Re: slight 'rm --help' confusion

[Jim Meyering]

Thanks for the suggestion.
I've just made these changes:

        * src/rm.c (usage): Mention that --recursive removes listed
        directories too, not just their contents.
        Say that by default, rm does not remove directories.

        * coreutils.texi (rm invocation): Say that --recursive removes
        listed directories too, not just their contents.

Index: rm.c
===================================================================
RCS file: /fetish/cu/src/rm.c,v
retrieving revision 1.131
diff -u -p -r1.131 rm.c
--- rm.c        21 Sep 2004 22:10:39 -0000      1.131
+++ rm.c        9 Apr 2005 09:27:26 -0000
@@ -117,11 +117,16 @@ Remove (unlink) the FILE(s).\n\
       fputs (_("\
       --no-preserve-root do not treat `/' specially (the default)\n\
       --preserve-root   fail to operate recursively on `/'\n\
-  -r, -R, --recursive   remove the contents of directories recursively\n\
+  -r, -R, --recursive   remove directories and their contents recursively\n\
   -v, --verbose         explain what is being done\n\
 "), stdout);
       fputs (HELP_OPTION_DESCRIPTION, stdout);
       fputs (VERSION_OPTION_DESCRIPTION, stdout);
+      fputs (_("\
+\n\
+By default, rm does not remove directories.  Use the --recursive (-r or -R)\n\
+option to remove each listed directory, too, along with all of its contents.\n\
+"), stdout);
       printf (_("\
 \n\
 To remove a file whose name starts with a `-', for example `-foo',\n\

Index: doc/coreutils.texi
===================================================================
RCS file: /fetish/cu/doc/coreutils.texi,v
retrieving revision 1.248
retrieving revision 1.249
diff -u -p -u -r1.248 -r1.249
--- doc/coreutils.texi  9 Apr 2005 04:51:52 -0000       1.248
+++ doc/coreutils.texi  9 Apr 2005 11:56:55 -0000       1.249
@@ -7265,7 +7265,7 @@ Cancel the effect of any preceding @opti
 @opindex -R
 @opindex --recursive
 @cindex directories, removing (recursively)
-Remove the contents of directories recursively.
+Remove the listed directories and their contents recursively.
 
 @item -v
 @itemx --verbose