Input manipulation for an alias

Question

man -k '^printf' lists man pages specifically available for printf utility only, printf(1) and printf(3) in my PC. If you do not mention these signs around printf, the command doesn't work.

I want to make an alias mank for this but I am stuck at the logic.

I want to be able to type mank utility and have the same output as man -k '^utility'.

This way without typing silly symbols, we would get all the man pages available for that utility.

@MichaelHomer I don't know any function, I am a newbie. If you know, let me know.. — GypsyCosmonaut, Jun 28 '17 at 01:05

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 28 '17 at 05:19

Clear the old alias, then make a function, and run it:

unalias mank
mank() { man -k "^$1" ; }
mank printf

Output:

printf (1)           - format and print data
printf (1posix)      - write formatted output
printf (3)           - formatted output conversion
printf (3posix)      - print formatted output

Input manipulation for an alias

1 Answers1