How can I get apropos to work?

Question

How can I get apropos to work?

I can't get the unix command "apropos" to work. For example, when I type "apropos man", I get "man: nothing appropriate".

Clearly the database that apropos uses is not built. Normally one uses the "makewhatis" command to build the database but I can't find that command in MAC OS X Tiger.

Any ideas on how to get apropos to work?
Where is "makewhatis"?

Rob

Powerbook G4 & Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Jan 9, 2007 8:24 AM

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Answer 1

KOENIG Yvan

Level 8

41,819 points

Jan 9, 2007 8:30 AM in response to Robert Kennedy

Hello

Why not try:

man apropos

and

man makewhatis

Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE mardi 9 janvier 2007 17:29:54)

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Answer 2

Jan 9, 2007 9:11 AM in response to KOENIG Yvan

Well there is a man page for makewhatis but it does not help me since I don't see to have a makewhatis command.

I am running a new Mac Pro with all the updates (10.4.8). I have not installed any non Apple software yet.

Here is the out put when I run makewhatis:

robs-computer:/Users/rob admin$ sudo makewhatis
Password:
sudo: makewhatis: command not found
robs-computer:/Users/rob admin$

Any ideas

Rob

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Answer 3

Camelot

Level 9

58,599 points

Jan 9, 2007 9:38 AM in response to Robert Kennedy

Since makewhatis isn't in your path, you can't run it unless you enter its full path.

Try:

<pre class=command>sudo /usr/libexec/makewhatis</pre>

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Answer 4

Zerwas

Level 4

1,154 points

Jan 9, 2007 9:41 AM in response to Robert Kennedy

The makewhatis is in /usr/libexec. Try sudo sudo /usr/libexec/makewhatis. Or define a path.

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Answer 5

Jan 9, 2007 10:09 AM in response to Camelot

Thanks.

I was trying /usr/sbin/makewhatis (like in many Linux systems). Strange that "makewhatis" is in libexec.

Anyway, it worked. Now I can use "apropos" or "man -k".

Rob

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Answer 6

Jan 9, 2007 10:17 AM in response to Robert Kennedy

It looks like the Mac OS X man page for "whatis" is wrong.

The Mac OS X man page for "whatis" states:

"The whatis database is created using the command /usr/sbin/makewhatis."

This is wrong since as you correctly pointed out, makewhatis is found at /usr/libexec/makewhatis.

Rob

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Answer 7

Camelot

Level 9

58,599 points

Jan 9, 2007 10:18 AM in response to Robert Kennedy

Just about every OS has its own opinion of where files should be. Mac OS X and Linux are just two examples. Solaris seems to think that /usr/lib/ is the right place 🙂

In either case, locate is your friend:

<pre class=command>$ locate makewhatis
/usr/libexec/makewhatis
/usr/libexec/makewhatis.local
/usr/share/man/man8/makewhatis.8.gz
/usr/share/man/man8/makewhatis.local.8.gz</pre>

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Answer 8

Jan 9, 2007 12:09 PM in response to Camelot

Thanks. On my cmputer, I had to update the database used by loacte before I could use it. The command to update the locate database is:

sudo /usr/libexec/locate.updatedb -v

Hmm.. Another strange locate. Linux would have put updatedb elsewhere..

Rob

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