1

I'm trying to open Deft in the left sidebar using this code:

(setq display-buffer-alist
       '(("*Deft*"
          (display-buffer-in-side-window)
          (window-width . 0.25)
          (side . left)
          (slot . 0))))

This is not working and every time I call M-x deft, it shows in the main window.

What's wrong with my code? Has anyone had success in running Deft in the sidebar?

lecodesportif
  • 139
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1 Answers1

2

Here's the definition of deft (version 20210101.1519 on MELPA)

(defun deft ()
  "Switch to *Deft* buffer and load files."
  (interactive)
  (switch-to-buffer deft-buffer)
  (if (not (eq major-mode 'deft-mode))
      (deft-mode)))

So it uses your current window, then switch to a buffer with a name of the value of deft-buffer variable, "\*Deft\*" by default, then call deft-mode. This means that it doesn't create a new window, so setting display-buffer-alist does nothing. (Hope this is clear enough.)

You can probably write this in function advice, I prefer to not do this because of reasons. So here is a new function

(defun deft-side-window ()
  (interactive)
  (let ((dummy-buf (generate-new-buffer deft-buffer)))
    (with-current-buffer dummy-buf
      (deft-mode))
    (display-buffer dummy-buf)))

Firstly, it creates a new buffer named after the variable deft-buffer, call deft-mode then having Emacs try to display it, with this, it respects your display-buffer-alist.

Here's another version with your window rules if you want to do it manually.

(defun deft-side-window ()
  (interactive)
  (let ((dummy-buf (generate-new-buffer deft-buffer)))
    (with-current-buffer dummy-buf
      (deft-mode))
    (display-buffer-in-side-window dummy-buf
                   '((side . left)
                 (slot . 0)
                 (window-width . 0.25))))))

I messed up the formatting but it works! Hope this helps.

C11g
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