5

When I type C-h r I get error:

Debugger entered--Lisp error: (error "Info file emacs does not exist") signal(error ("Info file emacs does not exist")) error("Info file %s does not exist" "emacs") Info-find-file("emacs")
Info-find-node("emacs" "Top") Info-goto-node("(emacs)")
info-setup("emacs" #) info("emacs")
info-emacs-manual() call-interactively(info-emacs-manual nil nil)

I am using Emacs 24.3 on Ubuntu 14.04. (I have installed package emacs24-common-non-dfsg.. )

Improve this question

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
13

That error is because the full documentation is not installed by default.

Solve it by installing emacs25-common-non-dfsg

# aptitude install emacs25-common-non-dfsg

Test it by trying,

C-h i h

It should now work.

Improve this answer
1
  • It is interesting to know that GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) is at odds with Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG). This is the reason why it is not included in the first place.
    – Lei Zhao
    Jul 26, 2020 at 23:30
2

You have to set the correct path to the Emacs info files in the INFOPATH environment variable:

export INFOPATH=$INFOPATH:/usr/share/info/emacs-24
Improve this answer
1

I found it easier to build Emacs from source: you get not only full Emacs documentation but also a more recent version, presently 27.1 instead of 26.3 (in Ubuntu 20.10).

Configure is straightforward because all the dependencies can be obtianed with: sudo apt-get build-dep emacs.

Add to $INFOPATH: /usr/local/share/info /usr/share/info/emacs /usr/share/info.

Improve this answer
1
  • Ubuntu 20.10. The non-dfsg stuff does not exist in apt.
    – Pierre ALBARÈDE
    Nov 10, 2020 at 18:19
0

Just setting INFOPATH didn't solve it for me.

I'm running Debian 9.4 derived Bunsen Helium. Somehow, I didn't get info, or the Emacs info files installed. So:
Set INFOPATH in .bashrc:

export INFOPATH=/usr/share/info
export INFOPATH=$INFOPATH:/usr/share/info/emacs

Then installed info: 

$ sudo apt-get install info

Then downloaded these gnu info files and installed them in directory /usr/share/info/emacs
(did it as root)
https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/info/emacs.info.gz
https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/info/elisp.info.gz

Finally, upgraded my emacs version (got me up to Emacs 25.2.2): 

$ sudo apt-get install emacs

Not sure if all this was the 'right' way to do it, but I'm tired of fooling with it...

Improve this answer
4
  • 2
    Did you install the emacs25-common-non-dfsg package?
    – phils
    Sep 24, 2018 at 10:37
  • Just tried it. Way easier than what I was doing. Seems to put the info files in: /usr/share/info/emacs-25. Still need
    – AAAfarmclub
    Sep 25, 2018 at 0:36
  • 2
    It's really unfortunate, but Debian sees certain usage of the GNU Free Documentation License as non-free by their own definitions, and consequently installs Emacs (and doubtless other packages) without the documentation (which of course is really a crucial component of the application). Which explains why it's in a separate package (and the non-dfsg suffix). Refer to linux.com/news/debian-decides-gnu-free-documentation-license
    – phils
    Sep 25, 2018 at 0:47
  • Tried to edit my comment, but some stupid 5 minute limit just tossed it...
    – AAAfarmclub
    Sep 25, 2018 at 0:56

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.