# Command: whatis

      WHATIS displays descriptions of programs based on the Appinfo
      (.LSM) files.
      Use APROPOS to find programs that are apropriate for the given
      subject.
      Use WHATIS with a program name to get a one line description of that
      program.
      Use WHATIS without a program name to get a one line description of
      all the external programs and utilities in your FreeDOS installation.
      Internal commands (commands of command.com) are not displayed.

## Syntax:

      APROPOS [options] subject
              Find commands related to the given subject
      WHATIS [options] [command]
              Displays a one-line description of the given command.
              If no command is specified, all commands and their
              one-line descriptions are listed
      WHATIS  /B [options]
              Rebuilds the whatis database for use with WHATIS and APROPOS

#### [Main menu] [top] (Syntax) [Options] [Comments] [Examples] [See also] [File]

## Options:

      /S [path]  Non-default path to the lsm appinfo files.
      /D [path]  Non-default path for whatis database location.
      /?         Shows the help.

#### [Main menu] [top] [Syntax] (Options) [Comments] [Examples] [See also] [File]

## Comments:

      This are FreeDOS clones of the Linux commands "apropos and whatis"
      APROPOS and WHATIS base their help on the lsm files stored in the
      APPINFO directory.
      The first time it is run, APROPOS / WHATIS builds a database and stores
      it in the help directory in the FreeDOS installation. This database can
      be recreated by using:
        WHATIS /B

#### [Main menu] [top] [Syntax] [Options] (Comments) [Examples] [See also] [File]

## Examples:

      apropos edit  will display a list of editors
      apropos disk  will display a list of disk utilities
      whatis edit   will display a short information about edit
      whatis        will display a short information about the DOS commands

#### [Main menu] [top] [Syntax] [Options] [Comments] (Examples) [See also] [File]

## See also:

      apropos
      fasthelp
      fdhelp
      help
      How to use the Help
      htmlhelp

#### [Main menu] [top] [Syntax] [Options] [Comments] [Examples] (See also) [File]

## File:

      Please read this command's lsm file also.
      You will find the updated version (internet) here and
      the version described in this manual page here.
      The lsm file contains information about the name of the programmer,
      the download site, and some other command related information.

#### [Main menu] [top] [Syntax] [Options] [Comments] [Examples] [See also] (File)

      Copyright © 2003 Robert Platt, updated 2007 by W. Spiegl.

      This file is derived from the FreeDOS Spec Command HOWTO.
      See the file H2Cpying for copying conditions.