Re: TODO: insert-file should warn if the file is modified

[Kim F. Storm]

address@hidden (Pavel Janík) writes:

>    From: Richard Stallman <address@hidden>
>    Date: Sat, 20 Apr 2002 11:26:30 -0600 (MDT)
> 
>    >       (let ((buffer (file-is-modified-somewhere filename)))
>    >  (if (or (not buffer)
>    >          (y-or-n-p (format "File %s is modified in buffer %s. Insert it? 
> " filename buffer)))
>    > 
>    > The code looks good, but the message might be misunderstood.
>    > "It" is ambiguous1  Be VERY careful about using pronouns
>    > in writing, and especially in short statements like that one.
>    > 
>    >   File %s is being edited.  Insert the file anyway?
>    > 
>    > would be a clearer message.
> 
> Yes.
> 
>    > It is better not to include the buffer name, because that will usually
>    > give no additional information and will make the message longer.  One
>    > possible approach is to include the buffer name only when it is
>    > different from the file's name.
> 
> I think that this is not enough. Try this:
> 
> address@hidden:/tmp/em> LANG=C ls -lR
> .:
> total 8
> drwxr-xr-x    2 pavel    users        4096 Apr 20 20:07 1
> drwxr-xr-x    2 pavel    users        4096 Apr 20 20:07 2
> 
> ./1:
> total 4
> -rw-r--r--    1 pavel    users           3 Apr 20 20:07 file
> 
> ./2:
> total 0
> lrwxrwxrwx    1 pavel    users           9 Apr 20 20:07 file -> ../1/file
> 
> User will edit 2/file in Emacs in buffer `file'. He can not insert file
> 1/file, because 2/file is edited in the buffer with the same name as the
> filename and he will not be warned of the buffer. On the other hand: the
> file can be edited in more than one buffer.
> 
>    > KFS suggested offering to insert the buffer.  That is a good idea
>    > provided the questions asked seem natural and not inconvenient.
> 
> Which buffer? The first one we find is editing that file? There can be
> many of them...

I think that in practice, there is rarely more than one buffer.

The response could be more advanced, like

        File %s is being edited.  Insert file anyway? [ynvb?]

where answering y inserts the file, n doesn't, v visits the buffer
containing the edited file, b inserts the edited buffer, and ?
explains these options.

-- 
Kim F. Storm <address@hidden> http://www.cua.dk