Re: [O] starting a clock when not in org-mode

[Sebastien Vauban]

Hi Eric,

Eric S Fraga wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have been using the clocking features of org mode more and more as
> time goes on.  Brilliant feature.  However, I am having problems with
> one specific use case:
>
> The org-clock-in method works very well when I am pro-actively deciding
> what tasks to work on, e.g. through the agenda view.  However, in some
> cases, I am reacting to external events (emails, somebody coming to see
> me, phone call, etc).  I have a number of tasks which are more general
> and which capture this type of activity (admin, teaching, ...).  If I
> happen to be in an org mode buffer, then "C-u M-x org-clock-in RET"
> allows me to pick the particular task (as it will typically be in the
> history) and clock it in.  Works well.
>
> If I am *not* in an org buffer (yes, this happens sometimes ;-), I
> cannot do this as org-clock-in, even with the C-u arg, wants to find a
> headline.  Can anybody suggest how I can clock in to a previously
> clocked task from any emacs mode?

My solution is to use C-c C-x C-j, eventually with C-u prefix, from any Emacs
buffer, thanks to:

#+begin_src emacs-lisp
  (global-set-key (kbd "C-c C-x C-j") 'org-clock-goto)
#+end_src

This is sometimes bound locally by some modes. Then, I disable it locally:

#+begin_src emacs-lisp
  ;; remove the binding of `C-c C-x', used by Org timeclocking commands
  (add-hook 'nxml-mode-hook
            (lambda ()
              (define-key nxml-mode-map (kbd "C-c C-x") nil)))
#+end_src

> My current solution is to tag these general catch-all tasks
> with :clocked:, use the agenda search (C-c a m clocked), select the
> appropriate one and start the clock.  This seems clumsy and doesn't make
> use of the history feature of org clocking, which seems a waste!
>
> I have read Bernt's excellent document [1] but it doesn't help me for
> this particular use.  I've also searched the mailing list but to no
> avail unfortunately.

Does this help?

Best regards,
  Seb

-- 
Sébastien Vauban