# HG changeset patch
# User jwe
# Date 943205470 0
# Node ID 86873384cd10c81f8ee86cf8a2a8a6baa028fcc9
# Parent  0b88d26ed5527619bb18ea8fd46f947b9f41c033
[project @ 1999-11-21 17:31:07 by jwe]

diff --git a/doc/interpreter/eval.txi b/doc/interpreter/eval.txi
--- a/doc/interpreter/eval.txi
+++ b/doc/interpreter/eval.txi
@@ -16,61 +16,11 @@
 are not known until run time, or to write functions that will need to
 call user-supplied functions.
 
-@deftypefn {Built-in Function} {} eval (@var{command})
-Parse the string @var{command} and evaluate it as if it were an Octave
-program, returning the last value computed.  The @var{command} is
-evaluated in the current context, so any results remain available after
-@code{eval} returns.  For example,
-
-@example
-@group
-eval ("a = 13")
-     @print{} a = 13
-     @result{} 13
-@end group
-@end example
-
-In this case, the value of the evaluated expression is printed and it is
-also returned returned from @code{eval}.  Just as with any other
-expression, you can turn printing off by ending the expression in a
-semicolon.  For example,
-
-@example
-eval ("a = 13;")
-     @result{} 13
-@end example
+@DOCSTRING(eval)
 
-In this example, the variable @code{a} has been given the value 13, but
-the value of the expression is not printed.  You can also turn off
-automatic printing for all expressions executed by @code{eval} using the
-variable @code{default_eval_print_flag}.
-@end deftypefn
-
-@defvr {Built-in Variable} default_eval_print_flag
-If the value of this variable is nonzero, Octave prints the results of
-commands executed by @code{eval} that do not end with semicolons.  If it
-is zero, automatic printing is suppressed.  The default value is 1.
-@end defvr
-
-@deftypefn {Built-in Function} {} feval (@var{name}, @dots{})
-Evaluate the function named @var{name}.  Any arguments after the first
-are passed on to the named function.  For example,
+@DOCSTRING(default_eval_print_flag)
 
-@example
-feval ("acos", -1)
-     @result{} 3.1416
-@end example
-
-@noindent
-calls the function @code{acos} with the argument @samp{-1}.
-
-The function @code{feval} is necessary in order to be able to write
-functions that call user-supplied functions, because Octave does not
-have a way to declare a pointer to a function (like C) or to declare a
-special kind of variable that can be used to hold the name of a function
-(like @code{EXTERNAL} in Fortran).  Instead, you must refer to functions
-by name, and use @code{feval} to call them.
-@end deftypefn
+@DOCSTRING(feval)
 
 Here is a simple-minded function using @code{feval} that finds the root
 of a user-supplied function of one variable using Newton's method.
diff --git a/doc/interpreter/expr.txi b/doc/interpreter/expr.txi
--- a/doc/interpreter/expr.txi
+++ b/doc/interpreter/expr.txi
@@ -45,12 +45,7 @@
 @code{do_fortran_indexing} is nonzero, in which case matrices may
 also be indexed by a single expression.
 
-@defvr {Built-in Variable} do_fortran_indexing
-If the value of @code{do_fortran_indexing} is nonzero, Octave allows 
-you to select elements of a two-dimensional matrix using a single index
-by treating the matrix as a single vector created from the columns of
-the matrix.  The default value is 0. 
-@end defvr
+@DOCSTRING(do_fortran_indexing)
 
 Given the matrix
 
@@ -108,6 +103,8 @@
 practice, you may select the behavior you prefer by setting the built-in
 variable @code{prefer_zero_one_indexing}.
 
+@c XXX FIXME XXX -- this variable no longer exists!
+
 @defvr {Built-in Variable} prefer_zero_one_indexing
 If the value of @code{prefer_zero_one_indexing} is nonzero, Octave
 will perform zero-one style indexing when there is a conflict with the
@@ -170,41 +167,9 @@
 size whose elements are all one, and then to scale it to produce the
 desired result.  @xref{Special Utility Matrices}.
 
-@defvr {Built-in Variable} prefer_column_vectors
-If @code{prefer_column_vectors} is nonzero, operations like
-
-@example
-for i = 1:10
-  a (i) = i;
-endfor
-@end example
-
-@noindent
-(for @code{a} previously  undefined) produce column vectors.  Otherwise, row
-vectors are preferred.  The default value is 1.
-
-If a variable is already defined to be a vector (a matrix with a single
-row or column), the original orientation is respected, regardless of the
-value of @code{prefer_column_vectors}.
-@end defvr
+@DOCSTRING(prefer_column_vectors)
 
-@defvr {Built-in Variable} resize_on_range_error
-If the value of @code{resize_on_range_error} is nonzero, expressions
-like
-
-@example
-for i = 1:10
-  a (i) = sqrt (i);
-endfor
-@end example
-
-@noindent
-(for @code{a} previously undefined) result in the variable @code{a}
-being resized to be just large enough to hold the new value.  New
-elements that have not been given a value are set to zero.  If the value
-of @code{resize_on_range_error} is 0, an error message is printed and
-control is returned to the top level.  The default value is 1.
-@end defvr
+@DOCSTRING(resize_on_range_error)
 
 Note that it is quite inefficient to create a vector using a loop like
 the one shown in the example above.  In this particular case, it would
@@ -417,13 +382,7 @@
 The built-in variable @code{max_recursion_depth} specifies a limit to
 the recursion depth and prevents Octave from recursing infinitely.
 
-@defvr max_recursion_depth
-Limit the number of times a function may be called recursively.
-If the limit is exceeded, an error message is printed and control
-returns to the top level.
-
-The default value is 256.
-@end defvr
+@DOCSTRING(max_recursion_depth)
 
 @node Arithmetic Ops, Comparison Ops, Calling Functions, Expressions
 @section Arithmetic Operators
@@ -585,11 +544,7 @@
 preferring the longest possible match at any given point, it is more
 useful in this case.
 
-@defvr {Built-in Variable} warn_divide_by_zero
-If the value of @code{warn_divide_by_zero} is nonzero, a warning
-is issued when Octave encounters a division by zero.  If the value is
-0, the warning is omitted.  The default value is 1.
-@end defvr
+@DOCSTRING(warn_divide_by_zero)
 
 @node Comparison Ops, Boolean Expressions, Arithmetic Ops, Expressions
 @section Comparison Operators
diff --git a/doc/interpreter/func.txi b/doc/interpreter/func.txi
--- a/doc/interpreter/func.txi
+++ b/doc/interpreter/func.txi
@@ -227,30 +227,9 @@
 were passed to Octave.
 @end defvr
 
-@defvr {Built-in Variable} silent_functions
-If the value of @code{silent_functions} is nonzero, internal output
-from a function is suppressed.  Otherwise, the results of expressions
-within a function body that are not terminated with a semicolon will
-have their values printed.  The default value is 0.
-
-For example, if the function
+@DOCSTRING(silent_functions)
 
-@example
-function f ()
-  2 + 2
-endfunction
-@end example
-
-@noindent
-is executed, Octave will either print @samp{ans = 4} or nothing
-depending on the value of @code{silent_functions}.
-@end defvr
-
-@defvr {Built-in Variable} warn_missing_semicolon
-If the value of this variable is nonzero, Octave will warn when
-statements in function definitions don't end in semicolons.  The default
-value is 0.
-@end defvr
+@DOCSTRING(warn_missing_semicolon)
 
 @node Multiple Return Values, Variable-length Argument Lists, Defining Functions, Functions and Scripts
 @section Multiple Return Values
@@ -366,27 +345,11 @@
 At the top level, @code{nargout} is undefined.
 @end defvr
 
-@defvr {Built-in Variable} default_return_value
-The value given to otherwise uninitialized return values if
-@code{define_all_return_values} is nonzero.  The default value is
-@code{[]}.
-@end defvr
+@DOCSTRING(default_return_value)
 
-@defvr {Built-in Variable} define_all_return_values
-If the value of @code{define_all_return_values} is nonzero, Octave
-will substitute the value specified by @code{default_return_value} for
-any return values that remain undefined when a function returns.  The
-default value is 0.
-@end defvr
+@DOCSTRING(define_all_return_values)
 
-@deftypefn {Function File} {} nargchk (@var{nargin_min}, @var{nargin_max}, @var{n})
-If @var{n} is in the range @var{nargin_min} through @var{nargin_max}
-inclusive, return the empty matrix.  Otherwise, return a message
-indicating whether @var{n} is too large or too small.
-
-This is useful for checking to see that the number of arguments supplied
-to a function is within an acceptable range.
-@end deftypefn
+@DOCSTRING(nargchk)
 
 @node Variable-length Argument Lists, Variable-length Return Lists, Multiple Return Values, Functions and Scripts
 @section Variable-length Argument Lists
@@ -418,20 +381,9 @@
 The ellipsis that marks the variable argument list may only appear once
 and must be the last element in the list of arguments.
 
-@deftypefn {Built-in Function} {} va_start ()
-Position an internal pointer to the first unnamed argument and allows
-you to cycle through the arguments more than once.  It is not necessary
-to call @code{va_start} if you do not plan to cycle through the
-arguments more than once.  This function may only be called inside
-functions that have been declared to accept a variable number of input
-arguments.
-@end deftypefn
+@DOCSTRING(va_arg)
 
-@deftypefn {Built-in Function} {} va_arg ()
-Return the value of the next available argument and move the internal
-pointer to the next argument.  It is an error to call @code{va_arg()}
-when there are no more arguments available.
-@end deftypefn
+@DOCSTRING(va_start)
 
 Sometimes it is useful to be able to pass all unnamed arguments to
 another function.  The keyword @var{all_va_args} makes this very easy to
@@ -497,15 +449,7 @@
 return list may only appear once and must be the last element in the
 list of returned values.
 
-@deftypefn {Built-in Function} {} vr_val (@var{val})
-Each time this function is called, it places the value of its argument
-at the end of the list of values to return from the current function.
-Once @code{vr_val} has been called, there is no way to go back to the
-beginning of the list and rewrite any of the return values.  This
-function may only be called within functions that have been declared to
-return an unspecified number of output arguments (by using the special
-ellipsis notation described above).
-@end deftypefn
+@DOCSTRING(vr_val)
 
 @node Returning From a Function, Function Files, Variable-length Return Lists, Functions and Scripts
 @section Returning From a Function
@@ -555,25 +499,7 @@
 at the end of every function definition.
 @end defvr
 
-@defvr {Built-in Variable} return_last_computed_value
-If the value of @code{return_last_computed_value} is true, and a
-function is defined without explicitly specifying a return value, the
-function will return the value of the last expression.  Otherwise, no
-value will be returned.  The default value is 0.
-
-For example, the function
-
-@example
-function f ()
-  2 + 2;
-endfunction
-@end example
-
-@noindent
-will either return nothing, if the value of
-@code{return_last_computed_value} is 0, or 4, if the value of
-@code{return_last_computed_value} is nonzero.
-@end defvr
+@DOCSTRING(return_last_computed_value)
 
 @node Function Files, Script Files, Returning From a Function, Functions and Scripts
 @section Function Files
@@ -630,62 +556,13 @@
 
 @c XXX FIXME XXX -- note about time stamps on files in NFS environments?
 
-@defvr {Built-in Variable} DEFAULT_LOADPATH
-A colon separated list of directories in which to search for function
-files by default.  The value of this variable is also automatically
-substituted for leading, trailing, or doubled colons that appear in the
-built-in variable @code{LOADPATH}.
-@end defvr
-
-@defvr {Built-in Variable} LOADPATH
-A colon separated list of directories in which to search for function
-files.  @xref{Functions and Scripts}.  The value of @code{LOADPATH}
-overrides the environment variable @code{OCTAVE_PATH}.  @xref{Installation}.
+@DOCSTRING(DEFAULT_LOADPATH)
 
-@code{LOADPATH} is now handled in the same way as @TeX{} handles
-@code{TEXINPUTS}.  Leading, trailing, or doubled colons that appear in
-@code{LOADPATH} are replaced by the value of @code{DEFAULT_LOADPATH}.
-The default value of @code{LOADPATH} is @code{":"}, which tells Octave
-to search in the directories specified by @code{DEFAULT_LOADPATH}.
-
-In addition, if any path element ends in @samp{//}, that directory and
-all subdirectories it contains are searched recursively for function
-files.  This can result in a slight delay as Octave caches the lists of
-files found in the @code{LOADPATH} the first time Octave searches for a
-function.  After that, searching is usually much faster because Octave
-normally only needs to search its internal cache for files.
+@DOCSTRING(LOADPATH)
 
-To improve performance of recursive directory searching, it is best for
-each directory that is to be searched recursively to contain
-@emph{either} additional subdirectories @emph{or} function files, but
-not a mixture of both.
-
-@xref{Organization of Functions} for a description of the function file
-directories that are distributed with Octave.
-@end defvr
+@DOCSTRING(ignore_function_time_stamp)
 
-@defvr {Built-in Variable} ignore_function_time_stamp
-This variable can be used to prevent Octave from making the system call
-@code{stat} each time it looks up functions defined in function files.
-If @code{ignore_function_time_stamp} to @code{"system"}, Octave will not
-automatically recompile function files in subdirectories of
-@file{@var{octave-home}/lib/@var{version}} if they have changed since
-they were last compiled, but will recompile other function files in the
-@code{LOADPATH} if they change.  If set to @code{"all"}, Octave will not
-recompile any function files unless their definitions are removed with
-@code{clear}.  For any other value of @code{ignore_function_time_stamp},
-Octave will always check to see if functions defined in function files
-need to recompiled.  The default value of @code{ignore_function_time_stamp} is
-@code{"system"}.
-@end defvr
-
-@defvr {Built-in Variable} warn_function_name_clash
-If the value of @code{warn_function_name_clash} is nonzero, a warning is
-issued when Octave finds that the name of a function defined in a
-function file differs from the name of the file.  (If the names
-disagree, the name declared inside the file is ignored.)  If the value
-is 0, the warning is omitted.  The default value is 1.
-@end defvr
+@DOCSTRING(warn_function_name_clash)
 
 @node Script Files, Dynamically Linked Functions, Function Files, Functions and Scripts
 @section Script Files
@@ -788,11 +665,7 @@
 the name @file{@var{file}.m}, you can use the function @code{source} to
 execute commands from any file.
 
-@deftypefn {Built-in Function} {} source (@var{file})
-Parse and execute the contents of @var{file}.  This is equivalent to
-executing commands from a script file, but without requiring the file to
-be named @file{@var{file}.m}.
-@end deftypefn
+@DOCSTRING(source)
 
 @node Dynamically Linked Functions, Organization of Functions, Script Files, Functions and Scripts
 @section Dynamically Linked Functions
@@ -969,18 +842,15 @@
 control how Octave behaves when dynamically linked functions are cleared
 or reloaded.
 
+@c XXX FIXME XXX -- this variable no longer exists!
+
 @defvr {Built-in Variable} auto_unload_dot_oct_files
 If the value of @code{auto_unload_dot_oct_files} is nonzero, Octave will
 automatically unload any @file{.oct} files when there are no longer any
 functions in the symbol table that reference them.
 @end defvr
 
-@defvr {Built-in Variable} warn_reload_forces_clear
-If several functions have been loaded from the same file, Octave must
-clear all the functions before any one of them can be reloaded.  If
-@code{warn_reload_forces_clear}, Octave will warn you when this happens,
-and print a list of the additional functions that it is forced to clear.
-@end defvr
+@DOCSTRING(warn_reload_forces_clear)
 
 Additional examples for writing dynamically linked functions are
 available in the files in the @file{src} directory of the Octave
diff --git a/doc/interpreter/matrix.txi b/doc/interpreter/matrix.txi
--- a/doc/interpreter/matrix.txi
+++ b/doc/interpreter/matrix.txi
@@ -167,11 +167,10 @@
 
 @c XXX FIXME XXX -- is this really worth documenting?
 @c
-@c @DOCSTRING(ok_to_lose_imaginary_part)
+@c DOCSTRING(ok_to_lose_imaginary_part)
 @c 
 @c XXX FIXME XXX -- this is here because it is used by @code{ones},
 @c @code{zeros}, @code{rand}, etc.
-@c @end defvr
 
 The functions @code{linspace} and @code{logspace} make it very easy to
 create vectors with evenly or logarithmically spaced elements.
diff --git a/scripts/ChangeLog b/scripts/ChangeLog
--- a/scripts/ChangeLog
+++ b/scripts/ChangeLog
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 	* general/tril.m: Ditto.
 	* general/triu.m: Ditto.
 	* general/logspace.m: Ditto.
+	* general/nargchk.m: Ditto.
 
 1999-11-20  John W. Eaton  <jwe@bevo.che.wisc.edu>
 
diff --git a/scripts/general/nargchk.m b/scripts/general/nargchk.m
--- a/scripts/general/nargchk.m
+++ b/scripts/general/nargchk.m
@@ -17,11 +17,15 @@
 ## Software Foundation, 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA
 ## 02111-1307, USA.
 
-## usage: nargchk (nargin_min, nargin_max, n)
-##
-## If N is in the range NARGIN_MIN to NARGIN_MAX, return the empty
-## matrix.  Otherwise, return a message indicating whether N is too
-## large or too small.
+## -*- texinfo -*-
+## @deftypefn {Function File} {} nargchk (@var{nargin_min}, @var{nargin_max}, @var{n})
+## If @var{n} is in the range @var{nargin_min} through @var{nargin_max}
+## inclusive, return the empty matrix.  Otherwise, return a message
+## indicating whether @var{n} is too large or too small.
+## 
+## This is useful for checking to see that the number of arguments supplied
+## to a function is within an acceptable range.
+## @end deftypefn
 
 ## Author: jwe
 
diff --git a/src/ChangeLog b/src/ChangeLog
--- a/src/ChangeLog
+++ b/src/ChangeLog
@@ -6,7 +6,17 @@
 	* DLD-FUNCTIONS/sort.cc (Fsort): Ditto.
 	* mappers.cc (Fisinf, Fisnan, Ffinite): Ditto.
 	* data.cc (Fall, Fany, Fdiag, Fones, Fzeros, Feye, Flinspace): Ditto.
-	* ov.cc (Vok_to_lose_imaginary_part): Ditto.
+	* defaults.cc (Vloadpath, Vdefault_loadpath): Ditto.
+	* parse.y (Feval, Ffeval, Vdefault_eval_print_flag,
+	Vwarn_missing_semicolon, Vwarn_function_name_clash, Fsource): Ditto.
+	* ov-usr-fcn.cc (Vmax_recursion_depth, Vdefault_return_value,
+	Vdefine_all_return_values, Vreturn_last_computed_value): Ditto.
+	* ov.cc (Vok_to_lose_imaginary_part, Vdo_fortran_indexing,
+	Vprefer_column_vectors, Vresize_on_range_error,
+	Vwarn_divide_by_zero): Ditto.
+	* pt-stmt.cc (Vsilent_functions): Ditto.
+	* variables.cc (Vignore_function_time_stamp): Ditto.
+	* dynamic-ld.cc (Vwarn_reload_forces_clear): Ditto.
 
 1999-11-20  John W. Eaton  <jwe@bevo.che.wisc.edu>
 
diff --git a/src/defaults.cc b/src/defaults.cc
--- a/src/defaults.cc
+++ b/src/defaults.cc
@@ -451,13 +451,42 @@
 @end defvr");
 
   DEFVAR (LOADPATH, Vload_path, loadpath,
-    "colon separated list of directories to search for scripts.\n\
-The default value is \":\", which means to search the default list\n\
-of directories.  The default list of directories may be found in\n\
-the built-in constant DEFAULT_LOADPATH");
+    "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
+@defvr {Built-in Variable} LOADPATH\n\
+A colon separated list of directories in which to search for function\n\
+files.  @xref{Functions and Scripts}.  The value of @code{LOADPATH}\n\
+overrides the environment variable @code{OCTAVE_PATH}.  @xref{Installation}.\n\
+\n\
+@code{LOADPATH} is now handled in the same way as @TeX{} handles\n\
+@code{TEXINPUTS}.  Leading, trailing, or doubled colons that appear in\n\
+@code{LOADPATH} are replaced by the value of @code{DEFAULT_LOADPATH}.\n\
+The default value of @code{LOADPATH} is @code{\":\"}, which tells Octave\n\
+to search in the directories specified by @code{DEFAULT_LOADPATH}.\n\
+\n\
+In addition, if any path element ends in @samp{//}, that directory and\n\
+all subdirectories it contains are searched recursively for function\n\
+files.  This can result in a slight delay as Octave caches the lists of\n\
+files found in the @code{LOADPATH} the first time Octave searches for a\n\
+function.  After that, searching is usually much faster because Octave\n\
+normally only needs to search its internal cache for files.\n\
+\n\
+To improve performance of recursive directory searching, it is best for\n\
+each directory that is to be searched recursively to contain\n\
+@emph{either} additional subdirectories @emph{or} function files, but\n\
+not a mixture of both.\n\
+\n\
+@xref{Organization of Functions} for a description of the function file\n\
+directories that are distributed with Octave.\n\
+@end defvr");
 
   DEFCONST (DEFAULT_LOADPATH, Vdefault_load_path,
-    "the default colon separated list of directories to search for scripts");
+    "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
+@defvr {Built-in Variable} DEFAULT_LOADPATH\n\
+A colon separated list of directories in which to search for function\n\
+files by default.  The value of this variable is also automatically\n\
+substituted for leading, trailing, or doubled colons that appear in the\n\
+built-in variable @code{LOADPATH}.\n\
+@end defvr");
   
   DEFVAR (IMAGEPATH, OCTAVE_IMAGEPATH, imagepath,
     "colon separated list of directories to search for image files");
diff --git a/src/dynamic-ld.cc b/src/dynamic-ld.cc
--- a/src/dynamic-ld.cc
+++ b/src/dynamic-ld.cc
@@ -333,7 +333,14 @@
 symbols_of_dynamic_ld (void)
 {
   DEFVAR (warn_reload_forces_clear, 1.0, warn_reload_forces_clear,
-    "warn if reloading a .oct file forces other functions to be cleared");
+    "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
+@defvr {Built-in Variable} warn_reload_forces_clear\n\
+If several functions have been loaded from the same file, Octave must\n\
+clear all the functions before any one of them can be reloaded.  If\n\
+@code{warn_reload_forces_clear}, Octave will warn you when this happens,\n\
+and print a list of the additional functions that it is forced to clear.\n\
+@end defvr");
+
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/src/ov-usr-fcn.cc b/src/ov-usr-fcn.cc
--- a/src/ov-usr-fcn.cc
+++ b/src/ov-usr-fcn.cc
@@ -594,22 +594,54 @@
 symbols_of_ov_usr_fcn (void)
 {
   DEFVAR (default_return_value, Matrix (), 0,
-    "the default for value for unitialized variables returned from\n\
-functions.  Only used if the variable initialize_return_values is\n\
-nonzero.");
+    "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
+@defvr {Built-in Variable} default_return_value\n\
+The value given to otherwise uninitialized return values if\n\
+@code{define_all_return_values} is nonzero.  The default value is\n\
+@code{[]}.\n\
+@end defvr");
 
   DEFVAR (define_all_return_values, 0.0, define_all_return_values,
-    "control whether values returned from functions should have a\n\
-value even if one has not been explicitly assigned.  See also\n\
-default_return_value");
+    "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
+@defvr {Built-in Variable} define_all_return_values\n\
+If the value of @code{define_all_return_values} is nonzero, Octave\n\
+will substitute the value specified by @code{default_return_value} for\n\
+any return values that remain undefined when a function returns.  The\n\
+default value is 0.\n\
+@end defvr");
 
   DEFVAR (max_recursion_depth, 256.0, max_recursion_depth,
-    "maximum nesting level for functions called recursively.\n\
-The default value is 256.");
+    "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
+@defvr {Built-in Variable} max_recursion_depth\n\
+Limit the number of times a function may be called recursively.\n\
+If the limit is exceeded, an error message is printed and control\n\
+returns to the top level.\n\
+\n\
+The default value is 256.\n\
+@end defvr");
 
   DEFVAR (return_last_computed_value, 0.0, return_last_computed_value,
-    "if a function does not return any values explicitly, return the\n\
-  last computed value");
+    "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
+@defvr {Built-in Variable} return_last_computed_value\n\
+If the value of @code{return_last_computed_value} is true, and a\n\
+function is defined without explicitly specifying a return value, the\n\
+function will return the value of the last expression.  Otherwise, no\n\
+value will be returned.  The default value is 0.\n\
+\n\
+For example, the function\n\
+\n\
+@example\n\
+function f ()\n\
+  2 + 2;\n\
+endfunction\n\
+@end example\n\
+\n\
+@noindent\n\
+will either return nothing, if the value of\n\
+@code{return_last_computed_value} is 0, or 4, if the value of\n\
+@code{return_last_computed_value} is nonzero.\n\
+@end defvr");
+
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/src/ov.cc b/src/ov.cc
--- a/src/ov.cc
+++ b/src/ov.cc
@@ -1518,7 +1518,13 @@
 symbols_of_ov (void)
 {
   DEFVAR (do_fortran_indexing, 0.0, do_fortran_indexing,
-    "allow single indices for matrices");
+    "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
+@defvr {Built-in Variable} do_fortran_indexing\n\
+If the value of @code{do_fortran_indexing} is nonzero, Octave allows \n\
+you to select elements of a two-dimensional matrix using a single index\n\
+by treating the matrix as a single vector created from the columns of\n\
+the matrix.  The default value is 0. \n\
+@end defvr");
 
   DEFVAR (implicit_str_to_num_ok, 0.0, implicit_str_to_num_ok,
     "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
@@ -1541,7 +1547,24 @@
 @end defvr");
 
   DEFVAR (prefer_column_vectors, 1.0, prefer_column_vectors,
-    "prefer column/row vectors");
+    "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
+@defvr {Built-in Variable} prefer_column_vectors\n\
+If @code{prefer_column_vectors} is nonzero, operations like\n\
+\n\
+@example\n\
+for i = 1:10\n\
+  a (i) = i;\n\
+endfor\n\
+@end example\n\
+\n\
+@noindent\n\
+(for @code{a} previously  undefined) produce column vectors.  Otherwise, row\n\
+vectors are preferred.  The default value is 1.\n\
+\n\
+If a variable is already defined to be a vector (a matrix with a single\n\
+row or column), the original orientation is respected, regardless of the\n\
+value of @code{prefer_column_vectors}.\n\
+@end defvr");
 
   DEFVAR (print_answer_id_name, 1.0, print_answer_id_name,
     "set output style to print `var_name = ...'");
@@ -1555,7 +1578,24 @@
 @end defvr");
 
   DEFVAR (resize_on_range_error, 1.0, resize_on_range_error,
-    "enlarge matrices on assignment");
+    "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
+@defvr {Built-in Variable} resize_on_range_error\n\
+If the value of @code{resize_on_range_error} is nonzero, expressions\n\
+like\n\
+\n\
+@example\n\
+for i = 1:10\n\
+  a (i) = sqrt (i);\n\
+endfor\n\
+@end example\n\
+\n\
+@noindent\n\
+(for @code{a} previously undefined) result in the variable @code{a}\n\
+being resized to be just large enough to hold the new value.  New\n\
+elements that have not been given a value are set to zero.  If the value\n\
+of @code{resize_on_range_error} is 0, an error message is printed and\n\
+control is returned to the top level.  The default value is 1.\n\
+@end defvr");
 
   DEFVAR (struct_levels_to_print, 2.0, struct_levels_to_print,
     "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
@@ -1565,7 +1605,13 @@
 @end defvr");
 
   DEFVAR (warn_divide_by_zero, 1.0, warn_divide_by_zero,
-    "if TRUE, warn about division by zero");
+    "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
+@defvr {Built-in Variable} warn_divide_by_zero\n\
+If the value of @code{warn_divide_by_zero} is nonzero, a warning\n\
+is issued when Octave encounters a division by zero.  If the value is\n\
+0, the warning is omitted.  The default value is 1.\n\
+@end defvr");
+
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/src/parse.y b/src/parse.y
--- a/src/parse.y
+++ b/src/parse.y
@@ -3072,10 +3072,12 @@
 }
 
 DEFUN (source, args, ,
-  "source (FILE)\n\
-\n\
-Parse and execute the contents of FILE.  Like executing commands in a\n\
-script file but without requiring the file to be named `FILE.m'.")
+  "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
+@deftypefn {Built-in Function} {} source (@var{file})\n\
+Parse and execute the contents of @var{file}.  This is equivalent to\n\
+executing commands from a script file, but without requiring the file to\n\
+be named @file{@var{file}.m}.\n\
+@end deftypefn")
 {
   octave_value_list retval;
 
@@ -3156,9 +3158,26 @@
 }
 
 DEFUN (feval, args, nargout,
-  "feval (NAME, ARGS, ...)\n\
+  "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
+@deftypefn {Built-in Function} {} feval (@var{name}, @dots{})\n\
+Evaluate the function named @var{name}.  Any arguments after the first\n\
+are passed on to the named function.  For example,\n\
+\n\
+@example\n\
+feval (\"acos\", -1)\n\
+     @result{} 3.1416\n\
+@end example\n\
 \n\
-evaluate NAME as a function, passing ARGS as its arguments")
+@noindent\n\
+calls the function @code{acos} with the argument @samp{-1}.\n\
+\n\
+The function @code{feval} is necessary in order to be able to write\n\
+functions that call user-supplied functions, because Octave does not\n\
+have a way to declare a pointer to a function (like C) or to declare a\n\
+special kind of variable that can be used to hold the name of a function\n\
+(like @code{EXTERNAL} in Fortran).  Instead, you must refer to functions\n\
+by name, and use @code{feval} to call them.\n\
+@end deftypefn")
 {
   octave_value_list retval;
 
@@ -3248,10 +3267,37 @@
 }
 
 DEFUN (eval, args, nargout,
-  "eval (TRY, CATCH)\n\
+  "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
+@deftypefn {Built-in Function} {} eval (@var{try}, @var{catch})\n\
+Parse the string @var{try} and evaluate it as if it were an Octave\n\
+program, returning the last value computed.  If that fails, evaluate\n\
+the string @var{catch}.  The string @var{try} is evaluated in the\n\
+current context, so any results remain available after @code{eval}\n\
+returns.  For example,\n\
+\n\
+@example\n\
+@group\n\
+eval (\"a = 13\")\n\
+     @print{} a = 13\n\
+     @result{} 13\n\
+@end group\n\
+@end example\n\
 \n\
-Evaluate the string TRY as octave code.  If that fails, evaluate the\n\
-string CATCH.")
+In this case, the value of the evaluated expression is printed and it is\n\
+also returned returned from @code{eval}.  Just as with any other\n\
+expression, you can turn printing off by ending the expression in a\n\
+semicolon.  For example,\n\
+\n\
+@example\n\
+eval (\"a = 13;\")\n\
+     @result{} 13\n\
+@end example\n\
+\n\
+In this example, the variable @code{a} has been given the value 13, but\n\
+the value of the expression is not printed.  You can also turn off\n\
+automatic printing for all expressions executed by @code{eval} using the\n\
+variable @code{default_eval_print_flag}.\n\
+@end deftypefn")
 {
   octave_value_list retval;
 
@@ -3350,8 +3396,12 @@
 symbols_of_parse (void)
 {
   DEFVAR (default_eval_print_flag, 1.0, default_eval_print_flag,
-    "If the value of this variable is nonzero, Octave will print the\n\
-results of commands executed by eval() that do not end with semicolons.");
+    "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
+@defvr {Built-in Variable} default_eval_print_flag\n\
+If the value of this variable is nonzero, Octave prints the results of\n\
+commands executed by @code{eval} that do not end with semicolons.  If it\n\
+is zero, automatic printing is suppressed.  The default value is 1.\n\
+@end defvr");
 
   DEFVAR (warn_assign_as_truth_value, 1.0, warn_assign_as_truth_value,
     "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
@@ -3418,14 +3468,25 @@
 @end defvr");
 
   DEFVAR (warn_function_name_clash, 1.0, warn_function_name_clash,
-    "produce warning if function name conflicts with file name");
+    "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
+@defvr {Built-in Variable} warn_function_name_clash\n\
+If the value of @code{warn_function_name_clash} is nonzero, a warning is\n\
+issued when Octave finds that the name of a function defined in a\n\
+function file differs from the name of the file.  (If the names\n\
+disagree, the name declared inside the file is ignored.)  If the value\n\
+is 0, the warning is omitted.  The default value is 1.\n\
+@end defvr");
 
   DEFVAR (warn_future_time_stamp, 1.0, warn_future_time_stamp,
     "warn if a function file has a time stamp that is in the future");
 
   DEFVAR (warn_missing_semicolon, 0.0, warn_missing_semicolon,
-    "produce a warning if a statement in a function file is not\n\
-terminated with a semicolon");
+    "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
+@defvr {Built-in Variable} warn_missing_semicolon\n\
+If the value of this variable is nonzero, Octave will warn when\n\
+statements in function definitions don't end in semicolons.  The default\n\
+value is 0.\n\
+@end defvr");
 
   DEFVAR (warn_variable_switch_label, 0.0, warn_variable_switch_label,
     "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
diff --git a/src/pt-stmt.cc b/src/pt-stmt.cc
--- a/src/pt-stmt.cc
+++ b/src/pt-stmt.cc
@@ -190,7 +190,26 @@
 symbols_of_pt_stmt (void)
 {
   DEFVAR (silent_functions, 0.0, silent_functions,
-    "suppress printing results in called functions");
+    "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
+@defvr {Built-in Variable} silent_functions\n\
+If the value of @code{silent_functions} is nonzero, internal output\n\
+from a function is suppressed.  Otherwise, the results of expressions\n\
+within a function body that are not terminated with a semicolon will\n\
+have their values printed.  The default value is 0.\n\
+\n\
+For example, if the function\n\
+\n\
+@example\n\
+function f ()\n\
+  2 + 2\n\
+endfunction\n\
+@end example\n\
+\n\
+@noindent\n\
+is executed, Octave will either print @samp{ans = 4} or nothing\n\
+depending on the value of @code{silent_functions}.\n\
+@end defvr");
+
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/src/variables.cc b/src/variables.cc
--- a/src/variables.cc
+++ b/src/variables.cc
@@ -1311,8 +1311,22 @@
     "");
 
   DEFVAR (ignore_function_time_stamp, "system", ignore_function_time_stamp,
-    "don't check to see if function files have changed since they were\n\
-last compiled.  Possible values are \"system\" and \"all\"");
+    "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
+@defvr {Built-in Variable} ignore_function_time_stamp\n\
+This variable can be used to prevent Octave from making the system call\n\
+@code{stat} each time it looks up functions defined in function files.\n\
+If @code{ignore_function_time_stamp} to @code{\"system\"}, Octave will not\n\
+automatically recompile function files in subdirectories of\n\
+@file{@var{octave-home}/lib/@var{version}} if they have changed since\n\
+they were last compiled, but will recompile other function files in the\n\
+@code{LOADPATH} if they change.  If set to @code{\"all\"}, Octave will not\n\
+recompile any function files unless their definitions are removed with\n\
+@code{clear}.  For any other value of @code{ignore_function_time_stamp},\n\
+Octave will always check to see if functions defined in function files\n\
+need to recompiled.  The default value of @code{ignore_function_time_stamp} is\n\
+@code{\"system\"}.\n\
+@end defvr");
+
 }
 
 /*