jslove@starch.enet.dec.com (J. Spencer Love; DTN 237[508-841]-2751; SHR1-3/E29 [A26] 08-Jan-1990 2231) (01/09/90)
The key is "modified buffers with pathnames". You can associate a pathname with a buffer by using ^X^W, or by creating it with ^X^F. If you create a buffer with ^Xb, it has a name but no pathname. Emacs doesn't know that it is associated with a file. This is a feature, because otherwise all sorts of buffers like *Help* would complain on exit. Use the right tool for the job. -- Spencer
kjones@talos.uu.net (Kyle Jones) (01/09/90)
J. Spencer Love writes: > The key is "modified buffers with pathnames". > > You can associate a pathname with a buffer by using ^X^W, or by creating it > with ^X^F. If you create a buffer with ^Xb, it has a name but no pathname. > Emacs doesn't know that it is associated with a file. This is a feature, > because otherwise all sorts of buffers like *Help* would complain on > exit. The above advice is sound, but since this is a technical newsgroup I feel compelled to point out that the Lisp variable buffer-offer-save controls whether Emacs will offer to save a buffer not associated with a file. Quoth C-h v buffer-offer-save, buffer-offer-save's value is nil Documentation: *Non-nil in a buffer means offer to save the buffer on exit even if the buffer is not visiting a file. Automatically local in all buffers. If you want Emacs to query about ALL modified buffers before exiting, put the following line in your .emacs file: (setq-default buffer-offer-save t) You won't be nagged with questions about *Help* & friends because Emacs is careful to mark these buffers unmodified before presenting them. kyle jones <kjones@talos.uu.net> ...!uunet!talos!kjones "Give your analytical hemisphere a break now and then... it's both a candy *and* a breath mint!" --- Cam Spillman
catlin@ALLIANT.MCS.ANL.GOV (Bob Catlin) (01/10/90)
Your point is well taken. "Tools for fools" and all that. I'm aware of ^X^W and ^X^F, but I guess I was looking for something a little more mindless. I have developed some perhaps bad habits. Often I'll have several buffers open, since I code different but interdependent code sections in different files...some new, some old...and it takes a little extra effort, but not an extrordinary one, to rementb (oops) remember which is which, etc. Well, thanks for taking the time to reply. I'll use ^X^B to check on status and more ^X^W's. If you happen to come up with a more cohesive set of ^X's for future releases that's great, but I guess I'd rather not have a bunch of new and obscure features added for people like me. GNU emacs is a good piece of software. Thanx. Bob