[texworks] Using Lua Extension - to get LaTeX package help

[Paul A Norman]

Hi All,

Here is something a little bit exciting - well to me any way :-)

Its something I really wanted for checking package options and usage.

You can use a simple Lua script, if you are using MiTeX (and simply alter it
for other distributions),
to get LaTeX package help from within Stefan's experimental Lua TeXWorks
editor version.

Simply highlight the package name - to make it clear (appologies to advanced
users) the bit in between the braces \usepackage{graphicx} i.e. graphicx and
use this script -
(substitute "mthelp"  for your distribution's package help call.

We should be careful to only highlight a non-system-destructive package
name! So far as I know no CTAN LaTeX package names are synonymous with OS
commnds that are dangerous are they?

--[[TeXworksScript
Title: Package Help
Description: Puts Date Time in
Author: Paul A Norman From gleanings in lua chm help Lua 5.1 Reference
Manual, wiki, and tutorials
Version: 0.1
Date: 2009-09-19
Script-Type: standalone
]]
 package = "mthelp " .. TW.getSelectedText()
 os.execute(package)
Apparently, according to what I read, the Lua os.excute() is simillar to C's
system()  which made me wonder if ... ;-)

Paul
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