How to search the Python manuals

[Terry Reedy]

A number of questions asked here could easily be answered by a quick 
search of the Python Manuals.  A prime example is about the behavior of 
default parameter values.

A recent questioner ended the thread with "The problem with this 
particular question is that I found it hard to find a query that would 
give meaningful answers."

The following is intended to show how he might have found an answer to 
this question and, by extension, how others might answer other questions 
using the 2.4 to 3.0 manuals.  (I do not have 2.6 but presume its manual 
set works the same as the 3.0 set.)

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For WinXP (I have no idea of how the manuals works elsewhere):

Open the Python Manuals shortcut.

On the left, click [+] for Language Reference
    (3.0: The Python language reference).

Scan the chapter list to find [+] Compound Statements
[statements with a header line and indented suite].

Click [+], find Function definitions and click on that.
(In 3.0, one can instead directly click Compound Statements since entire 
chapters rather than just sections are loaded into the right pane.)

Click on the right frame/pane to shift 'focus'.

Enter control-F and wait (at least a second, be patient) to open a Find box.

Enter 'default' (but not too much, such as 'default argument') and click 
Next. This brings you to the discussion of default parameter values.

Either read or continue clicking Next until you come to the boldfaced 
line that begins the next paragraph: "Default parameter values are 
evaluated when the function definition is executed." This is followed by 
an explanation of why one would usually want 'param = None' + body code 
rather than 'param = []'.

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It helps if one reads all of the language reference and the first 
chapters of the library reference on built-ins at least once.  They are 
constantly being improved as mistakes and ambiguities are found and 
reported.

The global module index (top of the left pane) is useful when you know 
(or maybe just suspect) the name of a module.

Terry Jan Reedy