How to search help using python console

Question

Is there any way to search for a particular package/function using keywords in the Python console?

For example, I may want to search \"pdf\" for pdf related tasks.

Answer 1

Try help() or dir(). AFAIR there's no builtin support for pdf-related tasks in plain Python installation. Another way to find help for Python modules is to google ;)

Docs:

http://docs.python.org/library/functions.html#help

http://docs.python.org/library/functions.html#dir

EDIT:

>>> import os
>>> def search_help(keyword):
...     os.system('python Lib/pydoc.py -k %s' % keyword)
...
>>> search_help('math')
cmath - This module is always available. It provides access to mathematical
math - This module is always available.  It provides access to the
test.test_cmath
test.test_math
>>> search_help('pdf')
>>> _

You have to have main python dir in your path. And it won't work under IDLE. HTH.