow_help.html#select-option">Select Pop-up + Option Number:</a> prompts.</p> + </dd> + </dl> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-MiscKeys">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Forms"><a name="Forms" id="Forms">Lynx and HTML + Forms</a></h2> + + <p>This section describes the Lynx Forms Interface. HTML gives + document providers the ability to create on-line forms which may + be filled out when the document is viewed. When a form is + submitted the information on the form can be used to search a + database or complete a survey.</p> + + <p>An HTML Form provides for the use of buttons to perform an + action (such as <em>submit</em>), checkboxes, radio buttons or + popups to select options from a list, and fields for entering + text.</p> + + <dl> + <dt>Buttons:</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Buttons are displayed in the same way that Lynx displays + links in a document. To "push" the button press the + <em>right-arrow</em> or <em>Return</em> key. If it is a form + submission button, you also can use the NOCACHE + (“<samp>x</samp>”) or DOWNLOAD + (“<samp>d</samp>”) keystroke commands to "push" + the button (see below).</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Checkboxes and Radio buttons</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Checkboxes are displayed as square brackets: + <em>[ ]</em> and radio buttons are displayed as + parenthesis: <em>( )</em>. When a box is checked or a + button selected, an <samp>x</samp> appears in the brackets: + <em>[x]</em> or an asterisk appears within the parenthesis: + <em>(*)</em>. To check a box or select a radio button press + the <em>right-arrow</em> or <em>Return</em> key.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Selection Fields</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Selection fields are displayed as brackets with the + default option displayed between them: <em>[default__]</em>. + To select an option press the <em>right-arrow</em> or + <em>Return</em> key. A box with a border of asterisks (or + line-drawing characters) will pop up with the list of + possible options listed within the box. Use the + <em>up-arrow</em>, <em>down-arrow</em>, <em>page-up</em>, + <em>page-down</em>, and other navigation keys to move the + cursor among options, and the <em>right-arrow</em> or + <em>Return</em> key to select an option. You also can use the + “<samp>/</samp>” and + “<samp>n</samp>”ext <a href= + "#Search">searching</a> commands for navigating to options + which contain particular strings. <em>NOTE</em> that the + popup menu feature can be disabled via compilation and/or + configuration options, or via the <a href= + "#InteractiveOptions">Options Menu</a>, in which case the + selection field options will be converted to a list of radio + buttons. The default setting for use of popups or radio + button lists can be toggled via the <em>-popup</em> command + line switch.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Text Entry Fields</dt> + + <dd> + <p>Text entry (INPUT) fields are displayed as a row of + underscores the length of the entry field: <em>_______</em>. + You may enter text directly by typing at the keyboard. Use + the <a href="keystrokes/edit_help.html">Line Editor</a> keys + to correct errors. If you try to input more text than the + field can hold, the line editor will not accept the + additional characters. If you fill a text field the cursor + will not move off the field but remain at the last field + position. Use the <em>up-arrow</em>, and <em>down-arrow</em>, + <em>TAB</em> or <em>Return</em> keys to move up, or down from + the text entry field. NOTE, however, that <em>Return</em> + also will <a href="#submit">submit</a> the form if the text + entry field is the only non-hidden field in the form. If + <a name="tna" id="tna">"Textfields Need Activation"</a> mode + is turned on (with the <kbd>-tna</kbd> command-line option or + in <a href="#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a>), then text entry fields + do not become active immediately upon being selected, as + normally. Keystrokes have their normal command meaning unless + the Line Editor gets activated with <em>Return</em> or + <em>Right Arrow</em>. This mode can be used to avoid "getting + stuck" in input fields, especially by users who rarely fill + out forms.</p> + + <p><a name="CtrlVNote" id="CtrlVNote">NOTE:</a> If you have a + text input field selected you will not have access to most of + the Lynx keystroke commands, because they are interpreted by + the <a href="keystrokes/edit_help.html">Line Editor</a> as + either text entries or editing commands. Select a button or + box when you want to use Lynx keystrokes; or prefix your + keystroke with <em>^V</em> to temporarily escape from line + editing.</p> + + <p>Some flavors of UNIX, shells & terminal settings + require that you enter <em>^V^Ve</em> in order to start the + external editor, as they also use <em>^V</em> as default + command-line quote key (called “lnext” in stty + man pages and “stty -a” output); to avoid this, + you can put “stty lnext undef” in your .cshrc + file (or .profile or .bashrc, depending on what shell you + use), or invoke Lynx with a wrapper script, e.g.</p> + + <p><code> #!/bin/sh<br> + stty lnext undef<br> + $HOME/bin/lynx "$@"<br> + stty lnext ^V<br> + exit</code></p> + + <p>NB when NOT in the Line Editor, <em>^V</em> is by default + bound to the command to switch between SortaSGML and TagSoup + HTML parsing (i.e., SWITCH_DTD). To avoid confusion, either + of these separate functions could be changed (mapped away) + with a KEYMAP directive in <em>lynx.cfg</em>. For + example,</p> + + <p> KEYMAP:^V:DO_NOTHING<br> + KEYMAP:#:SWITCH_DTD</p> + + <p>would map SWITCH_DTD away from <em>^V</em> to + <samp>#</samp>, while leaving its default Line Editor + function as a command escape in place. On the other hand,</p> + + <p> KEYMAP:^V::NOP:1<br> + KEYMAP:^_::LKCMD:1</p> + + <p>would move <em>^V</em>'s Line Editor binding as command + escape to <em>^_</em> for the first Line Edit style, letting + <em>^V</em> still act as SWITCH_DTD outside of text input + fields.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>TEXTAREA Fields</dt> + + <dd> + <p>TEXTAREA fields are for most purposes handled as if they + were a series of text entry (INPUT) fields for which + successive lines imply a newline at the end of the preceding + line. You enter text on each line to construct the overall + message. Any blank lines at the bottom of the TEXTAREA field + will be eliminated from the submission. The + <em>up-arrow</em>, and <em>down-arrow</em> or <em>Return</em> + keys move you to the preceding, or next line of the overall + message, as for INPUT fields. The <em>TAB</em> key will move + you down beyond the bottom of the TEXTAREA field, and + <em>Back Tab</em> (if available, e.g., as Shift-Tab, and + correctly mapped in the terminal description) will move + backward to a link or field before the TEXTAREA.</p> + </dd> + + <dt>Editing TEXTAREA Fields and Special TEXTAREA Functions</dt> + + <dd> + <p>TEXTAREA fields can be edited using an external editor. + The statusline should tell you when this is possible and what + key to use, it might for example say</p> + <pre> + <strong>(Textarea) Enter text. </strong>[ ..... ]<strong> (^Xe for editor).</strong> +</pre> + + <p>An external editor has to be defined, for example in the + <a href="#InteractiveOptions">Options Menu</a>, before you + can start using this function.</p> + + <p>A key to invoke external TEXTAREA editing is normally + provided by the <a href= + "keystrokes/edit_help.html">Line-Editor Key</a> Bindings. A + KEYMAP directive in <em>lynx.cfg</em> can also be used to + make a different key invoke external editing; it will then + normally be necessary to prefix that key with <em>^V</em> to + "escape" from line-editing. Two variants exist,<br> + KEYMAP:e:EDITTEXTAREA<br> + or<br> + KEYMAP:e:DWIMEDIT<br> + (the first is only functional for TEXTAREA editing, while the + second allows to use the same key for normal <a href= + "#FileEdit">file editing</a> <em>as long as both functions do + not conflict</em>).</p> + + <p>Please see the <a href="#CtrlVNote">note above</a> for + details about <em>^V</em> behavior.</p>You can also use two + other special TEXTAREA functions. Again, these are already + bound to key sequences in the <a href= + "keystrokes/edit_help.html#TASpecial">Line-Editor + Bindings</a>, by default <em>^Xg</em> and <em>^Xi</em>. You + can use different keys by adding KEYMAP bindings to your + <em>lynx.cfg</em> file, e.g. + + <p> KEYMAP:$:GROWTEXTAREA<br> + KEYMAP:#:INSERTFILE</p> + + <p>With these bindings, (in a TEXTAREA only) <em>^V$</em> + would add 5 lines to the TEXTAREA and <em>^V#</em> would + prompt for the name of an existing file to be inserted into + the TEXTAREA (above the cursorline). An automatic variation + of GROWTEXTAREA is normally compiled in, so that hitting + <em>Enter</em> with the cursor on the last line adds a new + line to the TEXTAREA, with the cursor on it.</p> + + <p>If you have some single keys (or control keys) to spare + that you do not need for their normal purposes, you can + dedicate those keys to invoke the special functions (without + requiring a prefix key). For example, to use the <em>^E</em> + key for the DWIMEDIT action, and the <em>Insert</em> key for + the INSERTFILE action, use<br> + KEYMAP:^E:DWIMEDIT:PASS<br> + KEYMAP:0x10C:INSERTFILE:PASS<br> + (see lynx.cfg for other keystroke codes to use).</p> + + <p>Note that the default bindings that use <em>^X</em> as a + prefix key <em>may</em> also work by substituting the + <kbd>Escape</kbd> key for ^X. If your keyboard has a modifier + (Meta) key that gets transmitted as an ESC prefix, for + example <kbd>Alt</kbd>, you can then even use <em>Alt-e</em> + instead of <em>^Xe</em>, <em>Alt-g</em> instead of + <em>^Xg</em>, and so on. But this does not work reliably + everywhere (it depends on the way Lynx is compiled, including + which libraries are used, and behavior of the connection and + terminal type).</p> + </dd> + </dl> + + <p>In general, you can move around the form using the standard + Lynx navigation keys. The <em>up-arrow</em> and + <em>down-arrow</em> keys, respectively, select the previous or + next field, box, or button. The <em>TAB</em> key selects the next + field, box, or button.</p> + + <p>To <a name="submit" id="submit"><em>submit</em></a> the form + press <em>right-arrow</em> or <em>Return</em> when positioned on + the form's submit button. If you've submitted the form previously + during the Lynx session, have not changed any of the form + content, and the METHOD was <em>GET</em>, Lynx will retrieve from + its cache what was returned from the previous submission. If you + wish to resubmit that form to the server with the same content as + previously, use the NOCACHE command + (“<samp>x</samp>”) when positioned on the submit + button. The <em>right-arrow</em> and <em>Return</em> keys also + will invoke a no-cache resubmission if the reply from a form + submission included a META element with a no-cache Pragma or + Cache-Control directive:</p> + <pre> + <em><META HTTP-EQUIV="Pragma" CONTENT="no-cache"></em> + <em><META HTTP-EQUIV="Cache-Control" CONTENT="no-cache"></em> +</pre> + + <p>or the server sent a "Pragma" or "Cache-Control" MIME header + with a no-cache directive.</p> + + <p>You also can use the DOWNLOAD (“<samp>d</samp>”) + keystroke command when positioned on a form submit button if you + wish to download the server's reply to the submission instead of + having Lynx render and display it.</p> + + <p>Forms which have <em>POST</em> as the METHOD, or a <a href= + "lynx_url_support.html#mailto_url">mailto:</a> URL as the ACTION, + are always resubmitted, even if the content has not changed, when + you activate the <em>submit</em> button. Lynx normally will not + resubmit a form which has <em>POST</em> as the METHOD if the + document returned by the form has links which you activated, and + then you go back via the PREV_DOC (<em>left-arrow</em>) command + or via the <a href="keystrokes/history_help.html">History + Page</a>. Lynx can be compiled so that it resubmits the form in + those cases as well, and the default can be changed via <a href= + "#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a>, and toggled via the + <em>-resubmit_posts</em> command line switch.</p> + + <p>If the form has one <em>text entry</em> field and no other + fields except, possibly, hidden INPUT fields not included in the + display, then that field also serves as a <em>submit</em> button, + and pressing <em>right-arrow</em> or <em>Return</em> on that + field will invoke submission of the form. Be sure to use + <em>up-arrow</em>, <em>down-arrow</em> or <em>TAB</em> to move + off the text entry field, in such cases, if it is not your + intention to submit the form (or to retrieve what was returned + from an earlier submission if the content was not changed and the + METHOD was <em>GET</em>).</p> + + <p>Forms can have multiple <em>submit</em> buttons, if they have + been assigned NAMEs in the markup. In such cases, information + about which one of the buttons was used to submit the form is + included in the form content.</p> + + <p>Inlined images can be used as submit buttons in forms: If such + buttons are assigned NAMEs in the markup, for graphic clients + they can also serve as <a href="#USEMAP">image maps</a>, and the + x,y coordinates of the graphic client's cursor position in the + image when it was <em>clicked</em> are included in the form + content. Since Lynx cannot inline the image, and the user could + not have moved a cursor from the origin for the image, if no + alternatives are made available in the markup Lynx sends a 0,0 + coordinate pair in the form content.</p> + + <p>Document authors who use images as submit buttons, but have at + least some concern for text clients and sight-challenged + Webizens, should include VALUEs for the buttons in such markup. + Lynx will then display the string assigned to the VALUE, as it + would for a normal submit button.</p> + + <ul> + <li> + <p>Some document authors incorrectly use an ALT instead of + VALUE attribute for this purpose. Lynx "cooperates" by + treating ALT as a synonym for VALUE when present in an INPUT + tag with TYPE="image".</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>If neither a VALUE nor an ALT attribute is present, Lynx + displays "[IMAGE]-Submit" as the string for such buttons.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>If clickable images is set, the "[IMAGE]" portion of the + string is a link for the image, and the "Submit" portion is + the button for submitting the form.</p> + + <p>Otherwise, the entire string is treated as a submit + button. If a VALUE or ALT attribute is present and clickable + images is set, Lynx prepends "[IMAGE]" as a link for the + image, followed by “-” and then the attribute's + value as the displayed string for the submit button.</p> + </li> + </ul> + + <p>Early versions of Lynx would send a name=value pair instead of + a 0,0 coordinate pair if a TYPE="image" submit button was + NAME-ed, had a VALUE attribute in the INPUT tag, and was used to + submit the form. The script which analyzes the form content thus + could be made aware whether the submission was by a user with a + graphic client and had image loading turned on, or by a user who + did not see the image nor make a conscious choice within it. + However, requests that this be included in HTML specifications + consistently have fallen on deaf ears, and thus Lynx now "fakes" + a 0,0 coordinate pair whether or not a VALUE or ALT attribute is + present in the INPUT tag. Ideally, the script which analyzes the + submitted content will treat the 0,0 coordinate pair as an + indicator that the user did not see the image and make a + conscious choice within it.</p> + + <p>Forms can have <em>hidden</em> INPUT fields, which are not + displayed, but have NAMEs and VALUEs included in the content. + These often are used to keep track of information across a series + of related form submissions, but have the potential for including + information about the user that might be considered to represent + an invasion of privacy. NOTE, in this regard, that Lynx has + implemented the <a href="http://www.w3.org/Markup/html3/">HTML + 3.0</a> <em>DISABLED</em> attribute for <em>all</em> of its form + fields. These can be used to keep track of information across + submissions, and to cast it unmodifiable in the current form, but + keep the user aware that it will be included in the + submission.</p> + + <p>Forms most commonly are submitted to http servers with the + content encoded as + <em>ENCTYPE="application/x-www-form-urlencoded"</em> for analysis + by a script, and Lynx treats that as the default if no ENCTYPE is + specified in the FORM start tag. However, you can specify a + <a href="lynx_url_support.html#mailto_url">mailto</a> URL as the + form's ACTION to have the form content sent, instead, to an email + address. In such cases, you may wish to specify + <em>ENCTYPE="text/plain"</em> in the form markup, so that the + content will not be encoded, but remain readable as plain + text.</p> + + <p>Lynx also supports + <em>ENCTYPE="application/sgml-form-urlencoded"</em> for which all + reserved characters in the content will be hex escaped, as with + <em>application/x-www-form-urlencoded</em>, but semicolons + (“<samp>;</samp>”) instead of ampersands + (“<samp>&</samp>”) will be used as the separator + for name=value pairs in the form content. The use of semicolons + is preferred for forms with the <em>GET</em> METHOD, because the + <em>GET</em> METHOD causes the encoded form content to be + appended as a <em>?searchpart</em> for the form's ACTION, and if + such URLs are used in <em>text/html</em> documents or bookmark + files without conversion of the ampersands to SGML character + references (<em>&amp;</em> or <em>&#38;</em>), their + being followed by form field NAMEs which might correspond to SGML + entities could lead to corruption of the intended URL.</p> + + <p>NOTE, in this regard, that Lynx converts ampersands to + <em>&amp;</em> when creating bookmarks, and thus the bookmark + links will not be vulnerable to such corruptions. Also NOTE that + Lynx allows you to save links in your bookmark file for documents + returned by forms with the <em>GET</em> METHOD, and which thus + have the content appended as a <em>?searchpart</em>, but not if + the METHOD was <em>POST</em>, because the content would be lost + and the link thus would be invalid.</p> + + <p>Lynx supports <em>ENCTYPE="multipart/form-data"</em> for + sending form content with name=value pairs encoded as multipart + sections with individual MIME headers and boundaries. However, + Lynx does not yet support INPUTs with <em>TYPE="file"</em> or + <em>TYPE="range"</em> and will set the <em>DISABLED</em> + attribute for all of the form's fields if any INPUTs with either + of those two TYPEs are present, so that the form cannot be + submitted. Otherwise, Lynx will submit the form with the + multipart ENCTYPE.</p> + + <p>A + <em>Content-Disposition: file; filename=name.suffix</em> + header can be used by CGI scripts to set the suggested filename + offered by Lynx for “<samp>d</samp>”ownload and + “<samp>p</samp>”rint menu options to save or mail the + body returned by the script following submission of a FORM. + Otherwise, Lynx uses the last symbolic element in the path for + the FORM's ACTION, which is normally the script, itself, or a + PATH_INFO field, and thus might be misleading. This also can be + done via a META element in any document:</p> + <pre> + <em><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Disposition" + CONTENT="file; filename=name.suffix"></em> +</pre> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Forms">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Images"><a name="Images" id="Images">Lynx and HTML + Images</a></h2> + + <p>As a text browser, Lynx does not display images as such -- you + need to define a viewer in <em>lynx.cfg</em>: see there -- , but + users can choose a number of ways of showing their presence.</p> + + <p>There are 3 choices in <em>lynx.cfg</em>, with 2 corresponding + keys:</p> + <pre> + MAKE_LINKS_FOR_ALL_IMAGES * IMAGE_TOGGLE + MAKE_PSEUDO_ALTS_FOR_INLINES [ INLINE_TOGGLE + VERBOSE_IMAGES no corresponding key +</pre> + + <p>You can also use the <em>Options Menu</em>, as outlined + below:</p> + <pre> + key lynx.cfg FM KM .lynxrc variable in source + + * MAKE_LINKS_ Y N N clickable_images + [ MAKE_PSEUDO_ Y N N pseudo_inline_alts + VERBOSE_ Y Y Y verbose_img + +FM = Form-based Menu ; KM = Key-based Menu ; +in .lynxrc , VERBOSE_IMAGES is called “verbose_images”: +the other two cannot be saved between sessions. +</pre> + + <p>In the Form-based Menu, the 3-way “Show images” + selection combines the effects of the “*” & + “[” keys, as follows:</p> + <pre> + Ignore clickable_images = FALSE, pseudo_inline_alts = FALSE + As labels clickable_images = FALSE, pseudo_inline_alts = TRUE + As links clickable_images = TRUE, pseudo_inline_alts = unchanged +</pre> + + <h2 id="id-Tables"><a name="Tables" id="Tables">Lynx and HTML + Tables</a></h2> + + <p>HTML includes markup for creating <em>tables</em> structured + as arrays of cells aligned by columns and rows on the displayed + page.</p> + + <p>Lynx recognizes the TABLE element and all of its associated + elements as described in <a href= + "http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc1942.html">RFC 1942</a> and will + process any ID attributes in the start tags for handling as + NAME-ed anchors, but does not create actual <em>tables</em>. + Instead, it treats the TR start tag as a collapsible BR (line + break), and inserts a collapsible space before the content of + each TH and TD start tag. This generally makes all of the content + of the <em>table</em> readable, preserves most of the intra-cell + organization, and makes all of the links in the <em>table</em> + accessible, but any information critically dependent on the + column and row alignments intended for the <em>table</em> will be + missed.</p> + + <p>If inherently tabular data must be presented with Lynx, one + can use PRE formatted content, or, if the <em>table</em> includes + markup not allowed for PRE content, construct the <em>table</em> + using <a href="#Tabs">HTML Tabs</a>. An example <em>table</em> + using <em>TAB</em> elements is included in the test subdirectory + of the Lynx distribution.</p> + + <div id="TRST"> + <p>Starting with version 2.8.3, Lynx renders some tables in + tabular form. This tabular representation for <em>simple</em> + tables (<dfn>TRST</dfn>) does not attempt to implement full + support for any table model. Limitations are:</p> + + <ul> + <li>All data constituting a table row generally has to fit + within the display width without inserting line breaks.</li> + + <li>Cell contents have to be simple. In general, only inline + markup is acceptable, no <code><P></code>, + <code><BR></code> etc. (although + <code><BR></code> may be ignored at the beginning of + the first cell or at the end of the last cell of a row).</li> + + <li>When tables are nested, only the innermost level is a + candidate for tabular representation.</li> + + <li>Most attributes are ignored, including borders, + <code>WIDTH</code>, vertical alignment.</li> + </ul> + + <p>Horizontal alignments (<code>LEFT</code>, + <code>CENTER</code>, <code>RIGHT</code>), <code>COLSPAN</code>, + and <code>ROWSPAN</code> are interpreted according to HTML + 4.01. (<code>ROWSPAN</code> can only reserve empty space in + subsequent rows, because of the limitations above.) When TRST + fails because a table is not "simple" enough, the + representation falls back to the minimal handling described + earlier. Many (but, unfortunately, by no means all) tables that + represent inherently tabular material will thus be shown with + correct tabular formatting. Where table markup is used only for + layout purposes (containing whole blocks of text and list + within table cells) and not essential for understanding the + textual contents, it remains basically ignored. Some more + information on details is available in the file + <kbd>README.TRST</kbd> of the source distribution.</p> + </div> + + <p>For tabular display of more complex tables, Lynx users can + make use of external scripts or programs. The normal Lynx + distribution currently does not provide such scripts, but they + can be written locally or downloaded from several sources. It is + suggested to use one of Lynx's facilities for invoking external + programs (see <kbd>DOWNLOADER</kbd>, <kbd>PRINTER</kbd>, + <kbd>EXTERNAL</kbd>, <kbd>TRUSTED_LYNXCGI</kbd> in <a href= + "#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a> and <a href= + "lynx_url_support.html#cgi_url"><code>lynxcgi:</code></a> in + <em>Supported URLs</em> for information on various ways for + setting this up).</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Tables">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Tabs"><a name="Tabs" id="Tabs">Lynx and HTML + Tabs</a></h2> + + <p>Lynx implements the <a href= + "http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/html3/Contents.html">HTML 3.0</a> TAB + element only when LEFT alignment is in effect. If the alignment + is CENTER or RIGHT (JUSTIFY is not yet implemented in Lynx, and + is treated as a synonym for LEFT), or if the TAB element + indicates a position to the left of the current position on the + screen, it is treated as a collapsible space. For purposes of + implementing TAB, Lynx treats <em>en</em> units as half a + character cell width when specified by the INDENT attribute, and + rounds up for odd values (e.g., a value of either 5 or 6 will be + treated as three spaces, each the width of a character cell). See + the example <em>table</em> using TAB elements in the test + subdirectory of the Lynx distribution as a model for using this + functionality.</p> + + <p>Note that this <em>Users Guide</em> and the <a href= + "lynx_url_support.html">Supported URLs</a> page include TAB + markup in a manner which <em>degrades gracefully</em> for WWW + browsers which do not support it. Toggle to display of <a href= + "#LocalSource">source</a> and <a href="#Search">search</a> for + <em><tab</em> to examine the use of TAB markup in these + documents.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Tabs">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Frames"><a name="Frames" id="Frames">Lynx and HTML + Frames</a></h2> + + <p>Some implementations of HTML include markup, primarily + designed for graphic clients, that is intended to create an array + of simultaneously displayed, independently scrolling windows. + Such windows have been termed <em>frames</em>.</p> + + <p>Lynx recognizes the Netscape and Microsoft Explorer FRAME, + FRAMESET, and NOFRAMES elements, but is not capable of windowing + to create the intended positioning of <em>frames</em>. Instead, + Lynx creates labeled links to the <em>frame</em> sources, + typically positioned in the upper left corner of the display, and + renders the NOFRAMES section. If the document provider has + disregard for text clients and sight-challenged Webizens, and + thus does not include substantive content in the NOFRAMES section + or a link in it to a document suitable for text clients, you can + usually guess from the labeling of the <em>frame</em> links which + one has the substantive material (if there is any), or you can + try each of those links to see if anything worthwhile is + returned.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Frames">ToC</a>]</p> + + <p>Some sites -- in ignorance of Lynx capabilities -- may tell + you (for example) "to view this page you need Netscape + Navigator". You can simply ignore such warnings and access the + frames via the Lynx-generated links as above.</p> + + <h2 id="id-Banners"><a name="Banners" id="Banners">Lynx and HTML + Banners</a></h2> + + <p>Some implementations of HTML markup include provisions for + creating a non-scrolling window to be positioned at the top of + each page, containing links with brief, descriptive link names, + analogous to a Windows toolbar. Such windows have been termed + <em>banners</em>.</p> + + <p>Lynx recognizes and processes all of the <a href= + "http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/html3/Contents.html">HTML 3.0</a> REL + attribute tokens in LINK elements for creating a <em>banner</em>, + and a number of others which have subsequently been proposed. + These <em>banner</em> tokens are <em>Home</em>, <em>ToC</em>, + <em>Contents</em>, <em>Index</em>, <em>Glossary</em>, + <em>Copyright</em>, <em>Up</em>, <em>Next</em>, + <em>Previous</em>, <em>Prev</em>, <em>Help</em>, <em>Search</em>, + <em>Top</em>, <em>Origin</em>, <em>Navigator</em>, + <em>Child</em>, <em>Disclaimer</em>, <em>Sibling</em>, + <em>Parent</em>, <em>Author</em>, <em>Editor</em>, + <em>Publisher</em>, <em>Trademark</em>, <em>Meta</em>, + <em>URC</em>, <em>Hotlist</em>, <em>Begin</em>, <em>First</em>, + <em>End</em>, <em>Last</em>, <em>Pointer</em>, + <em>Translation</em>, <em>Definition</em>, <em>Chapter</em>, + <em>Section</em>, <em>Subsection</em>, <em>Alternate</em>, + <em>Documentation</em>, <em>Biblioentry</em>, + <em>Bibliography</em>, <em>Start</em>, <em>Appendix</em>, + <em>Bookmark</em> and <em>Banner</em>. Any LINK elements with + those tokens as the REL attribute value, and an HREF attribute + value in the LINK, will invoke creation of a <em>banner</em> at + the top of the first page, with the element's HREF as the link, + and the token as the default link name. If a TITLE attribute is + included in the LINK, its value will be used as the link name + instead of the default. <em>Bookmark</em> and <em>Banner</em> are + intended to be accompanied by a TITLE attribute, which in effect + makes the namespace for REL <em>banner</em> tokens infinite.</p> + + <p>If the special token <em>Help</em> is used as the REL value + and no HREF is included in the LINK, Lynx will use it own + <em>HELPFILE</em> URL for that link. For the special token + <em>Home</em> without an HREF, Lynx will use the default + <em>STARTFILE</em> (i.e., derived from the configuration files or + the WWW_HOME environment variable, <em>not</em> the command line + <em>startfile</em> if one was used). However, if a + <em>-homepage=URL</em> was specified on the command line, its URL + will be used as the HREF. For the special token <em>Index</em> + without an HREF, Lynx will use the <em>DEFAULT_INDEX_FILE</em> + derived from the configuration files, or if an + <em>-index=URL</em> was specified on the command line, its URL + will be used as the HREF.</p> + + <p>Lynx does not waste screen real estate maintaining the + <em>banner</em> at the top of every page, but the Lynx TOOLBAR + keystroke command (“<samp>#</samp>”) will, any time + it is pressed, position you on the <em>banner</em> so that any of + its links can be activated, and pressing the <em>left-arrow</em> + when in the <em>banner</em> will return you to where you were in + the current document. The toolbar is indicated by a + “<samp>#</samp>” preceding its first link when + present on the screen, that is, when the first page of the + document is being displayed. The availability of a toolbar is + indicated by a “<samp>#</samp>” at the top, left-hand + corner of the screen when the second or subsequent pages of the + document are being displayed.</p> + + <p>Lynx also recognizes the <a href= + "http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/html3/Contents.html">HTML 3.0</a> + BANNER container element, and will create a <em>banner</em> based + on its content if one has not already been created based on LINK + elements. Lynx treats the Microsoft MARQUEE element as a synonym + for BANNER (i.e., presenting its markup as a static + <em>banner</em>, without any horizontal scrolling of its + content). Lynx does not prefix the BANNER or MARQUEE content with + a “<samp>#</samp>” because the content need not be + only a series of links with brief, descriptive links names, but + does add a “<samp>#</samp>” at the top, left-hand + corner of the screen when the content is not being displayed, to + indicate its accessibility via the TOOLBAR keystroke command.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Banners">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Footnotes"><a name="Footnotes" id="Footnotes">Lynx and + HTML Footnotes</a></h2> + + <p>Lynx implements the <a href= + "http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/html3/Contents.html">HTML 3.0</a> FN + element similarly to a named <em>A</em>nchor within the current + document, and assumes that the footnotes will be positioned at + the bottom of the document. However, in contrast to named + <em>A</em>nchors, the FN container element is treated as a block + (i.e., as if a new paragraph were indicated whether or not that + is indicated in its content) with greater than normal left and + right margins, and the block will begin with a <em>FOOTNOTE:</em> + label. For example, if the document contains:</p> + <pre> + See the <em><A HREF="#fn1"></em><a href= +"#an1">footnote</a><em></A></em>. +</pre> + + <p>activating that link will take you to the labeled rendering + of:</p> + <pre> + <em><FN ID="fn1"></em><p><a name="an1" id= +"an1">Lynx does not use popups for FN blocks.</a></p><em></FN></em> +</pre> + + <p>i.e., position it at the top of the page. Then, upon reading + the footnote, you can return to your previous position in the + document by pressing the <em>left-arrow</em> key. The content of + an FN element can be any HTML markup that is valid in the BODY of + the document.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Footnotes">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Notes"><a name="Notes" id="Notes">Lynx and HTML + Notes</a></h2> + + <p>Lynx implements the <a href= + "http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/html3/Contents.html">HTML 3.0</a> NOTE + element (<em>Admonishment</em>) as a labeled block, i.e., as if a + new paragraph were indicated whether or not paragraphing markup + is included in its content, with greater than normal left and + right margins, and with the type of note indicated by an + emphasized label based on the value of its CLASS or ROLE + attribute. If no CLASS or ROLE attribute is included, the default + label <em>NOTE:</em> will be used. Lynx recognizes the values + <em>caution</em> and <em>warning</em>, for which, respectively, + the labels <em>CAUTION:</em> or <em>WARNING:</em> will be used. + The NOTE element can have an ID attribute, which will be treated + as a named <em>A</em>nchor, as for <a href="#Footnotes">HTML + Footnotes</a>, but the NOTE block need not be placed at the + bottom of the document. The content of a NOTE block can be any + HTML markup that is valid in the BODY of the document. This is an + example:</p> + <pre> + <em><NOTE CLASS="warning" ID="too-bad"> + <p>The W3C vendors did not retain NOTE in the HTML 3.2 draft.</p> + </NOTE></em> +</pre> + + <p>It will <em>degrade gracefully</em> for WWW browsers which do + not support NOTE, except for recognition of the ID attribute as a + named <em>A</em>nchor.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Notes">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Lists"><a name="Lists" id="Lists">Lynx and HTML + Lists</a></h2> + + <p>Lynx implements the <a href= + "http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/html3/Contents.html">HTML 3.0</a> list + elements UL (<em>Unordered List</em>), OL (<em>Ordered + List</em>), and DL (<em>Definition List</em>), and their + associated attributes, and elements (LH, LI, DT, and DD) for the + most part as described in that specification. The lists can be + nested, yielding progressively greater indentation, up to six + levels. The <a href= + "http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/html-spec/html-spec_toc.html">HTML + 2.0</a> MENU and DIR elements <em>both</em> are treated as + synonyms for UL with the PLAIN attribute (no <em>bullets</em>, + see below). Note, thus, that neither DIR nor MENU yields a series + of columns with 24-character spacing. A single nesting index is + maintained, so that different types of List elements can be used + for different levels within the nest. Also, the <a href= + "http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/html3/Contents.html">HTML 3.0</a> FIG, + CAPTION and CREDIT elements are treated as valid within list + blocks. They will be rendered with indentation appropriate for + the current nesting depth, and the CAPTION or CREDIT elements + will have a <em>CAPTION:</em> or <em>CREDIT:</em> label beginning + the first line of their content. The content of any APPLET or + OBJECT elements in the lists also will be indented appropriately + for the current nesting depth, but those will not invoke line + breaks unless indicated by their content, and it should not + include markup which is inappropriate within the list.</p> + + <p>Lynx also supports the TYPE attribute for OL elements, which + can have values of <em>1</em> for Arabic numbers, <em>I</em> or + <em>i</em> for uppercase or lowercase Roman numerals, or + <em>A</em> or <em>a</em> for uppercase or lowercase letters, that + increment for successive LI elements in the list block. The + CONTINUE attribute can be used to continue the ordering from the + preceding list block when the nesting depth is changed.</p> + + <p>Lynx treats the OL attributes START and SEQNUM as synonyms for + specifying the ordering value for the first LI element in the + block. The values should be specified as Arabic numbers, but will + be displayed as Arabic, Roman, or alphabetical depending on the + TYPE for the block. The values can range from <em>-29997</em> to + the system's maximum positive integer for Arabic numbers. For + Roman numerals, they can range from <em>1</em> (<em>I</em> or + <em>i</em>) to <em>3000</em> (<em>MMM</em> or <em>mmm.</em>). For + alphabetical orders, the values can range from <em>1</em> + (<em>A</em> or <em>a</em>) to <em>18278</em> (<em>ZZZ</em> or + <em>zzz</em>). If the CONTINUE attribute is used, you do not need + to specify a START or SEQNUM attribute to extend the ordering + from a previous block, and you can include a TYPE attribute to + change among Arabic, Roman, or alphabetical ordering styles, or + their casing, without disrupting the sequence. If you do not + include a START, SEQNUM or CONTINUE attribute, the first LI + element of each OL block will default to <em>1</em>, and if you + do not include a TYPE attribute, Lynx defaults to Arabic + numbers.</p> + + <p>For UL blocks without the PLAIN attribute, Lynx uses + <em>*</em>, <em>+</em>, <em>o</em>, <em>#</em>, <em>@</em> and + <em>-</em> as <em>bullets</em> to indicate, progressively, the + depth within the six nesting levels.</p> + + <p>Lynx treats UL, OL, DIR, and MENU blocks as having the COMPACT + attribute by default, i.e., single spaces between LH and LI + elements within those blocks. For DL blocks, double spacing will + be used to separate the DT and DD elements unless the COMPACT + attribute has been specified.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Lists">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Quotes"><a name="Quotes" id="Quotes">Lynx and HTML + Quotes</a></h2> + + <p>The <a href= + "http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/html3/Contents.html">HTML 3.0</a> and + later specifications provide for two classes of quotation in HTML + documents. Block quotes, designated by the BLOCKQUOTE element (or + its abbreviated synonym BQ in HTML 3.0), have implied paragraph + breaks preceding and following the start and end tags for the + block. Character level quotes, designated by the Q element, in + contrast are simply directives in the markup to insert an + appropriate quotation mark.</p> + + <p>Lynx renders block quotes with a greater than normal left and + right indentation. Lynx does not support italics, and normally + substitutes underlining, but does not underline block quotes so + as not to obscure any explicit emphasis elements within the + quotation. The BLOCKQUOTE or BQ block can include a CREDIT + container element, whose content will be rendered as an implied + new paragraph with a <em>CREDIT:</em> label at the beginning of + its first line.</p> + + <p>Lynx respects nested Q start and end tags, and will use ASCII + double-quotes (<samp>"</samp>) versus grave accent + (<samp>`</samp>) and apostrophe (<samp>'</samp>), respectively, + for even versus odd depths in the nest.</p> + + <p>Any ID attributes in BLOCKQUOTE, BQ or Q elements can be the + target of a hyperlink in the form URL#id. It is treated just like + the NAME in <em>A</em>nchors.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Quotes">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Eightbit"><a name="Eightbit" id="Eightbit">Lynx and + HTML Internationalization: 8bit, UNICODE, etc.</a></h2> + + <p>Lynx has superior support for HTML 4.0/I18N + internationalization issues. However, to see the characters other + than 7bit properly you <em>should</em> set your <a href= + "keystrokes/option_help.html#DC">display character set</a> from + Option Menu and save its value, this is a Frequently Asked + Question. Fine-turning is also available from <a href= + "#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a></p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Eightbit">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-USEMAP"><a name="USEMAP" id="USEMAP">Lynx and + Client-Side-Image-Maps</a></h2> + + <p>HTML includes markup, designed primarily for graphic clients, + that treats inlined images as maps, such that areas of the image + within which a mouse cursor was positioned when the mouse was + <em>clicked</em> can correspond to URLs which should be + retrieved. The original implementations were based on the client + sending an http server the x,y coordinates associated with the + <em>click</em>, for handling by a script invoked by the server, + and have been termed <em>server-side-image-maps</em>. Lynx has no + rational way of coping with such a procedure, and thus simply + sends a 0,0 coordinate pair, which some server scripts treat as + an instruction to return a document suitable for a text + client.</p> + + <p>Newer HTML markup provides bases for the client to determine + the URLs associated with areas in the image map, and/or for a + text client to process alternative markup and allow the user to + make choices based on textual information. These have been termed + <em>client-side-image-maps</em>.</p> + + <p>Lynx recognizes and processes the MAP container element and + its AREA elements, and will create a menu of links for the HREF + of each AREA when the link created for the IMG element with a + USEMAP attribute is activated. The menu uses the ALT attributes + of the AREA elements as the link names, or, if the document's + author has disregard for text clients and sight-challenged + Webizens, and thus did not include ALT attributes, Lynx uses the + resolved URLs pointed to by the HREF attributes as the link + names. Lynx uses the TITLE attribute of the IMG element, or the + TITLE attribute of the MAP, if either was present in the markup, + as the title and main header of the menu. Otherwise, it uses the + ALT attribute of the IMG element. If neither TITLE nor ALT + attributes were present in the markup, Lynx creates and uses a + <em>[USEMAP]</em> pseudo-ALT. The MAPs need not be in the same + document as the IMG elements. If not in the same document, Lynx + will fetch the document which contains the referenced MAP, and + locate it based on its NAME or ID attribute. All MAPs encountered + in documents during a Lynx session are cached, so that they need + not be retrieved repeatedly when referenced in different + documents.</p> + + <p>If the IMG element also indicates a + <em>server-side-image-map</em> via an ISMAP attribute, Lynx + normally will create a link for that as well, using an + <em>[ISMAP]</em> pseudo-ALT (followed by a hyphen to indicate its + association with the <em>client-side-image-map</em>) rather than + ignoring it, and will submit a 0,0 coordinate pair if that link + is activated. Although, the <em>client-side-image-map</em> may be + more useful for a client such as Lynx, because all of the URLs + associated with the image map can be accessed, and their nature + indicated via ALT attributes, Lynx-friendly sites can map 0,0 + such that the server returns a for-text-client document + homologous to the content of FIG elements (see below). Inclusion + of such a link for submissions to the server can be disabled by + default via the configuration file (<a href= + "#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a>), and the default can be toggled via the + <em>-ismap</em> command line switch.</p> + + <p>Lynx also recognizes the <a href= + "http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/html3/Contents.html">HTML 3.0</a> FIG + and OVERLAY elements, and will handle them as intended for text + clients. These are the ideal way to handle + <em>client-side-image-maps</em>, because the FIG content provides + complete alternative markup, rather than relying on the client to + construct a relatively meager list of links with link names based + on ALT strings.</p> + + <p>The presently experimental OBJECT element encompasses much of + the functionality of the FIG element for + <em>client-side-image-maps</em>. Lynx will render and display the + content of OBJECT elements which have the SHAPES attribute + equivalently to its handling of FIG. Lynx also handles OBJECT + elements with the USEMAP and/or ISMAP attributes equivalently to + its handling of IMG elements with <em>client-side-image-maps</em> + and/or <em>server-side-image-maps</em>.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-USEMAP">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Refresh"><a name="Refresh" id="Refresh">Lynx and + Client-Side-Pull</a></h2> + + <p>HTML includes provision for passing instructions to clients + via directives in META elements, and one such instruction, via + the token <em>Refresh</em>, should invoke reloading of the + document, fetched from a server with the same URL or a new URL, + at a specified number of seconds following receipt of the current + document. This procedure has been termed + <em>client-side-pull</em>. An example of such an element is:</p> + <pre> + <em><META HTTP-EQUIV="Refresh" CONTENT="3; URL=http://host/path"></em> +</pre> + + <p>which instructs a client to fetch the indicated URL in 3 + seconds after receiving the current document. If the + <em>URL=</em> field is omitted, the URL defaults to that of the + current document. A <em>no-cache</em> directive is implied when + the <em>Refresh</em> if for the same URL.</p> + + <p>Lynx recognizes and processes <em>Refresh</em> directives in + META elements, but puts up a labeled link, typically in the upper + left corner of the display, indicating the number of seconds + intended before a refresh, and the URL for the refresh, instead + of making the request automatically after the indicated number of + seconds. This allows people using a braille interface any amount + of time to examine the current document before activating the + link for the next URL. In general, if the number of seconds + indicated is short, the timing is not critical and you can + activate the link whenever you like. If it is long (e.g., 60 + seconds), a server process may be generating new documents or + images at that interval, and you would be wasting bandwidth by + activating the link at a shorter interval.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Refresh">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Cookies"><a name="Cookies" id="Cookies">Lynx State + Management</a> (Me want <em>cookie</em>!)</h2> + + <p>HTTP provides a means to carry state information across + successive connections between a browser and an http server. + Normally, http servers respond to each browser request without + relating that request to previous or subsequent requests. Though + the inclusion of INPUT fields with TYPE="hidden" can be used as a + sort of state management by <a href="#Forms">HTML Forms</a>, a + more general approach involves exchanges of MIME headers between + the server and browser. When replying to a request, the server + can send a <em>Set-Cookie</em> MIME header which contains + information (<em>cookies</em>) relevant to the browser's request, + and in subsequent requests the browser can send a <em>Cookie</em> + MIME header with information derived from previously received + cookies.</p> + + <p>State Management via cookie exchanges originally was + implemented by Netscape, and such cookies are now designated as + <em>Version 0</em>. A more elaborate format for cookies, + designated as <em>Version 1</em>, was standardized by the IETF + (Internet Engineering Task Force) as <a href= + "https://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2109.txt">RFC 2109</a>. Lynx + supports both <em>Version 0</em> and <em>Version 1</em> cookie + exchanges. This support can be disabled by default via the + SET_COOKIES symbol in the compilation (<em>userdefs.h</em>) + and/or run time (<a href="#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a>) configuration + files, and that default setting can be toggled via the + <em>-cookies</em> command line switch. The SET_COOKIES symbol can + be further modified by the ACCEPT_ALL_COOKIES mode. If + ACCEPT_ALL_COOKIES is set TRUE, and SET_COOKIES is TRUE, Lynx + will accept all cookies. Additionally, the cookies that are + automatically accepted or rejected by Lynx can be further + modified with the COOKIE_ACCEPT_DOMAINS and COOKIE_REJECT_DOMAINS + options in your .lynxrc file, each of which is a comma-separated + list of domains to perform the desired action. The domain listed + in these options must be identical to the domain the cookie comes + from, there is no wildcard matching. If a domain is specific in + both COOKIE_ACCEPT_DOMAINS and COOKIE_REJECT_DOMAINS, rejection + will take precedence.</p> + + <p>When cookie support is enabled, <em>Set-Cookie</em> MIME + headers received from an http server invoke confirmation prompts + with possible replies of “<samp>Y</samp>”es or + “<samp>N</samp>”o for acceptance of the cookie, + “<samp>A</samp>”lways to accept the cookie and to + allow all subsequent cookies from that <em>domain</em> (server's + Fully Qualified Domain Name, or site-identifying portion of the + FQDN) without further confirmation prompts, or + ne“<strong>V</strong>”er to never allow cookies from + that <em>domain</em> to be accepted (silently ignore its + <em>Set-Cookie</em> MIME headers). All unexpired cookies are held + in a hypothetical <em>Cookie Jar</em> which can be examined via + the COOKIE_JAR keystroke command, normally mapped to + <em>Ctrl-K</em>, for invoking the <a href= + "keystrokes/cookie_help.html">Cookie Jar Page</a>. If Lynx has + been compiled with the --enable-persistent-cookies flag, then + unexpired cookies will be stored between sessions in the filename + set with the COOKIE_FILE option in your .lynxrc.</p> + + <p>A common use of cookies by http servers is simply to track the + documents visited by individual users. Though this can be useful + to the site's WebMaster for evaluating and improving the + organization of links in the various documents of the site, if + the user has configured Lynx to include a <em>From</em> MIME + header with the user's email address in http requests, or has + passed personal information to the server via a form submission, + the tracking might be used to draw inferences, possibly + incorrect, about that user, and may be considered by some as an + invasion of privacy.</p> + + <p>An example of worthwhile State Management via cookies is the + setting of personal preferences, typically via a form submission + to the site, which will then apply to all documents visited at + that site.</p> + + <p>If you accept cookies when accessing a site, but are given no + indication about how they will be used in subsequent requests to + that site, nor can infer how they will be used, you can + <em>Gobble</em> (delete) the cookies and/or change the + “allow” setting for its <em>domain</em> via the + <a href="keystrokes/cookie_help.html">Cookie Jar Page</a>.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Cookies">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Cache"><a name="Cache" id="Cache">Cached + Documents</a></h2> + + <p>A list of documents which are in lynx's internal cache is + accessible through hypothetical <em>Cache Jar</em> which can be + examined via the CACHE_JAR keystroke command, normally mapped to + <em>Ctrl-X</em>.</p> + + <p>Entries in the <em>Cache Jar</em> are ordered from oldest (at + the top) to newest. The user can easily access any document which + is in the cache, especially those which may be soon removed due + to configurable limits on the maximum number of cached documents, + as well as the maxmimum amount of memory used by the cache.</p> + + <p>The structure of <em>Cache Jar</em> is simple:</p> + + <ul> + <li>Each entry starts with its ordinal number (within the + session), recently added documents in cache have a smaller + number than documents which are added before, and are + positioned at the end of <em>Cache Jar</em></li> + + <li>Following its ordinal number is the document title, which + is also a link. On activating this link, the user is prompted + if they want to delete the document from <em>Cache Jar</em>. + The document's address (also a link) follows the title. It is + distinguished by a <code>URL:</code> label preceding the link. + Activating this link, lynx displays the corresponding cached + document.</li> + + <li>Below each cached document URL lynx shows the document + properties which include: + + <ul> + <li>Lines,</li> + + <li>Size,</li> + + <li>File-Cache,</li> + + <li>Content-Type,</li> + + <li>Content-Language,</li> + + <li>Content-Encoding,</li> + + <li>Content-Location,</li> + + <li>Subject,</li> + + <li>Owner,</li> + + <li>Date,</li> + + <li>Expires,</li> + + <li>Last-Modified,</li> + + <li>ETag,</li> + + <li>Server, and</li> + + <li>Source-Cache-File.</li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + + <p>This feature can be enabled by default using the USE_CACHEJAR + symbol in the compilation (<code>userdefs.h</code>), as well as + enabled in lynx.cfg</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Cache">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Sessions"><a name="Sessions" id= + "Sessions"><em>Sessions</em></a></h2> + + <p>Lynx's current state (all information about the user's current + activity with lynx) is called a session. Sessions are useful in + particular if you are in the middle of exploring something on the + web and you were forced to stop abruptly, losing any trace of + your current work.</p> + + <p>A session can be automatically restored as lynx starts after a + clean exit. The session data is saved if lynx is invoked with the + <em>-session=FILENAME</em> switch. The <em>FILENAME</em> is the + name of the file where the session will be stored.</p> + + <p>There are also switches for only restoring: + <em>-sessionin=FILENAME</em> and for only saving: + <em>-sessionout=FILENAME</em> sesions:</p> + + <p>If you do not want to specify these options at each lynx + startup, there is an option in <em>lynx.cfg</em> to enable + automatic saving/restoring of session. To keep lynx startup/exit + reasonable fast there is also an option in <em>lynx.cfg</em> + specifying how much information about the current lynx session + will be stored in file.</p> + + <p>The syntax of the session file is simple. You can use a text + editor to modify, add new entries, or remove URLs you no longer + want.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Sessions">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Invoking"><a name="Invoking" id="Invoking">The Lynx + command line</a></h2> + + <p>A summary of the Lynx command line options (switches) is + returned to stdout if Lynx is invoked with the <em>-help</em> + switch. A description of the options also should be available via + the system man (Unix) pages or help (VMS) libraries. On Win32, + typing lynx -help in a DOS window should display similarly. The + basic syntax of the Lynx command line can be represented as one + of the following:</p> + + <dl> + <dt><code>Command</code></dt> + + <dd><code>lynx [options]</code></dd> + + <dd><code>lynx [options] startfile</code></dd> + </dl> + + <p>where</p> + + <dl> + <dt><code>startfile</code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>is the file or URL that Lynx will load at start-up.</p> + + <ul> + <li>If startfile is not specified, Lynx will use a default + starting file and base directory determined during + installation.</li> + + <li>If a specified file is local (i.e., not a URL) Lynx + displays that file and uses the directory in which that + file resides as the base directory.</li> + + <li>If a URL is specified, the file will be retrieved, and + only the server base directory will be relevant to further + accesses.</li> + + <li>If more than one local file or remote URL is listed on + the command line, Lynx will open only the last + interactively. All of the names (local files and remote + URLs) are added to the G)oto history.</li> + </ul> + </dd> + + <dt><code>options</code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>Lynx uses only long option names. Option names can begin + with double dash as well, underscores and dashes can be + intermixed in option names (in the reference below options + are with one dash before them and with underscores).</p> + + <p>Lynx provides many command-line options. Some options + require a value (string, number or keyword). These are noted + in the reference below. The other options set boolean values + in the program. There are three types of boolean options: + set, unset and toggle. If no option value is given, these + have the obvious meaning: set (to true), unset (to false), or + toggle (between true/false). For any of these, an explicit + value can be given in different forms to allow for operating + system constraints, e.g.,</p> + + <blockquote> + <pre> +-center:off +-center=off +-center- +</pre> + </blockquote> + + <p>Lynx recognizes "1", "+", "on" and "true" for true values, + and "0", "-", "off" and "false" for false values. Other + option-values are ignored.</p> + + <p>The default boolean, number and string option values that + are compiled into lynx are displayed in the help-message + provided by lynx -help. Some of those may differ according to + how lynx was built; see the help message itself for these + values. The -help option is processed before any option, + including those that control reading from the lynx.cfg file. + Therefore runtime configuration values are not reflected in + the help-message.</p> + + <p>Capitalized items in the option summary indicate that a + substitution must be made. These are the options:</p> + + <dl> + <dt><code><strong>-</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>If the argument is only + “<code><strong>-</strong></code>” (dash), + then Lynx expects to receive the arguments from stdin. + This is to allow for the potentially very long command + line that can be associated with the <em>-get_data</em> + or <em>-post_data</em> arguments (see below). It can also + be used to avoid having sensitive information in the + invoking command line (which would be visible to other + processes on most systems), especially when the + <em>-auth</em> or <em>-pauth</em> options are used. On + VMS, the dash must be encased in double-quotes ("-") and + the keyboard input terminated with <em>Control-Z</em> or + the command file input terminated by a line that begins + with “<samp>$</samp>”. On Unix, the keyboard + input terminator is <em>Control-D</em>. On Win32, + [???].</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-accept_all_cookies</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>accept all cookies.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-anonymous</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>apply restrictions appropriate for an anonymous + account, see <em>-restrictions</em> below for some + details.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-assume_charset=</strong><em>MIMENAME</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>charset for documents that do not specify it.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-assume_local_charset=</strong><em>MIMENAME</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>charset assumed for local files, i.e., files which + lynx creates such as internal pages for the options + menu.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-assume_unrec_charset=</strong><em>MIMENAME</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>use this instead of unrecognized charsets.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-auth=</strong><em>ID:PW</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>set authorization <em>identifier</em> and + <em>password</em> for protected documents at startup. Be + sure to protect any script files which use this + switch.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-base</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>prepend a request URL comment and BASE tag to + text/html outputs for -source dumps.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-bibp=</strong><em>URL</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>specify a local bibp server (default + http://bibhost/).</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-blink</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>forces high intensity background colors for color + mode, if available and supported by the terminal. This + applies to the slang library (for a few terminal + emulators), or to OS/2 EMX with ncurses.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-book</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>use the bookmark page as the startfile. The default or + command line startfile is still set for the Main screen + command, and will be used if the bookmark page is + unavailable or blank.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-buried_news</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles scanning of news articles for buried + references, and converts them to news links. Not + recommended because email addresses enclosed in angle + brackets will be converted to false news links, and + uuencoded messages can be trashed.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-cache=</strong><em>NUMBER</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>set the <em>NUMBER</em> of documents cached in memory. + The default is 10.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-center</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>Toggle center alignment in HTML TABLE.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-case</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>enable case-sensitive string searching.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-cfg=</strong><em>FILENAME</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>specifies a Lynx configuration file other than the + default <a href="#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a>.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-child</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>exit on left-arrow in startfile, and disable save to + disk.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-child_relaxed</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>exit on left-arrow in startfile, but allow save to + disk and associated print/mail options.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-cmd_log=</strong><em>FILENAME</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>write keystroke commands and related information to + the specified file.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-cmd_script=</strong><em>FILENAME</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>read keystroke commands from the specified file. You + can use the data written using the <em>-cmd_log</em> + option. Lynx will ignore other information which the + command-logging may have written to the log- file. Each + line of the command script contains either a comment + beginning with "#", or a keyword:</p> + + <dl> + <dt><code><strong>exit</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>causes the script to stop, and forces lynx to exit + immediately.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>key</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>the character value, in printable form. Cursor and + other special keys are given as names, e.g., + <code><strong>Down Arrow</strong></code>. Printable + 7-bit ASCII codes are given as-is, and hexadecimal + values represent other 8-bit codes.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>set</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>followed by a "name=value" allows one to override + values set in the lynx.cfg file.</p> + </dd> + </dl> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-color</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>forces color mode on. This feature is only available + if Lynx is built using the slang library. The slang + library will send ANSI color sequences irregardless of + the type of terminal which is being used.</p> + + <p>If color support is instead provided by a + color-capable curses library such as ncurses, Lynx relies + completely on the terminal description to determine + whether color mode is possible, and this flag is not + needed and thus unavailable.</p> + + <p>A saved <samp>show_color=always</samp> setting found + in a .lynxrc file at startup has the same effect, but the + setting read from .lynxrc on startup is overridden by + this flag.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-connect_timeout</strong>=<em>N</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>Sets the connection timeout, where <em>N</em> is given + in seconds.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-cookie_file=</strong><em>FILENAME</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>specifies a file to use to read cookies. If none is + specified, the default value is ~/.lynx_cookies for most + systems, but ~/cookies for MS-DOS.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-cookie_save_file=</strong><em>FILENAME</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>specifies a file to use to store cookies. If none is + specified, the value given by + <code><strong>-cookie_file</strong></code> is used.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-cookies</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles handling of Set-Cookie headers.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-core</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles forced core dumps on fatal errors. (Unix + only)</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-crawl</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>with <em>-traversal</em>, output each page to a + file.</p> + + <p>with <em>-dump</em>, format output as with + <em>-traversal</em>, but to stdout.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-curses_pads</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles the use of curses "pad" feature which supports + left/right scrolling of the display.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-debug_partial</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>separate incremental display stages with MessageSecs + delay</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-display=</strong><em>DISPLAY</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>set the display variable for X rexe-ced programs.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-display_charset=</strong><em>MIMEname</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>set the charset for the terminal output.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-dont_wrap_pre</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>inhibit wrapping of text in <pre> when -dump'ing + and -crawl'ing, mark wrapped lines in interactive + session.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-dump</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>dumps the formatted output of the default document or + one specified on the command line to standard out. This + can be used in the following way:</p> + + <blockquote> + <p><em>lynx -dump http://www.w3.org/</em></p> + </blockquote> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-editor=</strong><em>EDITOR</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>enable external editing using the specified + <em>EDITOR</em>. (vi, ed, emacs, etc.)</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-emacskeys</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>enable emacs-like key movement.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-enable_scrollback</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles behavior compatible with the scrollback keys + in some communications software (may be incompatible with + some curses packages).</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-error_file=</strong><em>FILENAME</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>the status code from the HTTP request is placed in + this file.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-exec</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>enable local program execution (normally not + configured).</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-fileversions</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>include all versions of files in local VMS directory + listings.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-find_leaks</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles the memory leak checking off. Normally this is + not compiled-into your executable, but when it is, it can + be disabled for a session.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-force_empty_hrefless_a</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>force HREF-less “A” elements to be empty + (close them as soon as they are seen).</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-force_html</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>forces the first document to be interpreted as + HTML.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-force_secure</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles forcing of the secure flag for SSL + cookies.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-forms_options</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles whether the Options Menu is key-based or + form-based.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-from</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles transmissions of From headers to HTTP or HTTPS + servers.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-ftp</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable ftp access.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-get_data</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>properly formatted data for a get form are read in + from stdin and passed to the form. Input is terminated by + a line that starts with “---”.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-head</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>send a HEAD request for the mime headers.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-help</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>print this Lynx command syntax usage message.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-hiddenlinks=</strong><em>option</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>control the display of hidden links. Option values + are:</p> + + <dl> + <dt><code><strong>merge</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>hidden links show up as bracketed numbers and are + numbered together with other links in the sequence of + their occurrence in the document.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>listonly</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>hidden links are shown only on <em>L</em>ist + screens and listings generated by + <code><strong>-dump</strong></code> or from the + <em>P</em>rint menu, but appear separately at the end + of those lists. This is the default behavior.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>ignore</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>hidden links do not appear even in listings.</p> + </dd> + </dl> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-historical</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles use of “>” or + “-->” as a terminator for comments.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-homepage=</strong><em>URL</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>set homepage separate from start page. Will be used if + a fetch of the start page fails or if it is a script + which does not return a document, and as the + <code><em>URL</em></code> for the + “<samp>m</samp>”ain menu command.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-image_links</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles inclusion of links for all images.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-ismap</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles inclusion of ISMAP links when client-side MAPs + are present.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-index=</strong><em>URL</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>set the default index file to the specified + <em>URL</em></p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-justify</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>do justification of text.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-link=</strong><em>NUMBER</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>starting count for lnk#.dat files produced by + <em>-crawl</em>.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-localhost</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable URLs that point to remote hosts.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-locexec</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>enable local program execution from local files only + (if lynx was compiled with local execution enabled).</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-lss=</strong><em>FILENAME</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>specify filename containing color-style information. + The default is lynx.lss.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-mime_header</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>include mime headers and force source dump.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-minimal</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles minimal versus valid comment parsing. When + minimal, any “-->” serves as a terminator + for a comment element. When valid, pairs of + “--” are treated as delimiters for series of + comments within the overall comment element. If + historical is set, that overrides minimal or valid + comment parsing.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-nested_tables</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles nested-tables logic (for debugging).</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-newschunksize=</strong><em>NUMBER</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>number of articles in chunked news listings.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-newsmaxchunk=</strong><em>NUMBER</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>maximum news articles in listings before chunking.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-nobold</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable bold video-attribute.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-nobrowse</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable directory browsing.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-nocc</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable Cc: prompts for self copies of mailings. Note + that this does not disable any CCs which are incorporated + within a mailto URL or form ACTION.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-nocolor</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>force color mode off, overriding terminal capabilities + and any <em>-color</em> flags, <em>COLORTERM</em> + variable, and saved .lynxrc settings.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-noexec</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable local program execution. (DEFAULT)</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-nofilereferer</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable transmissions of Referer headers for file + URLs.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-nolist</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable the link list feature in dumps.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-nolog</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable mailing of error messages to document + owners.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-nomargins</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable left/right margins in the default style + sheet.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-nomore</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable -more- string in statusline messages.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-nonrestarting_sigwinch</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>make window size change handler non-restarting. This + flag is not available on all systems, Lynx needs to be + compiled with HAVE_SIGACTION defined. If available, this + flag <em>may</em> cause Lynx to react more immediately to + window changes when run within an xterm.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-nopause</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable forced pauses for statusline messages.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-noprint</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable most print functions.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-noredir</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>do not follow URL redirections</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-noreferer</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable transmissions of Referer headers.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-noreverse</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable reverse video-attribute.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-nosocks</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable SOCKS proxy usage by a SOCKSified Lynx.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-nostatus</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable the retrieval status messages.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-notitle</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable title and blank line from top of page.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-nounderline</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable underline video-attribute.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-number_fields</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>force numbering of links as well as form input + fields.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-number_links</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>force numbering of links.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-partial</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles displaying of partial pages while loading.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-partial_thres=</strong><em>NUMBER</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>number of lines to render before repainting display + with partial-display logic.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-pauth=</strong><em>ID:PW</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>set authorization <em>identifier</em> and + <em>password</em> for a protected proxy server at + startup. Be sure to protect any script files which use + this switch.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-popup</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles handling of single-choice SELECT options via + popup windows or as lists of radio buttons. The default + configuration can be changed in userdefs.h or <a href= + "#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a>. It also can be set and saved + via the “o”ptions menu. The command line + switch toggles the default.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-post_data</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>properly formatted data for a post form are read in + from stdin and passed to the form. Input is terminated by + a line that starts with “---”.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-preparsed</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>show source preparsed and reformatted when used with + -source or in source view (“<samp>\</samp>”). + May be useful for debugging of broken HTML markup to + visualize the difference between SortaSGML and TagSoup + <a href="keystrokes/option_help.html#tagsoup">recovery + modes</a>, switched by “<samp>^V</samp>”.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-prettysrc</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>do syntax highlighting and hyperlink handling in + source view.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-print</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>enable print functions. (default)</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-pseudo_inlines</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles pseudo-ALTs for inline images with no ALT + string.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-raw</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles default setting of 8-bit character + translations or CJK mode for the startup character + set.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-realm</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>restricts access to URLs in the starting realm.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-reload</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>flushes the cache on a proxy server (only the first + document affected).</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-restrictions</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>allows a list of services to be disabled selectively + and takes the following form:</p> + </dd> + + <dd> + <p><em>lynx + -restrictions=[option][,option][,option]...</em></p> + </dd> + + <dd> + <p>The list of recognized options is printed if none are + specified.</p> + + <dl> + <dt><strong><samp>?</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>if used alone, lists restrictions in effect.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>all</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>restricts all options listed below.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>bookmark</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow changing the location of the bookmark + file.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>bookmark_exec</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow execution links via the bookmark + file.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <strong><samp>change_exec_perms</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow changing the eXecute permission on files + (but still allow it for directories) when local file + management is enabled.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>chdir</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow command which changes Lynx's working + directory.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>default</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>same as command line option <em>-anonymous</em>. + Set default restrictions for anonymous users. All + specific services listed are always restricted, + except for: inside_telnet, outside_telnet, + inside_ftp, outside_ftp, inside_rlogin, + outside_rlogin, inside_news, outside_news, + telnet_port, jump, mail, print, exec, and goto. The + settings for these, as well as additional goto + restrictions for specific URL schemes that are also + applied, are derived from definitions within + userdefs.h.</p> + + <p>Note that this is the only option value that may + have the effect of <em>removing</em> some + restrictions, if they have been set by other options, + namely for those services that <em>are</em> allowed + by default according to userdefs.h. However, if the + separate command line option form + (<em>-anonymous</em>) is used, Lynx takes care to set + the default restrictions before handling additional + <em>-restrictions=</em> options (even if they precede + the <em>anonymous</em> option), so that this cannot + happen.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>dired_support</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow local file management.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>disk_save</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow saving to disk in the download and print + menus.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>dotfiles</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow access to, or creation of, hidden (dot) + files.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>download</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow some downloaders in the download menu. + This does <em>not</em> imply the disk_save + restriction. It also does not disable the DOWNLOAD + command, and does not prevent "Download or Cancel" + offers when a MIME type cannot otherwise be handled. + Those are only disabled if additionally the disk_save + restriction is in effect <em>and</em> no download + methods are defined in a <a href="#lynx.cfg">Lynx + configuration file</a> that are marked as "always + ENABLED" (or, alternatively, if the -validate switch + is used).</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>editor</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow external editing.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>exec</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable execution scripts.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>exec_frozen</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow the user from changing the local + execution option.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>externals</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow some "EXTERNAL" configuration lines, if + support for passing URLs to external applications + (with the EXTERN_LINK or EXTERN_PAGE command) is + compiled in.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>file_url</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow using G)oto, served links or bookmarks + for file: URLs.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>goto</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable the “<samp>g</samp>” (goto) + command.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>inside_ftp</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow ftps for people coming from inside your + domain.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>inside_news</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow USENET news reading and posting for + people coming from inside you domain. This applies to + "news", "nntp", "newspost", and "newsreply" URLs, but + not to "snews", "snewspost", or "snewsreply" in case + they are supported.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>inside_rlogin</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow rlogins for people coming from inside + your domain.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>inside_telnet</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow telnets for people coming from inside + your domain.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>jump</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable the “<samp>j</samp>” (jump) + command.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>lynxcgi</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow execution of Lynx CGI URLs.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>mail</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow mailing feature.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>multibook</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow multiple bookmarks.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>news_post</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow USENET News posting,</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>options_save</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow saving options in .lynxrc.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>outside_ftp</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow ftps for people coming from outside your + domain.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>outside_news</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow USENET news reading and posting for + people coming from outside you domain. This applies + to "news", "nntp", "newspost", and "newsreply" URLs, + but not to "snews", "snewspost", or "snewsreply" in + case they are supported.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>outside_rlogin</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow rlogins for people coming from outside + your domain.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>outside_telnet</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow telnets for people coming from outside + your domain.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>print</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow most print options.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>shell</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow shell escapes.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>suspend</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow <em>Control-Z</em> suspends with escape + to shell on Unix.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>telnet_port</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow specifying a port in telnet G)oto's.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><strong><samp>useragent</samp></strong></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disallow modifications of the User-Agent + header.</p> + </dd> + </dl> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-resubmit_posts</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles forced resubmissions (no-cache) of forms with + method POST when the documents they returned are sought + with the PREV_DOC (<em>left-arrow</em>) command or from + the <em>History Page</em>.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-rlogin</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable recognition of rlogin commands.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-scrollbar</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles showing scrollbar.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-scrollbar_arrow</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles showing arrows at ends of the scrollbar.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-selective</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>require .www_browsable files to browse + directories.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-session=</strong><em>FILENAME</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>resumes from specified file on startup and saves + session to that file on exit.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-sessionin=</strong><em>FILENAME</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>resumes session from specified file.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-sessionout=</strong><em>FILENAME</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>saves session to specified file.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-short_url</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>show very long URLs in the status line with "..." to + represent the portion which cannot be displayed. The + beginning and end of the URL are displayed, rather than + suppressing the end.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-show_cursor</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>If enabled the cursor will not be hidden in the right + hand corner but will instead be positioned at the start + of the currently selected link. Show cursor is the + default for systems without FANCY_CURSES capabilities. + The default configuration can be changed in userdefs.h or + <a href="#lynx.cfg">lynx.cfg</a>. It also can be set and + saved via the “o”ptions menu. The command + line switch toggles the default.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-show_rate</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>If enabled the transfer rate is shown in bytes/second. + If disabled, no transfer rate is shown. Use lynx.cfg or + the options menu to select KiB/second and/or ETA.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-soft_dquotes</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles emulation of the old Netscape and Mosaic bug + which treated “<samp>></samp>” as a + co-terminator for double-quotes and tags.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-source</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>works the same as dump but outputs HTML source instead + of formatted text. For example</p> + + <blockquote> + <pre> +lynx -source . >foo.html +</pre> + </blockquote> + + <p>generates HTML source listing the files in the current + directory. Each file is marked by an HREF relative to the + parent directory. Add a trailing slash to make the HREF's + relative to the current directory:</p> + + <blockquote> + <pre> +lynx -source ./ >foo.html +</pre> + </blockquote> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-stack_dump</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable SIGINT cleanup handler.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-startfile_ok</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>allow non-http startfile and homepage with + <em>-validate</em>.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-stderr</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>When dumping a document using + <code><strong>-dump</strong></code> or + <code><strong>-source</strong></code>, Lynx normally does + not display alert (error) messages that you see on the + screen in the status line. Use the + <code><strong>-stderr</strong></code> option to tell Lynx + to write these messages to the standard error.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-stdin</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>read the startfile from standard input (UNIX + only).</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-syslog=</strong><em>text</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>information for syslog call.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-syslog-urls</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>log requested URLs with syslog.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-tagsoup</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>initialize DTD with "TagSoup" tables, <a href= + "keystrokes/option_help.html#tagsoup">more + details</a>.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-telnet</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>disable recognition of telnet commands.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-term=</strong><em>TERM</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>tell Lynx what terminal type to assume it is talking + to. (This may be useful for remote execution, when, for + example, Lynx connects to a remote TCP/IP port that + starts a script that, in turn, starts another Lynx + process.)</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-timeout=</strong><em>N</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>For win32, sets the network read-timeout, where + <em>N</em> is given in seconds.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-tlog</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles use of a <em>Lynx Trace Log</em> for the + session. The log is named <em>Lynx.trace</em> and is + created in the home directory when Lynx trace mode is + turned on via the <em>-trace</em> command line switch + (see below), or via the TRACE_TOGGLE (<em>Control-T</em>) + keystroke command. Once a log is started for the session, + all trace and other stderr messages are written to the + log. The contents of the log can be examined during the + session via the TRACE_LOG (normally, + “<samp>;</samp>”) keystroke command. If use + of a Lynx Trace Log is turned off, any trace output will + go to the standard error stream.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-tna</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>turns on <a href="#tna">"Textfields Need + Activation"</a> mode.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-trace</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>turns on Lynx trace mode. If a Lynx Trace Log + (<em>Lynx.trace</em> in the home directory) has been + started for the current session, all trace messages are + written to that log, and can be examined during the + session via the TRACE_LOG (normally, + “<samp>;</samp>”) command. If no Trace Log + file is in use, trace messages go to stderr.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-trace_mask=</strong><em>value</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>turn on optional traces, which may result in very + large trace files. Logically OR the values to combine + options:</p> + + <dl> + <dt>1</dt> + + <dd> + <p>SGML character parsing states</p> + </dd> + + <dt>2</dt> + + <dd> + <p>color-style</p> + </dd> + + <dt>4</dt> + + <dd> + <p>TRST (table layout)</p> + </dd> + + <dt>8</dt> + + <dd> + <p>config (lynx.cfg and .lynxrc contents)</p> + </dd> + + <dt>16</dt> + + <dd> + <p>binary string copy/append, used in form data + construction.</p> + </dd> + </dl> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-traversal</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>traverse all http links derived from startfile. When + used with <em>-crawl</em>, each link that begins with the + same string as startfile is output to a file, intended + for indexing. See CRAWL.announce for more + information.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-trim_input_fields</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>trim input text/textarea fields in forms.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-underscore</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles use of _underline_ format in dumps.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-use_mouse</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>turn on mouse support, if available.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-useragent=</strong><em>STRING</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>set different Lynx User-Agent header. Lynx produces a + warning on startup if the <em>STRING</em> does not + contain "Lynx" or "L_y_n_x", see the <a href= + "#noteUA">note</a> in the Options Menu section for + rationale.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-validate</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>accept only http URLs (meant for validation).</p> + </dd> + + <dd> + <p>This flag implies security restrictions generally more + severe than <em>-anonymous</em>: restriction options as + for <em>-restrictions=all</em>, with the notable + exception that goto remains enabled for http and https + URLs; in addition, the PRINT and DOWNLOAD commands are + completely disabled, and use of a Trace Log file is + forced off.</p> + </dd> + + <dd> + <p>Any relaxing of restriction that might be implied by + an also present (or implied) <em>-anonymous</em> flag is + overridden, the only way to possibly relax <em>some</em> + of the restrictions to the level applicable for + "anononymous" accounts is with an explicit + <em>-restrictions=default</em>.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-verbose</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>toggles [LINK], [IMAGE] and [INLINE] comments with + filenames of these images.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-version</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>print version information.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-vikeys</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>enable vi-like key movement.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-wdebug</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>enable Waterloo tcp/ip packet debug (print to watt + debugfile). This applies only to DOS versions compiled + with WATTCP or WATT-32.</p> + </dd> + + <dt> + <code><strong>-width=</strong><em>NUMBER</em></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>number of columns for formatting of dumps, default is + 80.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><code><strong>-with_backspaces</strong></code></dt> + + <dd> + <p>emit backspaces in output if -dumping or -crawling + (like <code>man</code> does).</p> + </dd> + </dl> + </dd> + </dl> + + <p>No options are required, nor is a startfile argument required. + White space can be used in place of equal sign separators + (“<samp>=</samp>”) appearing in the option list + above. It can not be used in place of the equal signs in forms + like "-option=on" and "-option=off" for simple switches and + toggles, for which "-option" alone (without a value) is + valid.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Invoking">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="Environments"><a name="Environment" id= + "Environment"><em>Environment variables used by + Lynx</em></a></h2> + + <p>Lynx uses certain environment variables and sets a few of + them. Please visit a <a href= + "keystrokes/environments.html">separate page</a> for this rather + technical information.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-Environment">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-lynx.cfg"><a name="lynx.cfg" id="lynx.cfg">Main + configuration file lynx.cfg</a></h2> + + <p>Lynx has several levels of customization: from the Options + Menu (accessible on-line, and possibly stored in your local + .lynxrc file), via command-line switches on startup (mainly for + batch processing). The most important and numerous default + settings are stored in the Lynx configuration file + <em>lynx.cfg</em>.</p> + + <p>If you are on a UNIX system you should have appropriate + permissions to make changes there or ask your system + administrator to modify lynx.cfg for your needs. This file + provides default settings for all accounts on your system. It may + be copied to your shell account and included with -cfg command + line switch or via an environment variable LYNX_CFG (if you have + shell access). Starting with version 2.8.1 Lynx has an include + facility so you can load the system-wide configuration file and + easily add one or more settings from your local add-on + configuration file. It is really cool to read lynx.cfg with its + comments for hundreds of options, most of them commented out + because they are built-in defaults. You may visit an index of + options: <a href= + "https://lynx.invisible-island.net/release/lynx_help/cattoc.html">by + category</a> or <a href= + "https://lynx.invisible-island.net/release/lynx_help/alphatoc.html"> + by alphabet</a>.</p> + + <p>To view your current configuration derived from lynx.cfg and + any included configuration files, press <em>“g”</em> + and type in “<samp>lynxcfg:</samp>”. If you are using + the forms-based <em>Options Menu</em>, you may press + <em>“o”</em> for the Options Menu and follow the + <em>Check your lynx.cfg</em>'s link near the bottom.</p> + + <p>However, for those who have a restricted account many Lynx + features may be disabled by the system administrator, you + probably will not see your lynx.cfg.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#ToC-lynx.cfg">ToC</a>]</p> + + <h2 id="id-Hist"><a name="Hist" id="Hist">Lynx development + history</a></h2> + + <p>Lynx grew out of efforts to build a campus-wide information + system at The University of Kansas. The earliest versions of Lynx + provided a user-friendly, distributed hypertext interface for + users connected to multiuser (Unix and VMS) systems via + curses-oriented display devices. A custom hypertext format was + developed to support hypertext links to local files and files on + remote Gopher servers. Using Gopher servers for distributed file + service allowed information providers to publish information from + a wide variety of platforms (including Unix, VMS, VM/CMS and + Macintosh). In addition, Lynx became the most user-friendly + Gopher client, although that was only an ancillary + capability.</p> + + <p>This distributed approach let providers retain complete + control over their information, but it made communication between + users and providers somewhat more difficult. Following the lead + of Neal Erdwien, of Kansas State University, the Lynx hypertext + format was extended to include links for including ownership + information with each file. This information made it possible for + users running Lynx clients to send comments and suggestions via + e-mail to the providers.</p> + + <p>This early version of Lynx was also augmented to support + hypertext links to programs running on remote systems. It + included the ability to open a Telnet connection, as well as the + ability to start programs via rexec, inetd, or by direct socket + connects. These capabilities were included to allow users to + access databases or custom program interfaces.</p> + + <p>A subsequent version of Lynx incorporated the World Wide Web + libraries to allow access to the full list of WWW servers, along + with the option to build hypertext documents in HTML, rather than + the native Lynx format. HTML has become far more widely used, and + the native format has been phased out. With the addition of the + WWW libraries, Lynx became a fully-featured WWW client, limited + only by the display capabilities offered in the curses + environment.</p> + + <p>Lynx was designed by Lou Montulli, Charles Rezac and Michael + Grobe of Academic Computing Services at The University of Kansas. + Lynx was implemented by Lou Montulli and maintained by Garrett + Arch Blythe and Craig Lavender.</p> + + <p><em>Foteos Macrides</em> and members of the <a href= + "lynx-dev.html">lynx-dev</a> list have developed and supported + Lynx since release of v2.3 in May 1994.<br> + The Lynx2-3FM code set was released as v2.4 in June 1995.<br> + The Lynx2-4FM code set was released as v2.5 in May 1996.<br> + The Lynx2-5FM code set was released as v2.6 in September + 1996.<br> + The Lynx2-6FM code set was released as v2.7 in February 1997.<br> + The v2-7FM code set was released as v2.7.1 in April 1997.<br> + The v2-7-1FM code set was released as v2.7.2 in January 1998.<br> + The 2.7.1 development set was released as v2.8 in March 1998.<br> + The 2.8 development set was released as v2.8.1 in October + 1998.<br> + The 2.8.1 development set was released as v2.8.2 in June + 1999.<br> + The 2.8.2 development set was released as v2.8.3 in April + 2000.<br> + The 2.8.3 development set was released as v2.8.4 in July + 2001.<br> + The 2.8.4 development set was released as v2.8.5 in February + 2004.<br> + The 2.8.5 development set was released as v2.8.6 in October + 2006.<br> + The 2.8.6 development set was released as v2.8.7 in July + 2009.<br> + The 2.8.7 development set was released as v2.8.8 in February + 2014.<br> + The 2.8.8 development set was released as v2.8.9 in July + 2018.<br></p> + + <p>Since early 1997, the Lynx code has expanded into + autoconfigure and PC versions. The branching of the Lynx source + base from a single source into two sources (FM/Foteos Macrides + and ac/autoconfigure) should be considered a healthy synergism + among groups of computer professionals acting in their spare time + out of a common goal.</p> + + <p>Lynx has incorporated code from a variety of sources along the + way. The earliest versions of Lynx included code from Earl Fogel + of Computing Services at the University of Saskatchewan, who + implemented HYPERREZ in the Unix environment. Those versions also + incorporated libraries from the Unix Gopher clients developed at + the University of Minnesota, and the later versions of Lynx rely + on the WWW client library code developed by Tim Berners-Lee (and + others) and the WWW community.</p> + + <p>Contributors have generally been acknowledged in the CHANGES + file. Earlier CHANGES file can be found in the docs/ subdirectory + of this distribution.</p> + + <p>Information on obtaining the most current version of Lynx is + available at <a href= + "https://lynx.invisible-island.net/current/index.html">the current + distribution page</a>.</p> + + <p>[<a href="#Contents">ToC</a>]</p> +</body> +</html> |