Lynx is started by writing lynx filename.html at the prompt. Lynx also read plain textfiles, but it is made to handle html documents.
The basic help is displayed at the bottom of each lynx page. Read it, and try out the different options. Here they are:
---------------------------------------------------------------- Arrow keys: Up and Down to move. Right to follow a link; Left to go back. H)elp O)ptions P)rint G)o M)ain screen Q)uit /=search [delete]=history list ----------------------------------------------------------------
The best way of getting to know lynx is thus to press the h key, so this page will be kept short. Just some advices to get you started:
In order to be easy to use, lynx should show links as numbers. If the links you see are not numbered (like this: [4]), you should change the lynx settings. Do this:
Press the key o (for "option"), go down to "keypad mode" under "Keyboard input". Press enter, and chose "Links are numbered". Use the arrow keys and go back up to the top of the document, tick the option "Save options to disk", and go then to "Accept changes" and press enter. Now, the links should be numbered, and they can be accessed by printing the appropriate number and pressing enter.
As the basic help says, the arrow keys are the most important ones. On some terminal connections, it may be tricky to get the arrow keys working as they should. If you are in such a position (arrows do not work), there are workarounds (TAB to move, enter to follow link, and Backspace to get a list of previously visited sites). This is cumbersome, but not impossible, I lived with my Lynx like that because I couldn't find a guru to help me with the keyboard settings. Don't give up like I did, try to find someone to fix the keyboard settings for you so that the arrow keys will work. For scrolling down, press space or PgDn, for scrolling up, press - (dash, to the right of . on Nordic keyboards) or PgUp.
Lynx is an excellent browser, but it has one weakness: It cannot read tables. If you need to read tables (e.g. for the documentation on the testing interface, or on Southern Sami, you need links, a browser that is very much like lynx.