How to use a fixed desktop save directory name with desktop-save-mode?

Question

I would like to use a standard desktop save file when using Emacs as a server (with Emacsclient) and use no desktop save file (or optionally, another desktop save file) when running a regular Emacs instance (no server-start command).

Is it possible to use a fixed desktop save directory name with desktop-save-mode?

If I use:

(desktop-save-mode 1)

I have no direct control over where the desktop is saved (though, I think it is saved in ~/.emacs.d/.emacs.desktop).

I tried to add the following to my Emacs init file:

(require 'desktop)
(defvar my-desktop-dir "~/emacs-server")
(when (file-exists-p (desktop-full-file-name my-desktop-dir))
  (desktop-read my-desktop-dir))
(add-hook 'kill-emacs-hook (lambda () (desktop-save my-desktop-dir))))

while this seems to work, I am not sure if desktop auto save will be enabled.. From the manual :

When desktop-save-mode is active and the desktop file exists, Emacs auto-saves it every desktop-auto-save-timeout seconds, if that is non-nil and non-zero.

so in order to make desktop-save-mode active, I have to run (desktop-save-mode 1) in my init file. The problem is that this command then will revert to the desktop stored in ~/.emacs.d, which is not desired.

Håkon Hægland · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-09T13:26:26.150

4

Using (setq desktop-path (list my-desktop-dir)) before calling (desktop-save-mode 1) seems to solve the issue:

(require 'desktop)
(setq desktop-path (list "~/emacs-server"))
(desktop-save-mode 1)

Note: You will now get a question Save desktop? (y or n) when killing Emacs server and this is the first time you save the desktop..

edited Feb 09 '15 at 13:26

answered Feb 09 '15 at 12:54

Håkon Hægland

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emac 27. This isn't working. – RichieHH Dec 30 '20 at 09:16

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 09 '15 at 10:16

1

You should use desktop-change-dir to instruct emacs to load the desktop file at a given location, and remember it for auto-save later.

(desktop-change-dir "~/emacs-server")
(desktop-save-mode 1)

answered Feb 09 '15 at 10:16

François Févotte

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Thanks @Francesco. But for some reason, this leaves me with a lock in directory `"~/emacs-server"` after I exit Emacs, such that the next time I run Emacs as a server, I get a warning: `desktop file appears to be in use. Using it may cause conflicts. Use it anyway? (y or n) ` – Håkon Hægland Feb 09 '15 at 10:31
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It seems like using `(setq desktop-path (list "~/emacs-server"))` instead of `(desktop-change-dir "~/emacs-server")` solves the issue.. – Håkon Hægland Feb 09 '15 at 10:33
If you could incorporate my last comment somehow in your answer, I will accept it. – Håkon Hægland Feb 09 '15 at 11:34
Yep, `desktop-path` is the way to go. – Kaushal Modi Feb 09 '15 at 12:21
I can't reproduce your problem with locks when using `desktop-change-dir`. Are you sure it's not due to some leftovers from older tries? – François Févotte Feb 09 '15 at 12:29
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I could of course incorporate your comment about `desktop-path` in my answer, but it looks to me like it is a different solution. It would probably be clearer if you put it in an answer of your own, don't you think? – François Févotte Feb 09 '15 at 12:32
Ok, good point. I have added the comment as a separate answer. – Håkon Hægland Feb 09 '15 at 12:54
desktop-path not working in emacs 27. – RichieHH Dec 30 '20 at 09:07

How to use a fixed desktop save directory name with desktop-save-mode?

2 Answers2