Reloading directory-local variables

Question

How do you reload directory-local variables? I would like to modify a .dir-locals.el and have such changes applied to the current Emacs session.

Answer 1

This function will re-read the dir-locals file and set the new values for the current buffer:

(defun my-reload-dir-locals-for-current-buffer ()
  "reload dir locals for the current buffer"
  (interactive)
  (let ((enable-local-variables :all))
    (hack-dir-local-variables-non-file-buffer)))

And if you want to reload dir-locals for every buffer in your current buffer's directory:

(defun my-reload-dir-locals-for-all-buffer-in-this-directory ()
  "For every buffer with the same `default-directory` as the 
current buffer's, reload dir-locals."
  (interactive)
  (let ((dir default-directory))
    (dolist (buffer (buffer-list))
      (with-current-buffer buffer
        (when (equal default-directory dir)
          (my-reload-dir-locals-for-current-buffer))))))

You could have all the dir locals refresh every time you save a dir-locals file by adding an after-save-hook to .dir-locals.el buffers.

(add-hook 'emacs-lisp-mode-hook
          (defun enable-autoreload-for-dir-locals ()
            (when (and (buffer-file-name)
                       (equal dir-locals-file
                              (file-name-nondirectory (buffer-file-name))))
              (add-hook 'after-save-hook
                        'my-reload-dir-locals-for-all-buffer-in-this-directory
                        nil t))))

Of course this could have unintended consequences because it will reset the variables values regardless of whether they have been changed elsewhere, so use at your own risk.

Answer 2

You can also use: M-: (hack-dir-local-variables-non-file-buffer)

---

To check it works: from a buffer (an org mode file for instance), type M-x add-dir-local-variable, then validate (default org-mode), then type demo RET, then "this is a demo" RET.

Your .dir-locals.el file will appear in a buffer:

;;; Directory Local Variables
;;; For more information see (info "(emacs) Directory Variables")

((org-mode
  (demo . "this is a demo")))

You have to save it: C-x C-s

Then go back to your org mode buffer and check that the demo variable is not defined (C-h C-v demo)

Here you can use the trick: M-: (hack-dir-local-variables-non-file-buffer)

Now C-h C-v demo will print:

demo’s value is "this is a demo" Local in buffer poub.org; globally void

This variable’s value is directory-local, set by the file
‘/home/picaud/Temp/.dir-locals.el’.

Documentation: Not documented as a variable.