Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[Markus Heller]

Hello,

I just installed Emacs 22.3 under Win XP using the precompiled
binary.  Everything works, my _emacs is read and all customization
such as AuCTeX works fine.

the only thing that's being ignored is the line

(setq default-directory "h:")

which works fine in Emacs 22.1.

Any idea as to why and how I can define my home directory?

Thanks and Cheers
Markus

PS:  Here's the message buffer after staring emacs:

("C:\\Program Files\\emacs-22.3\\bin\\emacs.exe")
Loading encoded-kb...done
Loading c:/Program Files/emacs-22.3/site-lisp/tex-site.el
(source)...done
Loading easy-mmode...done
Loading paren...done
For information about GNU Emacs and the GNU system, type C-h C-a.

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[TomSW]

On Jun 25, 8:47 pm, Markus Heller <helle...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I just installed Emacs 22.3 under Win XP using the precompiled
> binary.  Everything works, my _emacs is read and all customization
> such as AuCTeX works fine.
>
> the only thing that's being ignored is the line
>
> (setq default-directory "h:")

How do you know it's being ignored? What's happening that you don't
expect?

regards,
Tom SW

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[Markus Heller]

On Jun 25, 2:03 pm, TomSW <tom.weissm...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jun 25, 8:47 pm, Markus Heller <helle...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Hello,
>
> > I just installed Emacs 22.3 under Win XP using the precompiled
> > binary.  Everything works, my _emacs is read and all customization
> > such as AuCTeX works fine.
>
> > the only thing that's being ignored is the line
>
> > (setq default-directory "h:")
>
> How do you know it's being ignored? What's happening that you don't
> expect?
>
> regards,
> Tom SW

Because C-x C-f doesn't point to h:, but to where emacs is installed:

Find file: C:\Program Files\emacs-22.3\bin/

If I do the same in emacs-22.1, C-x C-f gets me to:

Find file: h:/

Cheers
Markus

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[Eli Zaretskii]

> From: Markus Heller <hellerm2@gmail.com>
> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:47:30 -0700 (PDT)
> 
> I just installed Emacs 22.3 under Win XP using the precompiled
> binary.  Everything works, my _emacs is read and all customization
> such as AuCTeX works fine.
> 
> the only thing that's being ignored is the line
> 
> (setq default-directory "h:")
> 
> which works fine in Emacs 22.1.

Does it work if you start Emacs with the -Q switch, then load your
_emacs with "M-x load-file RET"?

> Any idea as to why and how I can define my home directory?

If "H:\" is your home, then set the HOME environment variable to
something like "H:\".

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[Markus Heller]

On Jun 25, 11:57 pm, Eli Zaretskii <e...@gnu.org> wrote:
> > From: Markus Heller <helle...@gmail.com>
> > Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:47:30 -0700 (PDT)
>
> > I just installed Emacs 22.3 under Win XP using the precompiled
> > binary.  Everything works, my _emacs is read and all customization
> > such as AuCTeX works fine.
>
> > the only thing that's being ignored is the line
>
> > (setq default-directory "h:")
>
> > which works fine in Emacs 22.1.
>
> Does it work if you start Emacs with the -Q switch, then load your
> _emacs with "M-x load-file RET"?

Yes it does.  Any way I can incorporate this in my _emacs?

> > Any idea as to why and how I can define my home directory?
>
> If "H:\" is your home, then set the HOME environment variable to
> something like "H:\".

H: is not my home directory, it's where all my data are stored.  I
cannot change this, as I'm in a corporate network.

Thanks
Markus

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[Edward O'Connor]

> (setq default-directory "h:")

Does replacing that with

(cd "h:")

do the right thing?

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[Markus Heller]

On Fri, Jun 26, 2009 at 3:04 PM, Edward O'Connor<hober0@gmail.com> wrote:
>> (setq default-directory "h:")
>
> Does replacing that with
>
> (cd "h:")
>
> do the right thing?
>

No.  Message buffer out put is at the end of this message.

Again, the thing that puzzles me is that (setq default-directory "h:")
works in Emacs-22.1, but not in 22.3.  I guess I'll just use 22.3 and
change directory manually ...

And I should clarify one thing, based on what Eli wrote.  "h:" is
*not* my HOME, HOME is identified correctly as   c:/Documents and
Settings/mheller:.  "h:" is where all my data are stored, that's why I
would like it to be the place that C-x C-f takes me to.  Sorry if I
caused confusion ...

Thanks anyway!

Markus

PS:  Content of *messages* after replacing (setq default-directory
"h:") with (cd "h:")

("C:\\Program Files\\emacs-22.3\\bin\\emacs.exe")
Loading encoded-kb...done
Loading c:/Program Files/emacs-22.3/site-lisp/tex-site.el (source)...done


An error has occurred while loading `c:/Documents and Settings/mheller/_emacs':

error: No such directory found via CDPATH environment variable

To ensure normal operation, you should investigate and remove the
cause of the error in your initialization file.  Start Emacs with
the `--debug-init' option to view a complete error backtrace.

For information about GNU Emacs and the GNU system, type C-h C-a.

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[Markus Heller]

On Fri, Jun 26, 2009 at 3:31 PM, Edward O'Connor<hober0@gmail.com> wrote:
> The shortcut that you use to launch Emacs, right click on it and pick
> Properties. Notice the "Start in" field? Change that to H:\ and see
> what happens.


Edward,

thanks a lot, that works!!!

It's only needed for 22.3 tho, for my 22.1 the ``Start in'' is still
"C:\Program Files\emacs-22.1\bin", but who cares, it's working now :)

Cheers, and have a nice weekend!

Markus

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[TomSW]

On Jun 27, 12:21 am, Markus Heller <helle...@gmail.com> wrote:

> PS:  Content of *messages* after replacing (setq default-directory
> "h:") with (cd "h:")
[...]
> error: No such directory found via CDPATH environment variable

That's the giveaway. (cd "h:/") will work, as will (setq default-
directory "h:/")

There are also various ways to make it easier to get to the files you
want, for example, speedbar-mode, savehist-mode, ido-mode (my
favourite). You could also open various directories on startup, or use
desktop-save-mode to save Emacs' state between sessions.

Regards,
Tom SW.

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[Peter Dyballa]

Am 27.06.2009 um 00:21 schrieb Markus Heller:

> An error has occurred while loading `c:/Documents and Settings/ 
> mheller/_emacs':
>
> error: No such directory found via CDPATH environment variable

Are you setting a CDPATH environment variable in your init file?  
Since it only is of concern for an interactive shell it's better put  
into _emacs_<shell interpreter's name> ...

--
Mit reisefreudigen Grüßen

   Pete

Wer nicht weiß, wo er oder sie hin will, muss sich nicht wundern,  
wenn er oder sie nicht ankommt ...
                                         (Mark Twain)

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[Eli Zaretskii]

> From: Markus Heller <hellerm2@gmail.com>
> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:42:12 -0700 (PDT)
> 
> On Jun 25, 11:57 pm, Eli Zaretskii <e...@gnu.org> wrote:
> > > From: Markus Heller <helle...@gmail.com>
> > > Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:47:30 -0700 (PDT)
> >
> > > I just installed Emacs 22.3 under Win XP using the precompiled
> > > binary.  Everything works, my _emacs is read and all customization
> > > such as AuCTeX works fine.
> >
> > > the only thing that's being ignored is the line
> >
> > > (setq default-directory "h:")
> >
> > > which works fine in Emacs 22.1.
> >
> > Does it work if you start Emacs with the -Q switch, then load your
> > _emacs with "M-x load-file RET"?
> 
> Yes it does.  Any way I can incorporate this in my _emacs?

Perhaps run it from one of the -hook variables provided by
startup.el.  It could be that this setting needs to be run later than
it is if simply put at top level of your _emacs file.

> > > Any idea as to why and how I can define my home directory?
> >
> > If "H:\" is your home, then set the HOME environment variable to
> > something like "H:\".
> 
> H: is not my home directory, it's where all my data are stored.

Well, you did say (above) "how can I define my home directory?"

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[Markus Heller]

On Jun 27, 2:27 am, Eli Zaretskii <e...@gnu.org> wrote:
> > From: Markus Heller <helle...@gmail.com>
> > Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:42:12 -0700 (PDT)
>
> > On Jun 25, 11:57 pm, Eli Zaretskii <e...@gnu.org> wrote:
> > > > From: Markus Heller <helle...@gmail.com>
> > > > Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:47:30 -0700 (PDT)
>
> > > > I just installed Emacs 22.3 under Win XP using the precompiled
> > > > binary.  Everything works, my _emacs is read and all customization
> > > > such as AuCTeX works fine.
>
> > > > the only thing that's being ignored is the line
>
> > > > (setq default-directory "h:")
>
> > > > which works fine in Emacs 22.1.
>
> > > Does it work if you start Emacs with the -Q switch, then load your
> > > _emacs with "M-x load-file RET"?
>
> > Yes it does.  Any way I can incorporate this in my _emacs?
>
> Perhaps run it from one of the -hook variables provided by
> startup.el.  It could be that this setting needs to be run later than
> it is if simply put at top level of your _emacs file.
>
> > > > Any idea as to why and how I can define my home directory?
>
> > > If "H:\" is your home, then set the HOME environment variable to
> > > something like "H:\".
>
> > H: is not my home directory, it's where all my data are stored.
>
> Well, you did say (above) "how can I define my home directory?"

Yep, I know.  That's why I clarified it in another post.  Sorry for
the confusion!

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[Markus Heller]

On Sat, Jun 27, 2009 at 1:23 AM, Peter Dyballa<Peter_Dyballa@web.de> wrote:
>
> Am 27.06.2009 um 00:21 schrieb Markus Heller:
>
>> An error has occurred while loading `c:/Documents and
>> Settings/mheller/_emacs':
>>
>> error: No such directory found via CDPATH environment variable
>
> Are you setting a CDPATH environment variable in your init file? Since it
> only is of concern for an interactive shell it's better put into
> _emacs_<shell interpreter's name> ...

Nope, at least not that I'm aware of.  Below is my _emacs ...  Maybe
that'll help.  I primarily use emacs for LaTeX, and I'm not exactly
knowledgeable with all its mighty configurations.

Thanks and Cheers
Markus

;;
;; set default directory
;;
(setq default-directory "h:")
;;
;; line numbers
;;
(require 'linum)
(add-hook 'find-file-hook (lambda () (linum-mode 1)))
;;
;; load AUCTeX (Posting by Uwe Siart .emacs Probleme in dctt)
;;
(load "auctex.el" nil t t)
(load "preview-latex.el" nil t t)
;; require MikTeX installation
;;
(require 'tex-mik)
;;
;; activate document parsing as described in AUCTeX manual
;;
(setq TeX-auto-save t)
(setq TeX-parse-self t)
(setq-default TeX-master nil)
;;
;; activate RefTeX
;;
(add-hook 'LaTeX-mode-hook 'turn-on-reftex)
;(add-hook 'latex-mode-hook 'turn-on-reftex)
(setq reftex-plug-into-AUCTeX t)
;;
(add-hook 'LaTeX-mode-hook 'turn-on-auto-fill)
(add-hook 'text-mode-hook 'flyspell-mode)
;;
;; align arrays at separators (&)
(add-hook 'LaTeX-mode-hook
   (function
    (lambda ()
     (define-key LaTeX-mode-map "\C-c\C-a"
      'align-current))))
;;
;; activate org mode
;;
(add-to-list 'auto-mode-alist '("\\.org$" . org-mode))
(define-key global-map "\C-cl" 'org-store-link)
(define-key global-map "\C-ca" 'org-agenda)
;;
;;
;;
(custom-set-variables
  ;; custom-set-variables was added by Custom.
  ;; If you edit it by hand, you could mess it up, so be careful.
  ;; Your init file should contain only one such instance.
  ;; If there is more than one, they won't work right.
 '(TeX-output-view-style (quote (("^dvi$"
"^pstricks$\\|^pst-\\|^psfrag$" "dvips %d -o && start \"\" %f")
("^dvi$" "." "yap -1 %dS %d") ("^pdf$" "." "gsview32.exe %o")
("^html?$" "." "start \"\" %o"))))
 '(blink-cursor-mode nil)
 '(ispell-extra-args (quote ("-t")))
 '(ispell-program-name "ispell")
 '(show-paren-mode t)
 '(text-mode-hook (quote (turn-on-auto-fill flyspell-mode
text-mode-hook-identify)))
 '(tool-bar-mode nil))
;;
(custom-set-faces
  ;; custom-set-faces was added by Custom.
  ;; If you edit it by hand, you could mess it up, so be careful.
  ;; Your init file should contain only one such instance.
  ;; If there is more than one, they won't work right.
;; '(default ((t (:stipple nil :background "SystemWindow" :foreground
"SystemWindowText" :inverse-video nil :box nil :strike-through nil
:overline nil :underline nil :slant normal :weight normal :height 96
:width normal :family "raster-dina"))))
 (set-default-font
"-outline-Consolas-normal-r-normal-normal-17-*-120-120-c-*-iso8859-1")
 '(font-latex-sectioning-0-face ((t (:inherit font-latex-sectioning-1-face))))
 '(font-latex-sectioning-1-face ((t (:inherit font-latex-sectioning-2-face))))
 '(font-latex-sectioning-2-face ((t (:inherit font-latex-sectioning-3-face))))
 '(font-latex-sectioning-3-face ((t (:inherit font-latex-sectioning-4-face))))
 '(font-latex-sectioning-4-face ((t (:inherit font-latex-sectioning-5-face))))
;; '(font-latex-sectioning-5-face ((((class color) (background light))
(:inherit default :foreground "blue4" :weight bold :family "Dina"))))
 '(font-latex-sectioning-5-face ((((class color) (background light))
(:inherit default :foreground "blue4" :weight bold :family
"Consolas"))))
 '(linum ((t (:inherit (shadow default) :background "dark grey"
:foreground "yellow")))))


> --
> Mit reisefreudigen Grüßen
>
>  Pete
>
> Wer nicht weiß, wo er oder sie hin will, muss sich nicht wundern, wenn er
> oder sie nicht ankommt ...
>                                        (Mark Twain)
>
>
>
>

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[Markus Heller]

On Jun 27, 1:18 am, TomSW <tom.weissm...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jun 27, 12:21 am, Markus Heller <helle...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > PS:  Content of *messages* after replacing (setq default-directory
> > "h:") with (cd "h:")
> [...]
> > error: No such directory found via CDPATH environment variable
>
> That's the giveaway. (cd "h:/") will work, as will (setq default-
> directory "h:/")
>
> There are also various ways to make it easier to get to the files you
> want, for example, speedbar-mode, savehist-mode, ido-mode (my
> favourite). You could also open various directories on startup, or use
> desktop-save-mode to save Emacs' state between sessions.
>
> Regards,
> Tom SW.

Whew, Tom, thanks for the reply, that's a lot of info to digest.  Will
play around with these modes ...

Thanks
Markus

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[Peter Dyballa]

Am 29.06.2009 um 23:19 schrieb Markus Heller:

> ;; set default directory
> ;;
> (setq default-directory "h:")

Documentation says that the value of default-directory should end  
with a slash…

>
> ;; require MikTeX installation
> ;;
> (require 'tex-mik)

Maybe this one is reading CDPATH? Anyway, a method to find the  
responsible line is to divide the file by commenting out one half.  
When the error is gone, it has to be in this commented half,  
otherwise in the other. Continue dividing until the  cause is found.

--
Mit friedvollen Grüßen

   Pete

We also sponsor National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week  
annually in September.
Join the millions

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[Markus Heller]

On Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 2:43 PM, Peter Dyballa<Peter_Dyballa@web.de> wrote:
>
> Am 29.06.2009 um 23:19 schrieb Markus Heller:
>
>> ;; set default directory
>> ;;
>> (setq default-directory "h:")
>
> Documentation says that the value of default-directory should end with a
> slash…
>
>>
>> ;; require MikTeX installation
>> ;;
>> (require 'tex-mik)
>
> Maybe this one is reading CDPATH? Anyway, a method to find the responsible
> line is to divide the file by commenting out one half. When the error is
> gone, it has to be in this commented half, otherwise in the other. Continue
> dividing until the  cause is found.

I've just reduced my _emacs to only one line:

(setq default-directory "h:/")

so including the slash at the end.  I guess I do not set/read CDPATH,
and yet C-x C-f doesn;t bring me to h:/.

I'm puzzled.

Markus

> --
> Mit friedvollen Grüßen
>
>  Pete
>
> We also sponsor National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week annually
> in September.
> Join the millions
>
>
>
>

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[Peter Dyballa]

Am 29.06.2009 um 23:54 schrieb Markus Heller:

> I've just reduced my _emacs to only one line:
>
> (setq default-directory "h:/")
>
> so including the slash at the end.  I guess I do not set/read CDPATH,
> and yet C-x C-f doesn;t bring me to h:/.


OK, what's left, is that this variable is buffer-local. There exists  
a global value (you've set it), and any buffer you create after your  
init file has been read can have a default-directory value derived  
from HOME or the working directory from which GNU Emacs launched. And  
this local value overrides the global one (therefore it's possible  
that in Bavaria you find so many folks that can't speak German, only  
Bavarian).

My recommendation: create a batch file which first changes working  
directory to H:\ and then launch the real GNU Emacs executable from  
within this batch file and working directory! Then it's very likely  
that the buffers with have set H:\ as default-directory.

--
Greetings

   Pete

When in doubt, use brute force.
				– Ken Thompson

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[Markus Heller]

On Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 3:48 PM, Peter Dyballa<Peter_Dyballa@web.de> wrote:
>
> Am 29.06.2009 um 23:54 schrieb Markus Heller:
>
>> I've just reduced my _emacs to only one line:
>>
>> (setq default-directory "h:/")
>>
>> so including the slash at the end.  I guess I do not set/read CDPATH,
>> and yet C-x C-f doesn;t bring me to h:/.
>
>
> OK, what's left, is that this variable is buffer-local. There exists a
> global value (you've set it), and any buffer you create after your init file
> has been read can have a default-directory value derived from HOME or the
> working directory from which GNU Emacs launched. And this local value
> overrides the global one (therefore it's possible that in Bavaria you find
> so many folks that can't speak German, only Bavarian).

Being from Munich, this is an excellent explanation :)

This must be a difference between 22.1 and 22.3 then ...

> My recommendation: create a batch file which first changes working directory
> to H:\ and then launch the real GNU Emacs executable from within this batch
> file and working directory! Then it's very likely that the buffers with have
> set H:\ as default-directory.

Done, and works.

Thanks for your help!

Cheers
Markus

> --
> Greetings
>
>  Pete
>
> When in doubt, use brute force.
>                                – Ken Thompson
>
>

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[TomSW]

On Jun 29, 11:54 pm, Markus Heller <helle...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I've just reduced my _emacs to only one line:
>
> (setq default-directory "h:/")
>
> so including the slash at the end.  I guess I do not set/read CDPATH,
> and yet C-x C-f doesn;t bring me to h:/.

Sorry Markus, I missed the obvious: the documentation of default-
directory states " Automatically becomes buffer-local when set in any
fashion." - so setting it with setq is not what you want - use (cd
"h:/") instead. I tested (cd "c:") and (cd "c:/") but just the setq
version.

> I'm puzzled.

Me too: default-directory is defined as buffer-local in the C source
code and there's no sign of it having changed between versions.
Perhaps the windows shortcut you used for the older version set the
working directory to h:/ ?

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[Peter Dyballa]

Am 27.06.2009 um 1:18 schrieb TomSW <tom.weissm...@gmail.com>r:

>> You could also open various directories on startup, or use
>> desktop-save-mode to save Emacs' state between sessions.

In combination with session.el I find it very useful since many  
years. Could be session.el isn't needed that much anymore…

--
Mit friedvollen Grüßen

   Pete

Imbecility, n.:
	A kind of divine inspiration, or sacred fire affecting
	censorious critics of this dictionary.
			– Ambrose Bierce: _The Devil's Dictionary_

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[Markus Heller]

On Jun 30, 12:18 am, TomSW <tom.weissm...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jun 29, 11:54 pm, Markus Heller <helle...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I've just reduced my _emacs to only one line:
>
> > (setq default-directory "h:/")
>
> > so including the slash at the end.  I guess I do not set/read CDPATH,
> > and yet C-x C-f doesn;t bring me to h:/.
>
> Sorry Markus, I missed the obvious: the documentation of default-
> directory states " Automatically becomes buffer-local when set in any
> fashion." - so setting it with setq is not what you want - use (cd
> "h:/") instead. I tested (cd "c:") and (cd "c:/") but just the setq
> version.
>
> > I'm puzzled.
>
> Me too: default-directory is defined as buffer-local in the C source
> code and there's no sign of it having changed between versions.
> Perhaps the windows shortcut you used for the older version set the
> working directory to h:/ ?

No, it doesn't.  Here are the properties of the shortcut used for
emacs-22.1:

Target type: Application
Target location: bin
Target: "C:\Program Files\emacs-22.1\bin\runemacs.exe"
Start in: "C:\Program Files\emacs-22.1\bin"
Shortcut key: None
Run: Normal window
Comment: <empty>

Btw, I get the same behavior if I double-click on runemacs.exe:

In 22.1, C-x C-f takes me to h:/, in 22.3, C-x C-f takes me to  C:
\Program Files\emacs-22.3\bin/

Remember, this is after double-clicking runemacs.exe, so no shortcuts
involved.

Cheers
Markus

Re: Emacs 22.3 ignores setq default-directory

[David Combs]

Do give "ntemacs" a try.

Sure works better for me!

David