simple function to prepend a string to a file

simple function to prepend a string to a file

[ken]

Often I want to put the string "<!-- -*- coding: utf-8; -*- -->\n" at
the top of the current buffer.  However, I don't want to lose my place
(the point) or any defined region.  Optimally, such a function would
know the mode of the current buffer and enclose the string in the
mode-appropriate comment characters.  Is there such a function?  If not
how would one code it?

Thanks for your solutions.

-- 
"To make an apple pie from scratch,
first create the universe."
        -- Carl Sagan

Re: simple function to prepend a string to a file

[harven]

ken <gebser@mousecar.com> writes:

> Often I want to put the string "<!-- -*- coding: utf-8; -*- -->\n" at
> the top of the current buffer.  However, I don't want to lose my place
> (the point) or any defined region.  Optimally, such a function would
> know the mode of the current buffer and enclose the string in the
> mode-appropriate comment characters.  Is there such a function?  If not
> how would one code it?
>
> Thanks for your solutions.

The following seems to work.

(defun my-header ()
  "put a commented header at the beginning of the buffer"
  (interactive)
  (save-excursion
    (beginning-of-buffer)
    (let ((start (point)))
      (insert "-*- coding: utf-8; -*-")
      (comment-region start (point))
      (newline))))

Re: simple function to prepend a string to a file

[Johan Bockgård]

harven <harven@free.fr> writes:

>     (beginning-of-buffer)

 "Don't use this command in Lisp programs!
  (goto-char (point-min)) is faster and avoids clobbering the mark."