diff -r b2b3a94b97b3 src/variables.cc
--- a/src/variables.cc	Mon Dec 31 17:07:15 2007 +0100
+++ b/src/variables.cc	Mon Dec 31 17:17:15 2007 +0100
@@ -2230,7 +2230,7 @@ do_matlab_compatible_clear (const string
 
 DEFCMD (clear, args, ,
   "-*- texinfo -*-\n\
address@hidden {Command} clear [-x] pattern @dots{}\n\
address@hidden {Command} clear [options] pattern @dots{}\n\
 Delete the names matching the given patterns from the symbol table.  The\n\
 pattern may contain the following special characters:\n\
 \n\
@@ -2268,7 +2268,24 @@ will clear the variable definition and r
 @code{foo} as a function.  Executing @kbd{clear foo} a second time will\n\
 clear the function definition.\n\
 \n\
-With -x, clear the variables that don't match the patterns.\n\
+The following options are available in both long and short form\n\
address@hidden @code\n\
address@hidden -all, -a\n\
+Clears all local and global user-defined variables and all functions\n\
+from the symbol table.\n\
+\n\
address@hidden -exclusive, -x\n\
+Clears the variables that don't match the following pattern.\n\
+\n\
address@hidden -functions, -f\n\
+Clears the function names and the built-in symbols names.\n\
address@hidden -global, -g\n\
+Clears the global symbol names.\n\
address@hidden -variables, -v\n\
+Clears the local variable names.\n\
address@hidden table\n\
+With the execption of @code{exclusive}, all long options can be used \n\
+without the dash as well.\n\
 @end deffn")
 {
   octave_value_list retval;