Re: find-file-noselect

[Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca>]

> (save-excursion
>   (let ((foo (get-buffer (find-file-noselect "/home/drain/foo.org"))))
> 	(set-buffer foo)
> 	(insert "test operation")))

To clarify: in the above, find-file-noselect returns a buffer, so
`get-buffer' just returns its argument.  And save-excursion + set-buffer
is better replaced by with-current-buffer.  All in all:

   (with-current-buffer (find-file-noselect "/home/drain/foo.org")
     (insert "test operation"))

> I want to open a shell buffer, but do not want to select it (so I stay in
> the current buffer). Just like the above, but with the shell instead of
> foo.org.

find-file-noselect re-uses an existing buffer (if there is one).  So if
you want the equivalent for a shell-style buffer, you could try

  (with-current-buffer
      (or (get-buffer "*shell*")
          (make-comint-in-buffer "shell" nil "/bin/bash"))
    (unless (derived-mode-p 'comint-mode) (shell-mode))
    (insert "test operation"))


-- Stefan