How can I change where the customize puts custom-set-variables

Question

Basically I would like to have (custom-set-variables ...) in a seperate file and for me to load that file.

This is just for the purpose of organisation of my init file.

How can I change the default location of custom-set-variables?

Good question. Not enough users make use of `custom-file`, IMO. The Emacs doc should make it more prominent, and even provide for it being used by default, rather than letting Customize pollute the init file. — Drew, Apr 03 '16 at 16:01

score 11 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 03 '16 at 02:18

11

Set the custom-file variable in your init file.

C-hv custom-file RET

answered Apr 03 '16 at 02:18

phils

1

And note that although this is a user option, you probably do not want to count on setting it only using Customize, i.e., setting it in your `custom-file'. ;-) – Drew Apr 03 '16 at 16:00

ideasman42 · Answer 2 · 2020-02-11T23:24:21.320

8

Example of exact text you may want to place in your init.el:

(setq custom-file (concat user-emacs-directory "custom.el"))
(load custom-file 'noerror)

edited Feb 11 '20 at 23:24

answered Jul 14 '17 at 05:37

ideasman42

2 Answers2