Creating automatic filename stamps

Creating automatic filename stamps

[Alan E. Davis]

Some years ago---in the early 90s---I was working on a project with a
number of files, moving files around and renaming.  I was able to cobble
together an elisp function to duplicate and extend the time-stamp
functionality, to good effect, to help me keep track of the sources of
changes.

   - Time-stamp the flle
   - Duplicate the previous time-stamp on the next line, (possibly in a
list)
   - "File-stamp": record the current file name
   -  Add the previous filename on the previous line, possibly as the head
of a list of all previous names for this file.

I need this functionality all the time, but I have lost the old
implementation.  It must have been simple, because I knew almost no elisp
at all.  But I believe I stole the "Time-stamp:" code, and modified it.

For years I have tried to locate another implementation.  It seems so
pivotal, to me, that I imagine others have implemented it, probably better
than I had.

I have given it a try, but have not even gotten close.  I would be grateful
for any suggestions how to go about implementing this functionality.

Alan Davis

-- 
[Fill in the blanks]

The use of corrupt manipulations and blatant rhetorical ploys ...---
outright lying, flagwaving, personal attacks, setting up phony
alternatives, misdirection, jargon-mongering, evading key issues, feigning
disinterested objectivity, willful misunderstanding of other points of
view---suggests that ... lacks both credibility and evidence.

             ---- Edward Tufte (in context of making presentations)

RE: Creating automatic filename stamps

[Drew Adams]

> Some years ago---in the early 90s---I was working on a project with a
> number of files, moving files around and renaming.  I was able to cobble
> together an elisp function to duplicate and extend the time-stamp
> functionality, to good effect, to help me keep track of the sources of
> changes.
> 
>    - Time-stamp the flle
>    - Duplicate the previous time-stamp on the next line, (possibly in a
> list)
>    - "File-stamp": record the current file name
>    -  Add the previous filename on the previous line, possibly as the head
> of a list of all previous names for this file.

Does this page help?

https://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/TimeStamp

Re: Creating automatic filename stamps

[Alan E. Davis]

Drew:

Thank you for that pointer.  I haven't gotten far in running this down, but
I have discovered that the file you pointed to is different the another
time-stamp.el I have in my cache of old *.el files.  It is very similar,
but that one was written by Stephen Gildea, and it includes a format
parameter for the file name, or even   full-path file name of the current
file.  What I would like to do with this is make some changes so that the
current stamp is copied to another (possilby the next) line, before
updating.  If this is well designed, I would be able to track down changes
after the name of the file has been changes.  This has bee useful to me,
many times.

I will continue to fiddle with what I have.  The old verson of
time-stamp.el may or may not be the current canonical implementation.  I
don't know.  Yet.  I do not wish to attach the file I have, dated 2011, but
marked as copyright 2010.  I can provide that file on demand, with the
understanding it is not guaranteed to be the original file, but I don't
believe I have made changes of any consequence.  I does allow definition of
a time stamp format that inserts the file name.

Alan

On Mon, Nov 19, 2018 at 12:45 PM Drew Adams <drew.adams@oracle.com> wrote:

> > Some years ago---in the early 90s---I was working on a project with a
> > number of files, moving files around and renaming.  I was able to cobble
> > together an elisp function to duplicate and extend the time-stamp
> > functionality, to good effect, to help me keep track of the sources of
> > changes.
> >
> >    - Time-stamp the flle
> >    - Duplicate the previous time-stamp on the next line, (possibly in a
> > list)
> >    - "File-stamp": record the current file name
> >    -  Add the previous filename on the previous line, possibly as the
> head
> > of a list of all previous names for this file.
>
> Does this page help?
>
> https://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/TimeStamp
>


-- 
[Fill in the blanks]

The use of corrupt manipulations and blatant rhetorical ploys ...---
outright lying, flagwaving, personal attacks, setting up phony
alternatives, misdirection, jargon-mongering, evading key issues, feigning
disinterested objectivity, willful misunderstanding of other points of
view---suggests that ... lacks both credibility and evidence.

             ---- Edward Tufte (in context of making presentations)

RE: Creating automatic filename stamps

[Drew Adams]

> Thank you for that pointer.  I haven't gotten far
> in running this down, but I have discovered that
> the file you pointed to is different the another
> time-stamp.el I have in my cache of old *.el files....

Sorry; I don't know more about this than that there
is an Emacs Wiki page that deals with the topic.
You might want to post your questions about it there,
as well.  To do that, click "Talk" at the left of
the page footer, and leave a comment with your question.