comparison lispref/files.texi @ 54861:5af1398ad8e2

Various changes in addition to: (Visiting Functions): `find-file-hook' is now a normal hook. (File Name Expansion): Explain difference between the way that `expand-file-name' and `file-truename' treat `..'. (Contents of Directories): Mention optional ID-FORMAT argument to `directory-files-and-attributes'. (Format Conversion): Mention new optional CONFIRM argument to `format-write-file'.

54860:8c5c95993ef5

@deffn Command find-file filename &optional wildcards
This command selects a buffer visiting the file @var{filename},
using an existing buffer if there is one, and otherwise creating a
new buffer and reading the file into it.  It also returns that buffer.

The body of the @code{find-file} function is very simple and looks
like this:

@example
(switch-to-buffer (find-file-noselect filename))
@end example

@noindent
(See @code{switch-to-buffer} in @ref{Displaying Buffers}.)

When @code{view-file} is called interactively, it prompts for
@var{filename}.
@end deffn

@tindex find-file-wildcards
@defvar find-file-wildcards
If this variable is non-@code{nil}, then the various @code{find-file}
commands check for wildcard characters and visit all the files that
match them.  If this is @code{nil}, then wildcard characters are
not treated specially.
@end defvar

@defvar find-file-hook
The value of this variable is a list of functions to be called after a
file is visited.  The file's local-variables specification (if any) will
have been processed before the hooks are run.  The buffer visiting the
file is current when the hook functions are run.

This variable works just like a normal hook, but we think that renaming
it would not be advisable.  @xref{Hooks}.
@end defvar

@defvar find-file-not-found-functions
The value of this variable is a list of functions to be called when
@code{find-file} or @code{find-file-noselect} is passed a nonexistent

@item
With an argument of 16 or 64, reflecting 2 or 3 @kbd{C-u}'s, the
@code{save-buffer} function unconditionally backs up the previous
version of the file before saving it.
@end itemize
@end deffn

@deffn Command save-some-buffers &optional save-silently-p pred
This command saves some modified file-visiting buffers.  Normally it
asks the user about each buffer.  But if @var{save-silently-p} is
non-@code{nil}, it saves all the file-visiting buffers without querying
the user.

The optional @var{pred} argument controls which buffers to ask about.
If it is @code{nil}, that means to ask only about file-visiting buffers.
If it is @code{t}, that means also offer to save certain other non-file
buffers---those that have a non-@code{nil} buffer-local value of
@code{buffer-offer-save}.  (A user who says @samp{yes} to saving a
non-file buffer is asked to specify the file name to use.)  The

a function of no arguments.  It will be called in each buffer to decide
whether to offer to save that buffer.  If it returns a non-@code{nil}
value in a certain buffer, that means do offer to save that buffer.
@end deffn

@deffn Command write-file filename &optional confirm
This function writes the current buffer into file @var{filename}, makes
the buffer visit that file, and marks it not modified.  Then it renames
the buffer based on @var{filename}, appending a string like @samp{<2>}
if necessary to make a unique buffer name.  It does most of this work by
calling @code{set-visited-file-name} (@pxref{Buffer File Name}) and
@code{save-buffer}.

If @var{confirm} is non-@code{nil}, that means to ask for confirmation
before overwriting an existing file.
@end deffn

  Saving a buffer runs several hooks.  It also performs format
conversion (@pxref{Format Conversion}), and may save text properties in
``annotations'' (@pxref{Saving Properties}).

@example
(or buffer-backed-up (backup-buffer))
@end example

You might wish to save the file modes value returned by
@code{backup-buffer} and use that to set the mode bits of the file that
you write.  This is what @code{save-buffer} normally does.

The hook functions in @code{write-file-functions} are also responsible for
encoding the data (if desired): they must choose a suitable coding
system (@pxref{Lisp and Coding Systems}), perform the encoding
(@pxref{Explicit Encoding}), and set @code{last-coding-system-used} to

This normal hook runs after a buffer has been saved in its visited file.
One use of this hook is in Fast Lock mode; it uses this hook to save the
highlighting information in a cache file.
@end defopt

@defvar file-precious-flag
If this variable is non-@code{nil}, then @code{save-buffer} protects
against I/O errors while saving by writing the new file to a temporary
name instead of the name it is supposed to have, and then renaming it to
the intended name after it is clear there are no errors.  This procedure
prevents problems such as a lack of disk space from resulting in an

or Copy}.  Yet, at the same time, saving a precious file always breaks
all hard links between the file you save and other file names.

Some modes give this variable a non-@code{nil} buffer-local value
in particular buffers.
@end defvar

@defopt require-final-newline
This variable determines whether files may be written out that do
@emph{not} end with a newline.  If the value of the variable is
@code{t}, then @code{save-buffer} silently adds a newline at the end of

@var{filename}.  If that file does not exist, it is created.  This
function returns @code{nil}.

An error is signaled if @var{filename} specifies a nonwritable file,
or a nonexistent file in a directory where files cannot be created.
@end deffn

@deffn Command write-region start end filename &optional append visit lockname mustbenew
This function writes the region delimited by @var{start} and @var{end}
in the current buffer into the file specified by @var{filename}.

@c Emacs 19 feature
If @var{start} is a string, then @code{write-region} writes or appends
that string, rather than text from the buffer.  @var{end} is ignored in
this case.

nor @code{nil} nor a string, then this message is inhibited.  This
feature is useful for programs that use files for internal purposes,
files that the user does not need to know about.
@end deffn

@defmac with-temp-file file body...
The @code{with-temp-file} macro evaluates the @var{body} forms with a
temporary buffer as the current buffer; then, at the end, it writes the
buffer contents into file @var{file}.  It kills the temporary buffer
when finished, restoring the buffer that was current before the

in @var{body}.

The current buffer is restored even in case of an abnormal exit via
@code{throw} or error (@pxref{Nonlocal Exits}).

See also @code{with-temp-buffer} in @ref{Current Buffer}.
@end defmac

@node File Locks
@section File Locks
@cindex file locks

@comment  node-name,  next,  previous,  up
@subsection Testing Accessibility
@cindex accessibility of a file
@cindex file accessibility

  These functions test for permission to access a file in specific ways.

@defun file-exists-p filename
This function returns @code{t} if a file named @var{filename} appears
to exist.  This does not mean you can necessarily read the file, only
that you can find out its attributes.  (On Unix and GNU/Linux, this is

using @var{string} as the error message text.
@end defun

@defun file-ownership-preserved-p filename
This function returns @code{t} if deleting the file @var{filename} and
then creating it anew would keep the file's owner unchanged.
@end defun

@defun file-newer-than-file-p filename1 filename2
@cindex file age
@cindex file modification time
This function returns @code{t} if the file @var{filename1} is
newer than file @var{filename2}.  If @var{filename1} does not
exist, it returns @code{nil}.  If @var{filename2} does not exist,
it returns @code{t}.

In the following example, assume that the file @file{aug-19} was written
on the 19th, @file{aug-20} was written on the 20th, and the file
@file{no-file} doesn't exist at all.

as directories, symbolic links, and ordinary files.

@defun file-symlink-p filename
@cindex file symbolic links
If the file @var{filename} is a symbolic link, the
@code{file-symlink-p} function returns the link target as a string.
(Determining the file name that the link points to from the target is
nontrivial.)

If the file @var{filename} is not a symbolic link (or there is no such file),
@code{file-symlink-p} returns @code{nil}.

@example

@end group
@end example

@c !!! file-symlink-p: should show output of ls -l for comparison
@end defun

@defun file-directory-p filename
This function returns @code{t} if @var{filename} is the name of an
existing directory, @code{nil} otherwise.

because they eliminate symbolic links as a cause of name variation.

@defun file-truename filename
The function @code{file-truename} returns the truename of the file
@var{filename}.  The argument must be an absolute file name.
@end defun

@defun file-chase-links filename &optional limit
This function follows symbolic links, starting with @var{filename},
until it finds a file name which is not the name of a symbolic link.
Then it returns that file name.  If you specify a number for
@var{limit}, then after chasing through that many links, the function
just returns what it as even if that is still a symbolic link.
@end defun

  To illustrate the difference between @code{file-chase-links} and
@code{file-truename}, suppose that @file{/usr/foo} is a symbolic link to
the directory @file{/home/foo}, and @file{/home/foo/hello} is an

The highest value returnable is 4095 (7777 octal), meaning that
everyone has read, write, and execute permission, that the @acronym{SUID} bit
is set for both others and group, and that the sticky bit is set.

@example
@group
(file-modes "~/junk/diffs")
     @result{} 492               ; @r{Decimal integer.}
@end group

% ls -l diffs
  -rw-rw-rw-  1 lewis 0 3063 Oct 30 16:00 diffs
@end group
@end example
@end defun

@defun file-nlinks filename
This functions returns the number of names (i.e., hard links) that
file @var{filename} has.  If the file does not exist, then this function
returns @code{nil}.  Note that symbolic links have no effect on this

     @result{} nil
@end group
@end example
@end defun

@defun file-attributes filename &optional id-format
This function returns a list of attributes of file @var{filename}.  If
the specified file cannot be opened, it returns @code{nil}.
The optional parameter @var{id-format} specifies the preferred format
of attributes @acronym{UID} and @acronym{GID} (see below)---the

@item
Replace the old file without confirmation if @var{ok-if-already-exists}
is any other value.
@end itemize

@defun add-name-to-file oldname newname &optional ok-if-already-exists
@cindex file with multiple names
@cindex file hard link
This function gives the file named @var{oldname} the additional name
@var{newname}.  This means that @var{newname} becomes a new ``hard
link'' to @var{oldname}.

This function is meaningless on operating systems where multiple names
for one file are not allowed.  Some systems implement multiple names
by copying the file instead.

See also @code{file-nlinks} in @ref{File Attributes}.
@end defun

@deffn Command rename-file filename newname &optional ok-if-already-exists
This command renames the file @var{filename} as @var{newname}.

If @var{filename} has additional names aside from @var{filename}, it
continues to have those names.  In fact, adding the name @var{newname}
with @code{add-name-to-file} and then deleting @var{filename} has the
same effect as renaming, aside from momentary intermediate states.

In an interactive call, this function prompts for @var{filename} and
@var{newname} in the minibuffer; also, it requests confirmation if
@var{newname} already exists.
@end deffn

@deffn Command copy-file oldname newname &optional ok-if-exists time
This command copies the file @var{oldname} to @var{newname}.  An
error is signaled if @var{oldname} does not exist.  If @var{newname}

some operating systems.)  If setting the time gets an error,
@code{copy-file} signals a @code{file-date-error} error.

This function copies the file modes, too.

In an interactive call, this function prompts for @var{filename} and
@var{newname} in the minibuffer; also, it requests confirmation if
@var{newname} already exists.
@end deffn

@deffn Command delete-file filename
@pindex rm
This command deletes the file @var{filename}, like the shell command
@samp{rm @var{filename}}.  If the file has multiple names, it continues
to exist under the other names.

A suitable kind of @code{file-error} error is signaled if the file does
not exist, or is not deletable.  (On Unix and GNU/Linux, a file is
deletable if its directory is writable.)

See also @code{delete-directory} in @ref{Create/Delete Dirs}.
@end deffn

@deffn Command make-symbolic-link filename newname  &optional ok-if-exists
@pindex ln
@kindex file-already-exists
This command makes a symbolic link to @var{filename}, named
@var{newname}.  This is like the shell command @samp{ln -s
@var{filename} @var{newname}}.

In an interactive call, this function prompts for @var{filename} and
@var{newname} in the minibuffer; also, it requests confirmation if
@var{newname} already exists.

This function is not available on systems that don't support symbolic
links.
@end deffn

@defun define-logical-name varname string
This function defines the logical name @var{varname} to have the value
@var{string}.  It is available only on VMS.
@end defun

@defun set-file-modes filename mode
This function sets mode bits of @var{filename} to @var{mode} (which must
be an integer).  Only the low 12 bits of @var{mode} are used.
@end defun

@c Emacs 19 feature
@defun set-default-file-modes mode
@cindex umask

     @result{} "FOO.TMP"
@end group
@end example
@end defun

@defun file-name-extension filename &optional period
This function returns @var{filename}'s final ``extension,'' if any,
after applying @code{file-name-sans-versions} to remove any
version/backup part.  It returns @code{nil} for extensionless file
names such as @file{foo}.  If @var{period} is non-@code{nil}, then the
returned value includes the period that delimits the extension, and if
@var{filename} has no extension, the value is @code{""}.  If the last
component of a file name begins with a @samp{.}, that @samp{.} doesn't
count as the beginning of an extension, so, for example,
@file{.emacs}'s ``extension'' is @code{nil}, not @samp{.emacs}.
@end defun

@defun file-name-sans-versions filename &optional keep-backup-version
This function returns @var{filename} with any file version numbers,
backup version numbers, or trailing tildes discarded.

If @var{keep-backup-version} is non-@code{nil}, then true file version

     @result{} "foo"
@end group
@end example
@end defun

@defun file-name-sans-extension filename
This function returns @var{filename} minus its ``extension,'' if any.
The extension, in a file name, is the part that starts with the last
@samp{.} in the last name component, except if that @samp{.} is the
first character of the file name's last component.  For example,

@example
(file-name-sans-extension "foo.lose.c")
     @result{} "foo.lose"
(file-name-sans-extension "big.hack/foo")
     @result{} "big.hack/foo"
(file-name-sans-extension "/my/home/.emacs")
     @result{} "/my/home/.emacs"
(file-name-sans-extension "/my/home/.emacs.el")
     @result{} "/my/home/.emacs"
@end example
@end defun

@ignore
Andrew Innes says that this

  A @dfn{directory name} is the name of a directory.  A directory is
actually a kind of file, so it has a file name, which is related to
the directory name but not identical to it.  (This is not quite the
same as the usual Unix terminology.)  These two different names for
the same entity are related by a syntactic transformation.  On GNU and
Unix systems, this is simple: a directory name ends in a slash (or
backslash), whereas the directory's name as a file lacks that slash.
On MSDOS and VMS, the relationship is more complicated.

  The difference between a directory name and its name as a file is
subtle but crucial.  When an Emacs variable or function argument is
described as being a directory name, a file name of a directory is not
acceptable.  When @code{file-name-directory} returns a string, that is
always a directory name.

  The following two functions convert between directory names and file
names.  They do nothing special with environment variable substitutions
such as @samp{$HOME}, and the constructs @samp{~}, and @samp{..}.

@defun file-name-as-directory filename
This function returns a string representing @var{filename} in a form
that the operating system will interpret as the name of a directory.  On
most systems, this means appending a slash to the string (if it does not

The variable @code{directory-abbrev-alist} contains an alist of
abbreviations to use for file directories.  Each element has the form
@code{(@var{from} . @var{to})}, and says to replace @var{from} with
@var{to} when it appears in a directory name.  The @var{from} string is
actually a regular expression; it should always start with @samp{^}.
The function @code{abbreviate-file-name} performs these substitutions.

You can set this variable in @file{site-init.el} to describe the
abbreviations appropriate for your site.

Here's an example, from a system on which file system @file{/home/fsf}

@end defvar

  To convert a directory name to its abbreviation, use this
function:

@defun abbreviate-file-name filename
This function applies abbreviations from @code{directory-abbrev-alist}
to its argument, and substitutes @samp{~} for the user's home
directory.  You can use it for directory names and for file names,
because it recognizes abbreviations even as part of the name.

  @dfn{Expansion} of a file name means converting a relative file name
to an absolute one.  Since this is done relative to a default directory,
you must specify the default directory name as well as the file name to
be expanded.  Expansion also simplifies file names by eliminating
redundancies such as @file{./} and @file{@var{name}/../}.

@defun expand-file-name filename &optional directory
This function converts @var{filename} to an absolute file name.  If
@var{directory} is supplied, it is the default directory to start with
if @var{filename} is relative.  (The value of @var{directory} should

(expand-file-name "$HOME/foo")
     @result{} "/xcssun/users/rms/lewis/$HOME/foo"
@end group
@end example

Filenames containing @samp{.} or @samp{..} are simplified to their
canonical form:

@example
@group

@end group
@end example

Note that @code{expand-file-name} does @emph{not} expand environment
variables; only @code{substitute-in-file-name} does that.
@end defun

@c Emacs 19 feature
@defun file-relative-name filename &optional directory
This function does the inverse of expansion---it tries to return a

     @result{} "/user/lewis/manual/"
@end group
@end example
@end defvar

@defun substitute-in-file-name filename
This function replaces environment variables references in
@var{filename} with the environment variable values.  Following
standard Unix shell syntax, @samp{$} is the prefix to substitute an
environment variable value.  If the input contains @samp{$$}, that is
converted to @samp{$}; this gives the user a way to ``quote'' a
@samp{$}.

(substitute-in-file-name "$HOME/foo")
     @result{} "/xcssun/users/rms/foo"
@end group
@end example

After substitution, if a @samp{~} or a @samp{/} appears following a
@samp{/}, everything before the following @samp{/} is discarded:

@example
@group
(substitute-in-file-name "bar/~/foo")
     @result{} "~/foo"

@noindent
The job of @code{make-temp-file} is to prevent two different users or
two different jobs from trying to use the exact same file name.

@defun make-temp-file prefix &optional dir-flag
@tindex make-temp-file
This function creates a temporary file and returns its name.
The name starts with @var{prefix}; it also contains a number that is
different in each Emacs job.  If @var{prefix} is a relative file name,
it is expanded against @code{temporary-file-directory}.

When @code{make-temp-file} returns, the file has been created and is
empty.  At that point, you should write the intended contents into the
file.

If @var{dir-flag} is non-@code{nil}, @code{make-temp-file} creates
an empty directory instead of an empty file.

To prevent conflicts among different libraries running in the same
Emacs, each Lisp program that uses @code{make-temp-file} should have its
own @var{prefix}.  The number added to the end of @var{prefix}
distinguishes between the same application running in different Emacs

@defun make-temp-name string
This function generates a string that can be used as a unique file name.
The name starts with @var{string}, and contains a number that is
different in each Emacs job.  It is like @code{make-temp-file} except
that it just constructs a name, and does not create a file.  On MS-DOS,
the @var{string} prefix can be truncated to fit into the 8+3 file-name
limits.
@end defun

@defvar temporary-file-directory
@cindex @code{TMPDIR} environment variable
@cindex @code{TMP} environment variable

The default value is determined in a reasonable way for your operating
system; it is based on the @code{TMPDIR}, @code{TMP} and @code{TEMP}
environment variables, with a fall-back to a system-dependent name if
none of these variables is defined.

Even if you do not use @code{make-temp-name} to choose the temporary
file's name, you should still use this variable to decide which
directory to put the file in.  However, if you expect the file to be
small, you should use @code{small-temporary-file-directory} first if
that is non-@code{nil}.
@end defvar

@tindex small-temporary-file-directory
@defvar small-temporary-file-directory
This variable (new in Emacs 21) specifies the directory name for

@end defun

@defopt completion-ignored-extensions
@code{file-name-completion} usually ignores file names that end in any
string in this list.  It does not ignore them when all the possible
completions end in one of these suffixes or when a buffer showing all
possible completions is displayed.@refill

A typical value might look like this:

@example
@group

An error is signaled if @var{directory} is not the name of a directory
that can be read.
@end defun

@defun directory-files-and-attributes directory &optional full-name match-regexp nosort
This is similar to @code{directory-files} in deciding which files
to report on and how to report their names.  However, instead
of returning a list of file names, it returns for each file a
list @code{(@var{filename} . @var{attributes})}, where @var{attributes}
is what @code{file-attributes} would return for that file.
@end defun

@defun file-name-all-versions file dirname
This function returns a list of all versions of the file named
@var{file} in directory @var{dirname}.
@end defun

@tindex file-expand-wildcards
@defun file-expand-wildcards pattern &optional full
This function expands the wildcard pattern @var{pattern}, returning

@defun insert-directory file switches &optional wildcard full-directory-p
This function inserts (in the current buffer) a directory listing for
directory @var{file}, formatted with @code{ls} according to
@var{switches}.  It leaves point after the inserted text.

The argument @var{file} may be either a directory name or a file
specification including wildcard characters.  If @var{wildcard} is
non-@code{nil}, that means treat @var{file} as a file specification with
wildcards.

@code{shell-file-name}, to expand the wildcards.

MS-DOS and MS-Windows systems usually lack the standard Unix program
@code{ls}, so this function emulates the standard Unix program @code{ls}
with Lisp code.
@end defun

@defvar insert-directory-program
This variable's value is the program to run to generate a directory listing
for the function @code{insert-directory}.  It is ignored on systems

with @code{delete-file}.  These special functions exist to create and
delete directories.

@defun make-directory dirname &optional parents
This function creates a directory named @var{dirname}.
If @var{parents} is non-@code{nil}, that means to create
the parent directories first, if they don't already exist.
@end defun

@defun delete-directory dirname
This function deletes the directory named @var{dirname}.  The function
@code{delete-file} does not work for files that are directories; you
must use @code{delete-directory} for them.  If the directory contains
any files, @code{delete-directory} signals an error.
@end defun

@node Magic File Names
@section Making Certain File Names ``Magic''
@cindex magic file names

All the Emacs primitives for file access and file name transformation
check the given file name against @code{file-name-handler-alist}.  If
the file name matches @var{regexp}, the primitives handle that file by
calling @var{handler}.

The first argument given to @var{handler} is the name of the primitive;
the remaining arguments are the arguments that were passed to that
primitive.  (The first of these arguments is most often the file name
itself.)  For example, if you do this:

@example
(file-exists-p @var{filename})
@end example

nothing and returns @code{nil}.  Otherwise it returns the file name
of the local copy file.
@end defun

@defun file-remote-p filename
This functions return @code{t} if @var{filename} is a remote file---that is,
a magic file name that handles @code{file-local-copy}.
@end defun

@defun unhandled-file-name-directory filename
This function returns the name of a directory that is not magic.  It

When @code{write-region} writes data into a file, it first calls the
encoding functions for the formats listed in @code{buffer-file-format},
in the order of appearance in the list.

@deffn Command format-write-file file format
This command writes the current buffer contents into the file @var{file}
in format @var{format}, and makes that format the default for future
saves of the buffer.  The argument @var{format} is a list of format
names.
@end deffn

@deffn Command format-find-file file format
This command finds the file @var{file}, converting it according to
format @var{format}.  It also makes @var{format} the default if the

@defvar auto-save-file-format
This variable specifies the format to use for auto-saving.  Its value is
a list of format names, just like the value of
@code{buffer-file-format}; however, it is used instead of
@code{buffer-file-format} for writing auto-save files.  This variable is
always buffer-local in all buffers.
@end defvar

@ignore
   arch-tag: 141f74ce-6ae3-40dc-a6c4-ef83fc4ec35c
@end ignore

54861:5af1398ad8e2

@deffn Command find-file filename &optional wildcards
This command selects a buffer visiting the file @var{filename},
using an existing buffer if there is one, and otherwise creating a
new buffer and reading the file into it.  It also returns that buffer.

Aside from some technical details, the body of the @code{find-file}
function is basically equivalent to:

@example
(switch-to-buffer (find-file-noselect filename nil nil wildcards))
@end example

@noindent
(See @code{switch-to-buffer} in @ref{Displaying Buffers}.)

When @code{view-file} is called interactively, it prompts for
@var{filename}.
@end deffn

@tindex find-file-wildcards
@defopt find-file-wildcards
If this variable is non-@code{nil}, then the various @code{find-file}
commands check for wildcard characters and visit all the files that
match them (when invoked interactively or when their @var{wildcards}
argument is non-@code{nil}).  If this option is @code{nil}, then
the @code{find-file} commands ignore their @var{wildcards} argument
and never treat wildcard characters specially.
@end defopt

@defvar find-file-hook
The value of this variable is a list of functions to be called after a
file is visited.  The file's local-variables specification (if any) will
have been processed before the hooks are run.  The buffer visiting the
file is current when the hook functions are run.

This variable is a normal hook.  @xref{Hooks}.
@end defvar

@defvar find-file-not-found-functions
The value of this variable is a list of functions to be called when
@code{find-file} or @code{find-file-noselect} is passed a nonexistent

@item
With an argument of 16 or 64, reflecting 2 or 3 @kbd{C-u}'s, the
@code{save-buffer} function unconditionally backs up the previous
version of the file before saving it.

@item
With an argument of 0, unconditionally do @emph{not} make any backup file.
@end itemize
@end deffn

@anchor{Definition of save-some-buffers}
@deffn Command save-some-buffers &optional save-silently-p pred
This command saves some modified file-visiting buffers.  Normally it
asks the user about each buffer.  But if @var{save-silently-p} is
non-@code{nil}, it saves all the file-visiting buffers without querying
the user.

The optional @var{pred} argument controls which buffers to ask about
(or to save silently if @var{save-silently-p} is non-@code{nil}).
If it is @code{nil}, that means to ask only about file-visiting buffers.
If it is @code{t}, that means also offer to save certain other non-file
buffers---those that have a non-@code{nil} buffer-local value of
@code{buffer-offer-save}.  (A user who says @samp{yes} to saving a
non-file buffer is asked to specify the file name to use.)  The

a function of no arguments.  It will be called in each buffer to decide
whether to offer to save that buffer.  If it returns a non-@code{nil}
value in a certain buffer, that means do offer to save that buffer.
@end deffn

@anchor{Definition of write-file}
@deffn Command write-file filename &optional confirm
This function writes the current buffer into file @var{filename}, makes
the buffer visit that file, and marks it not modified.  Then it renames
the buffer based on @var{filename}, appending a string like @samp{<2>}
if necessary to make a unique buffer name.  It does most of this work by
calling @code{set-visited-file-name} (@pxref{Buffer File Name}) and
@code{save-buffer}.

If @var{confirm} is non-@code{nil}, that means to ask for confirmation
before overwriting an existing file.  Interactively, confirmation is
required, unless the user supplies a prefix argument.

If @var{filename} is an existing directory, or a symbolic link to one,
@code{write-file} uses the name of the visited file, in directory
@var{filename}.  If the buffer is not visiting a file, it uses the
buffer name instead.
@end deffn

  Saving a buffer runs several hooks.  It also performs format
conversion (@pxref{Format Conversion}), and may save text properties in
``annotations'' (@pxref{Saving Properties}).

@example
(or buffer-backed-up (backup-buffer))
@end example

You might wish to save the file modes value returned by
@code{backup-buffer} and use that (if non-@code{nil}) to set the mode
bits of the file that you write.  This is what @code{save-buffer}
normally does. @xref{Making Backups,, Making Backup Files}.

The hook functions in @code{write-file-functions} are also responsible for
encoding the data (if desired): they must choose a suitable coding
system (@pxref{Lisp and Coding Systems}), perform the encoding
(@pxref{Explicit Encoding}), and set @code{last-coding-system-used} to

This normal hook runs after a buffer has been saved in its visited file.
One use of this hook is in Fast Lock mode; it uses this hook to save the
highlighting information in a cache file.
@end defopt

@defopt file-precious-flag
If this variable is non-@code{nil}, then @code{save-buffer} protects
against I/O errors while saving by writing the new file to a temporary
name instead of the name it is supposed to have, and then renaming it to
the intended name after it is clear there are no errors.  This procedure
prevents problems such as a lack of disk space from resulting in an

or Copy}.  Yet, at the same time, saving a precious file always breaks
all hard links between the file you save and other file names.

Some modes give this variable a non-@code{nil} buffer-local value
in particular buffers.
@end defopt

@defopt require-final-newline
This variable determines whether files may be written out that do
@emph{not} end with a newline.  If the value of the variable is
@code{t}, then @code{save-buffer} silently adds a newline at the end of

@var{filename}.  If that file does not exist, it is created.  This
function returns @code{nil}.

An error is signaled if @var{filename} specifies a nonwritable file,
or a nonexistent file in a directory where files cannot be created.

When called from Lisp, this function is completely equivalent to:

@example
(write-region start end filename t)
@end example
@end deffn

@deffn Command write-region start end filename &optional append visit lockname mustbenew
This function writes the region delimited by @var{start} and @var{end}
in the current buffer into the file specified by @var{filename}.

If @var{start} is @code{nil}, then the command writes the entire buffer
contents (@emph{not} just the accessible portion) to the file and
ignores @var{end}.

@c Emacs 19 feature
If @var{start} is a string, then @code{write-region} writes or appends
that string, rather than text from the buffer.  @var{end} is ignored in
this case.

nor @code{nil} nor a string, then this message is inhibited.  This
feature is useful for programs that use files for internal purposes,
files that the user does not need to know about.
@end deffn

@anchor{Definition of with-temp-file}
@defmac with-temp-file file body...
The @code{with-temp-file} macro evaluates the @var{body} forms with a
temporary buffer as the current buffer; then, at the end, it writes the
buffer contents into file @var{file}.  It kills the temporary buffer
when finished, restoring the buffer that was current before the

in @var{body}.

The current buffer is restored even in case of an abnormal exit via
@code{throw} or error (@pxref{Nonlocal Exits}).

See also @code{with-temp-buffer} in @ref{Definition of
with-temp-buffer,, The Current Buffer}.
@end defmac

@node File Locks
@section File Locks
@cindex file locks

@comment  node-name,  next,  previous,  up
@subsection Testing Accessibility
@cindex accessibility of a file
@cindex file accessibility

  These functions test for permission to access a file in specific
ways.  Unless explicitly stated otherwise, they recursively follow
symbolic links for their file name arguments, at all levels (at the
level of the file itself and at all levels of parent directories).

@defun file-exists-p filename
This function returns @code{t} if a file named @var{filename} appears
to exist.  This does not mean you can necessarily read the file, only
that you can find out its attributes.  (On Unix and GNU/Linux, this is

using @var{string} as the error message text.
@end defun

@defun file-ownership-preserved-p filename
This function returns @code{t} if deleting the file @var{filename} and
then creating it anew would keep the file's owner unchanged.  It also
returns @code{t} for nonexistent files.

If @var{filename} is a symbolic link, then, unlike the other functions
discussed here, @code{file-ownership-preserved-p} does @emph{not}
replace @var{filename} with its target.  However, it does recursively
follow symbolic links at all levels of parent directories.
@end defun

@defun file-newer-than-file-p filename1 filename2
@cindex file age
@cindex file modification time
This function returns @code{t} if the file @var{filename1} is
newer than file @var{filename2}.  If @var{filename1} does not
exist, it returns @code{nil}.  If @var{filename1} does exist, but
@var{filename2} does not, it returns @code{t}.

In the following example, assume that the file @file{aug-19} was written
on the 19th, @file{aug-20} was written on the 20th, and the file
@file{no-file} doesn't exist at all.

as directories, symbolic links, and ordinary files.

@defun file-symlink-p filename
@cindex file symbolic links
If the file @var{filename} is a symbolic link, the
@code{file-symlink-p} function returns the (non-recursive) link target
as a string.  (Determining the file name that the link points to from
the target is nontrivial.)  First, this function recursively follows
symbolic links at all levels of parent directories.

If the file @var{filename} is not a symbolic link (or there is no such file),
@code{file-symlink-p} returns @code{nil}.

@example

@end group
@end example

@c !!! file-symlink-p: should show output of ls -l for comparison
@end defun

The next two functions recursively follow symbolic links at
all levels for @var{filename}.

@defun file-directory-p filename
This function returns @code{t} if @var{filename} is the name of an
existing directory, @code{nil} otherwise.

because they eliminate symbolic links as a cause of name variation.

@defun file-truename filename
The function @code{file-truename} returns the truename of the file
@var{filename}.  The argument must be an absolute file name.

This function does not expand environment variables.  Only
@code{substitute-in-file-name} does that.  @xref{Definition of
substitute-in-file-name}.

If you may need to follow symbolic links preceding @samp{..}@:
appearing as a name component, you should make sure to call
@code{file-truename} without prior direct or indirect calls to
@code{expand-file-name}, as otherwise the file name component
immediately preceding @samp{..} will be ``simplified away'' before
@code{file-truename} is called.  To eliminate the need for a call to
@code{expand-file-name}, @code{file-truename} handles @samp{~} in the
same way that @code{expand-file-name} does.  @xref{File Name
Expansion,, Functions that Expand Filenames}.
@end defun

@defun file-chase-links filename &optional limit
This function follows symbolic links, starting with @var{filename},
until it finds a file name which is not the name of a symbolic link.
Then it returns that file name.  This function does @emph{not} follow
symbolic links at the level of parent directories.

If you specify a number for @var{limit}, then after chasing through
that many links, the function just returns what it has even if that is
still a symbolic link.
@end defun

  To illustrate the difference between @code{file-chase-links} and
@code{file-truename}, suppose that @file{/usr/foo} is a symbolic link to
the directory @file{/home/foo}, and @file{/home/foo/hello} is an

The highest value returnable is 4095 (7777 octal), meaning that
everyone has read, write, and execute permission, that the @acronym{SUID} bit
is set for both others and group, and that the sticky bit is set.

If @var{filename} does not exist, @code{file-modes} returns @code{nil}.

This function recursively follows symbolic links at all levels.

@example
@group
(file-modes "~/junk/diffs")
     @result{} 492               ; @r{Decimal integer.}
@end group

% ls -l diffs
  -rw-rw-rw-  1 lewis 0 3063 Oct 30 16:00 diffs
@end group
@end example
@end defun

If the @var{filename} argument to the next two functions is a symbolic
link, then these function do @emph{not} replace it with its target.
However, they both recursively follow symbolic links at all levels of
parent directories.

@defun file-nlinks filename
This functions returns the number of names (i.e., hard links) that
file @var{filename} has.  If the file does not exist, then this function
returns @code{nil}.  Note that symbolic links have no effect on this

     @result{} nil
@end group
@end example
@end defun

@anchor{Definition of file-attributes}
@defun file-attributes filename &optional id-format
This function returns a list of attributes of file @var{filename}.  If
the specified file cannot be opened, it returns @code{nil}.
The optional parameter @var{id-format} specifies the preferred format
of attributes @acronym{UID} and @acronym{GID} (see below)---the

@item
Replace the old file without confirmation if @var{ok-if-already-exists}
is any other value.
@end itemize

The next four commands all recursively follow symbolic links at all
levels of parent directories for their first argument, but, if that
argument is itself a symbolic link, then only @code{copy-file}
replaces it with its (recursive) target.

@deffn Command add-name-to-file oldname newname &optional ok-if-already-exists
@cindex file with multiple names
@cindex file hard link
This function gives the file named @var{oldname} the additional name
@var{newname}.  This means that @var{newname} becomes a new ``hard
link'' to @var{oldname}.

This function is meaningless on operating systems where multiple names
for one file are not allowed.  Some systems implement multiple names
by copying the file instead.

See also @code{file-nlinks} in @ref{File Attributes}.
@end deffn

@deffn Command rename-file filename newname &optional ok-if-already-exists
This command renames the file @var{filename} as @var{newname}.

If @var{filename} has additional names aside from @var{filename}, it
continues to have those names.  In fact, adding the name @var{newname}
with @code{add-name-to-file} and then deleting @var{filename} has the
same effect as renaming, aside from momentary intermediate states.
@end deffn

@deffn Command copy-file oldname newname &optional ok-if-exists time
This command copies the file @var{oldname} to @var{newname}.  An
error is signaled if @var{oldname} does not exist.  If @var{newname}

some operating systems.)  If setting the time gets an error,
@code{copy-file} signals a @code{file-date-error} error.

This function copies the file modes, too.

In an interactive call, a prefix argument specifies a non-@code{nil}
value for @var{time}.
@end deffn

@deffn Command make-symbolic-link filename newname  &optional ok-if-exists
@pindex ln
@kindex file-already-exists
This command makes a symbolic link to @var{filename}, named
@var{newname}.  This is like the shell command @samp{ln -s
@var{filename} @var{newname}}.

This function is not available on systems that don't support symbolic
links.
@end deffn

@deffn Command delete-file filename
@pindex rm
This command deletes the file @var{filename}, like the shell command
@samp{rm @var{filename}}.  If the file has multiple names, it continues
to exist under the other names.

A suitable kind of @code{file-error} error is signaled if the file does
not exist, or is not deletable.  (On Unix and GNU/Linux, a file is
deletable if its directory is writable.)

If @var{filename} is a symbolic link, @code{delete-file} does not
replace it with its target, but it does follow symbolic links at all
levels of parent directories.

See also @code{delete-directory} in @ref{Create/Delete Dirs}.
@end deffn

@defun define-logical-name varname string
This function defines the logical name @var{varname} to have the value
@var{string}.  It is available only on VMS.
@end defun

@defun set-file-modes filename mode
This function sets mode bits of @var{filename} to @var{mode} (which
must be an integer).  Only the low 12 bits of @var{mode} are used.
This function recursively follows symbolic links at all levels for
@var{filename}.
@end defun

@c Emacs 19 feature
@defun set-default-file-modes mode
@cindex umask

     @result{} "FOO.TMP"
@end group
@end example
@end defun

@defun file-name-sans-versions filename &optional keep-backup-version
This function returns @var{filename} with any file version numbers,
backup version numbers, or trailing tildes discarded.

If @var{keep-backup-version} is non-@code{nil}, then true file version

     @result{} "foo"
@end group
@end example
@end defun

@defun file-name-extension filename &optional period
This function returns @var{filename}'s final ``extension'', if any,
after applying @code{file-name-sans-versions} to remove any
version/backup part.  The extension, in a file name, is the part that
starts with the last @samp{.} in the last name component (minus
any version/backup part).

This function returns @code{nil} for extensionless file names such as
@file{foo}.  It returns @code{""} for null extensions, as in
@file{foo.}.  If the last component of a file name begins with a
@samp{.}, that @samp{.}  doesn't count as the beginning of an
extension.  Thus, @file{.emacs}'s ``extension'' is @code{nil}, not
@samp{.emacs}.

If @var{period} is non-@code{nil}, then the returned value includes
the period that delimits the extension, and if @var{filename} has no
extension, the value is @code{""}.
@end defun

@defun file-name-sans-extension filename
This function returns @var{filename} minus its extension, if any.  The
version/backup part, if present, is only removed if the file has an
extension.  For example,

@example
(file-name-sans-extension "foo.lose.c")
     @result{} "foo.lose"
(file-name-sans-extension "big.hack/foo")
     @result{} "big.hack/foo"
(file-name-sans-extension "/my/home/.emacs")
     @result{} "/my/home/.emacs"
(file-name-sans-extension "/my/home/.emacs.el")
     @result{} "/my/home/.emacs"
(file-name-sans-extension "~/foo.el.~3~")
     @result{} "~/foo"
(file-name-sans-extension "~/foo.~3~")
     @result{} "~/foo.~3~"
@end example

Note that the @samp{.~3~} in the two last examples is the backup part,
not an extension.
@end defun

@ignore
Andrew Innes says that this

  A @dfn{directory name} is the name of a directory.  A directory is
actually a kind of file, so it has a file name, which is related to
the directory name but not identical to it.  (This is not quite the
same as the usual Unix terminology.)  These two different names for
the same entity are related by a syntactic transformation.  On GNU and
Unix systems, this is simple: a directory name ends in a slash,
whereas the directory's name as a file lacks that slash.  On MSDOS and
VMS, the relationship is more complicated.

  The difference between a directory name and its name as a file is
subtle but crucial.  When an Emacs variable or function argument is
described as being a directory name, a file name of a directory is not
acceptable.  When @code{file-name-directory} returns a string, that is
always a directory name.

  The following two functions convert between directory names and file
names.  They do nothing special with environment variable substitutions
such as @samp{$HOME}, and the constructs @samp{~}, @samp{.} and @samp{..}.

@defun file-name-as-directory filename
This function returns a string representing @var{filename} in a form
that the operating system will interpret as the name of a directory.  On
most systems, this means appending a slash to the string (if it does not

The variable @code{directory-abbrev-alist} contains an alist of
abbreviations to use for file directories.  Each element has the form
@code{(@var{from} . @var{to})}, and says to replace @var{from} with
@var{to} when it appears in a directory name.  The @var{from} string is
actually a regular expression; it should always start with @samp{^}.
The @var{to} string should be an ordinary absolute directory name.  Do
not use @samp{~} to stand for a home directory in that string.  The
function @code{abbreviate-file-name} performs these substitutions.

You can set this variable in @file{site-init.el} to describe the
abbreviations appropriate for your site.

Here's an example, from a system on which file system @file{/home/fsf}

@end defvar

  To convert a directory name to its abbreviation, use this
function:

@anchor{Definition of abbreviate-file-name}
@defun abbreviate-file-name filename
This function applies abbreviations from @code{directory-abbrev-alist}
to its argument, and substitutes @samp{~} for the user's home
directory.  You can use it for directory names and for file names,
because it recognizes abbreviations even as part of the name.

  @dfn{Expansion} of a file name means converting a relative file name
to an absolute one.  Since this is done relative to a default directory,
you must specify the default directory name as well as the file name to
be expanded.  Expansion also simplifies file names by eliminating
redundancies such as @file{./} and @file{@var{name}/../}.

In the next two functions, the @var{directory} argument can be either
a directory name or a directory file name.  @xref{Directory Names}.

@defun expand-file-name filename &optional directory
This function converts @var{filename} to an absolute file name.  If
@var{directory} is supplied, it is the default directory to start with
if @var{filename} is relative.  (The value of @var{directory} should

(expand-file-name "$HOME/foo")
     @result{} "/xcssun/users/rms/lewis/$HOME/foo"
@end group
@end example

If the part of the combined file name before the first slash is
@samp{~}, it expands to the value of the @env{HOME} environment
variable (usually your home directory).  If the part before the first
slash is @samp{~@var{user}} and if @var{user} is a valid login name,
it expands to @var{user}'s home directory.

Filenames containing @samp{.} or @samp{..} are simplified to their
canonical form:

@example
@group

@end group
@end example

Note that @code{expand-file-name} does @emph{not} expand environment
variables; only @code{substitute-in-file-name} does that.

Note also that @code{expand-file-name} does not follow symbolic links
at any level.  This results in a difference between the way
@code{file-truename} and @code{expand-file-name} treat @samp{..}.
Assuming that @samp{/tmp/bar} is a symbolic link to the directory
@samp{/tmp/foo/bar} we get:

@example
@group
(file-truename "/tmp/bar/../myfile")
     @result{} "/tmp/foo/myfile"
@end group
@group
(expand-file-name "/tmp/bar/../myfile")
     @result{} "/tmp/myfile"
@end group
@end example

If you may need to follow symbolic links preceding @samp{..}, you
should make sure to call @code{file-truename} without prior direct or
indirect calls to @code{expand-file-name}.  @xref{Truenames}.
@end defun

@c Emacs 19 feature
@defun file-relative-name filename &optional directory
This function does the inverse of expansion---it tries to return a

     @result{} "/user/lewis/manual/"
@end group
@end example
@end defvar

@anchor{Definition of substitute-in-file-name}
@defun substitute-in-file-name filename
This function replaces environment variable references in
@var{filename} with the environment variable values.  Following
standard Unix shell syntax, @samp{$} is the prefix to substitute an
environment variable value.  If the input contains @samp{$$}, that is
converted to @samp{$}; this gives the user a way to ``quote'' a
@samp{$}.

(substitute-in-file-name "$HOME/foo")
     @result{} "/xcssun/users/rms/foo"
@end group
@end example

After substitution, if a @samp{~} or a @samp{/} appears immediately
after another @samp{/}, the function discards everything before it (up
through the immediately preceding @samp{/}).

@example
@group
(substitute-in-file-name "bar/~/foo")
     @result{} "~/foo"

@noindent
The job of @code{make-temp-file} is to prevent two different users or
two different jobs from trying to use the exact same file name.

@defun make-temp-file prefix &optional dir-flag suffix
@tindex make-temp-file
This function creates a temporary file and returns its name.
The name starts with @var{prefix}; it also contains a number that is
different in each Emacs job.  If @var{prefix} is a relative file name,
it is expanded against @code{temporary-file-directory}.

When @code{make-temp-file} returns, the file has been created and is
empty.  At that point, you should write the intended contents into the
file.

If @var{dir-flag} is non-@code{nil}, @code{make-temp-file} creates an
empty directory instead of an empty file.  It returns the file name,
not the directory name, of that directory.  @xref{Directory Names}.

If @var{suffix} is non-@code{nil}, @code{make-temp-file} adds it at
the end of the file name.

To prevent conflicts among different libraries running in the same
Emacs, each Lisp program that uses @code{make-temp-file} should have its
own @var{prefix}.  The number added to the end of @var{prefix}
distinguishes between the same application running in different Emacs

@defun make-temp-name string
This function generates a string that can be used as a unique file name.
The name starts with @var{string}, and contains a number that is
different in each Emacs job.  It is like @code{make-temp-file} except
that it just constructs a name, and does not create a file.  Another
difference is that @var{string} should be an absolute file name.  On
MS-DOS, this function can truncate the @var{string} prefix to fit into
the 8+3 file-name limits.
@end defun

@defvar temporary-file-directory
@cindex @code{TMPDIR} environment variable
@cindex @code{TMP} environment variable

The default value is determined in a reasonable way for your operating
system; it is based on the @code{TMPDIR}, @code{TMP} and @code{TEMP}
environment variables, with a fall-back to a system-dependent name if
none of these variables is defined.

Even if you do not use @code{make-temp-file} to create the temporary
file, you should still use this variable to decide which directory to
put the file in.  However, if you expect the file to be small, you
should use @code{small-temporary-file-directory} first if that is
non-@code{nil}.
@end defvar

@tindex small-temporary-file-directory
@defvar small-temporary-file-directory
This variable (new in Emacs 21) specifies the directory name for

@end defun

@defopt completion-ignored-extensions
@code{file-name-completion} usually ignores file names that end in any
string in this list.  It does not ignore them when all the possible
completions end in one of these suffixes.  This variable has no effect
on @code{file-name-all-completions}.@refill

A typical value might look like this:

@example
@group

An error is signaled if @var{directory} is not the name of a directory
that can be read.
@end defun

@defun directory-files-and-attributes directory &optional full-name match-regexp nosort id-format
This is similar to @code{directory-files} in deciding which files
to report on and how to report their names.  However, instead
of returning a list of file names, it returns for each file a
list @code{(@var{filename} . @var{attributes})}, where @var{attributes}
is what @code{file-attributes} would return for that file.
The optional argument @var{id-format} has the same meaning as the
corresponding argument to @code{file-attributes} (@pxref{Definition
of file-attributes}).
@end defun

@defun file-name-all-versions file dirname
This function returns a list of all versions of the file named
@var{file} in directory @var{dirname}.  It is only available on VMS.
@end defun

@tindex file-expand-wildcards
@defun file-expand-wildcards pattern &optional full
This function expands the wildcard pattern @var{pattern}, returning

@defun insert-directory file switches &optional wildcard full-directory-p
This function inserts (in the current buffer) a directory listing for
directory @var{file}, formatted with @code{ls} according to
@var{switches}.  It leaves point after the inserted text.
@var{switches} may be a string of options, or a list of strings
representing individual options.

The argument @var{file} may be either a directory name or a file
specification including wildcard characters.  If @var{wildcard} is
non-@code{nil}, that means treat @var{file} as a file specification with
wildcards.

@code{shell-file-name}, to expand the wildcards.

MS-DOS and MS-Windows systems usually lack the standard Unix program
@code{ls}, so this function emulates the standard Unix program @code{ls}
with Lisp code.

As a technical detail, when @var{switches} contains the long
@samp{--dired} option, @code{insert-directory} treats it specially,
for the sake of dired.  However, the normally equivalent short
@samp{-D} option is just passed on to @code{insert-directory-program},
as any other option.
@end defun

@defvar insert-directory-program
This variable's value is the program to run to generate a directory listing
for the function @code{insert-directory}.  It is ignored on systems

with @code{delete-file}.  These special functions exist to create and
delete directories.

@defun make-directory dirname &optional parents
This function creates a directory named @var{dirname}.
If @var{parents} is non-@code{nil}, as is always the case in an
interactive call, that means to create the parent directories first,
if they don't already exist.
@end defun

@defun delete-directory dirname
This function deletes the directory named @var{dirname}.  The function
@code{delete-file} does not work for files that are directories; you
must use @code{delete-directory} for them.  If the directory contains
any files, @code{delete-directory} signals an error.

This function only follows symbolic links at the level of parent
directories.
@end defun

@node Magic File Names
@section Making Certain File Names ``Magic''
@cindex magic file names

All the Emacs primitives for file access and file name transformation
check the given file name against @code{file-name-handler-alist}.  If
the file name matches @var{regexp}, the primitives handle that file by
calling @var{handler}.

The first argument given to @var{handler} is the name of the
primitive, as a symbol; the remaining arguments are the arguments that
were passed to that primitive.  (The first of these arguments is most
often the file name itself.)  For example, if you do this:

@example
(file-exists-p @var{filename})
@end example

nothing and returns @code{nil}.  Otherwise it returns the file name
of the local copy file.
@end defun

@defun file-remote-p filename
This function returns @code{t} if @var{filename} is a remote file---that is,
a magic file name that handles @code{file-local-copy}.
@end defun

@defun unhandled-file-name-directory filename
This function returns the name of a directory that is not magic.  It

When @code{write-region} writes data into a file, it first calls the
encoding functions for the formats listed in @code{buffer-file-format},
in the order of appearance in the list.

@deffn Command format-write-file file format &optional confirm
This command writes the current buffer contents into the file
@var{file} in format @var{format}, and makes that format the default
for future saves of the buffer.  The argument @var{format} is a list
of format names.  Except for the @var{format} argument, this command
is similar to @code{write-file}.  In particular, @var{confirm} has the
same meaning and interactive treatment as the corresponding argument
to @code{write-file}.  @xref{Definition of write-file}.
@end deffn

@deffn Command format-find-file file format
This command finds the file @var{file}, converting it according to
format @var{format}.  It also makes @var{format} the default if the

@defvar auto-save-file-format
This variable specifies the format to use for auto-saving.  Its value is
a list of format names, just like the value of
@code{buffer-file-format}; however, it is used instead of
@code{buffer-file-format} for writing auto-save files.  If the value
is @code{t}, the default, auto-saving uses the same format as a
regular save in the same buffer.  This variable is always buffer-local
in all buffers.
@end defvar

@ignore
   arch-tag: 141f74ce-6ae3-40dc-a6c4-ef83fc4ec35c
@end ignore