How to insert boilerplate code in a file based on the directory in which it is created?

Question

Suppose I have a file dir1/this_file.txt and dir2/this_file.txt, and I want to insert different boilerplate code not based on the file name or extension, but based on the directory in which the file is created. How can I do that?

-- Edit --

Additionally, what if the boilerplate code depends on the filename of the file being created?

If my answer answers your Q, please consider tagging it as the Answer. Thanks. — RichieHH, Feb 16 '20 at 14:14

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited Feb 16 '20 at 14:58

1

As phils said obtain the directory name

(file-name-directory (or buffer-file-name ""))

and then open a boilerplate template in that directory is maybe what you want rather than configure the template code in Emacs itself. I knocked this up and it seems to work.

  (defun insert-boilerplate ()
    (let ((boiler-plate-file (expand-file-name ".boilerplate" (file-name-directory (or buffer-file-name "")))))
      (if (file-exists-p boiler-plate-file)
          (insert-file-contents boiler-plate-file)))
    nil)
  (add-to-list 'find-file-not-found-functions #'insert-boilerplate)

Simply create a .boilerplate file in the directory and it should be good to go.

edited Feb 16 '20 at 14:58

Stefan

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answered Feb 16 '20 at 10:01

RichieHH

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thanks. Always welcome. I'll edit my answer. – RichieHH Feb 16 '20 at 11:25
2

Or just use `(if (file-exists-p ".boilerplate") (insert-file-contents ".boilerplate"))` which will do the same. – Stefan Feb 16 '20 at 15:00
Heh. Indeed. It includes the full path. Noted. – RichieHH Feb 16 '20 at 19:20

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 16 '20 at 07:39

0

You can obtain the directory with:

(file-name-directory (or buffer-file-name ""))

answered Feb 16 '20 at 07:39

phils

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You can also just use `default-directory` which will not *always* be identical, but for all practical purposes it is. – Stefan Feb 16 '20 at 14:57
Heh. Yes, I obviously had a bit of a brain-fade there... – phils Feb 16 '20 at 15:24

How to insert boilerplate code in a file based on the directory in which it is created?

2 Answers2