<!-- $XConsortium: InfoShow.sgm /main/2 1996/09/20 11:10:27 cdedoc $ -->
<!-- (c) Copyright 1995 Digital Equipment Corporation. -->
<!-- (c) Copyright 1995 Hewlett-Packard Company. -->
<!-- (c) Copyright 1995 International Business Machines Corp. -->
<!-- (c) Copyright 1995 Sun Microsystems, Inc. -->
<!-- (c) Copyright 1995 Novell, Inc. -->
<!-- (c) Copyright 1995 FUJITSU LIMITED. -->
<!-- (c) Copyright 1995 Hitachi. -->

<![ %CDE.C.CDE; [<RefEntry Id="CDE.INFO.showtopic">]]>
<![ %CDE.C.XO; [<RefEntry Id="XCDI.INFO.showtopic">]]>

<RefMeta>
<RefEntryTitle>DtInfoShowTopic</RefEntryTitle>
<ManVolNum>API</ManVolNum>
</RefMeta>

<RefNameDiv>
<RefName><Function>DtInfoShowTopic</Function></RefName>
<RefPurpose>provide the user access to a local information corpus at a specific location
</RefPurpose>
</RefNameDiv>

<RefSynopsisDiv>
<FuncSynopsis Remap="ANSI">
<FuncSynopsisInfo>#include &lt;Dt/Info.h>
</FuncSynopsisInfo>
<FuncDef>DtIfnoShowStatus <Function>DtInfoShowTopic</Function></FuncDef>
<ParamDef>const char <Parameter>*info_lib</Parameter></ParamDef>
<ParamDef>const char <Parameter>*locator</Parameter></ParamDef>
</FuncSynopsis>
</RefSynopsisDiv>

<RefSect1>
<Title>DESCRIPTION</Title>

<para>
By invoking <Function>DtInfoShowTopic</Function>, a client application requests that dtinfo display a 
particular section of data, or topic. <Function>DtInfoShowTopic</Function> sends a ToolTalk message 
to any active dtinfo process that can access the 
requested information in the current locale.  The browser is started if it is not already running. This 
corresponds to invoking the <command>dtinfo</command> command with the <option>-sect</option> option from the command line.
</para>
<para>
The locator parameter must be a valid, resolvable location in the specified or default infolib for dtinfo to 
display the location.  Unfortunately, there is no way to determine this from the calling application as 
<function>DtInfoShowTopic</function> will return an ok status as long as the message has been delivered to dtinfo.  In the 
case of an invalid locator, dtinfo will still map to the current workspace of the invoking application and 
display an error dialog.
</para>
<para>
This API is implemented in the Desktop Services library, <literal>DtSvc</literal>. To access the DtShowInfoTopic 
API, include the header file <filename>Dt/Info.h</filename> and link with <literal>-lDtSvc</literal>.
</para>
</RefSect1>

<refsect1>
<Title>ARGUMENTS</Title>
<VariableList>
<VarListEntry>
<Term><symbol role="Variable">*info_lib</symbol></Term>
<ListItem>
<Para>
Specifies a file path, relative or absolute, to an information library. If 
<symbol role="Variable">info_lib</symbol> is NULL, the browser displays the default information library(s).
</Para>
</ListItem>
</VarListEntry>
<VarListEntry>
<Term><symbol role="Variable">*locator</symbol></Term>
<ListItem>
<Para>
Specifies the information library section in generalized locator format.
</Para>
</ListItem>
</VarListEntry>
</VariableList>
</RefSect1>

<RefSect1>
<Title>RETURN VALUE</Title>
<VariableList>
<VarListEntry>
<Term><SystemItem Class="Constant">DtINFO_SHOW_OK</SystemItem></Term>
<ListItem>
<Para>
ToolTalk request successfully sent.
</Para>
</ListItem>
</VarListEntry>
<VarListEntry>
<Term><SystemItem Class="Constant">DtINFO_SHOW_BAD_LOCATOR</SystemItem></Term>
<ListItem>
<Para>
The locator argument is NULL.
</Para>
</ListItem>
</VarListEntry>
<VarListEntry>
<Term><SystemItem Class="Constant">DtINFO_SHOW_TT_OPEN_FAIL</SystemItem></Term>
<ListItem>
<Para>
Call to <function>tt_open()</function> failed.
</Para>
</ListItem>
</VarListEntry>
<VarListEntry>
<Term><SystemItem Class="Constant">DtINFO_SHOW_MSG_CREATE_FAIL</SystemItem></Term>
<ListItem>
<Para>
Call to <function>tt_message_create()</function> failed.
</Para>
</ListItem>
</VarListEntry>
<VarListEntry>
<Term><SystemItem Class="Constant">DtINFO_SHOW_MSG_SEND_FAIL</SystemItem></Term>
<ListItem>
<Para>
Call to <function>tt_message_send()</function> failed.
</Para>
</ListItem>
</VarListEntry>
</variablelist>
</RefSect1>

<refsect1>
<title>ENVIRONMENT</title>
<variablelist>
<VarListEntry>
<Term><SystemItem Class="environvar">DTINFOLIBSEARCHPATH</SystemItem></Term>
<ListItem>
<Para>
Search path environment variable for locating information libraries on 
local and remote mounted systems.
</Para>
</ListItem>
</VarListEntry>
<VarListEntry>
<Term><SystemItem Class="environvar">DTINFOLIBDEFAULT</SystemItem></Term>
<ListItem>
<Para>
Specifies the name of the default information library(s) to load if the 
locator argument is NULL. Multiple information libraries can be 
specified by a comma separated list.
</Para>
</ListItem>
</VarListEntry>
</variablelist>
</RefSect1>

</RefEntry>





