Is it possible to create an org-mode *scratch* buffer?

Question

While working on a document in emacs I often find myself opening a new buffer, doing something in org-mode, copying the org-mode content, and pasting it into my document. I used to create a new org-mode document every time I needed to do this. Now I have a file ~/.scratch.org where I keep my this work.

Would it be possible to create an *org-scratch* buffer that behaved analogously to the *scratch* buffer?

Answer 1

The initial major-mode for the *Scratch* buffer is controlled by the variable initial-major-mode -- the value needs to be a symbol (which in layman's terms means put a single quote in front of the major-mode name): http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/elisp/Auto-Major-Mode.html

(setq initial-major-mode 'org-mode)

---

EDIT: Based on a comment of the original poster, here is a sample function to create non-file-visiting buffers in sequential order with the major-mode of org-mode:

(defun my-scratch-buffer ()
"Create a new scratch buffer -- \*hello-world\*"
(interactive)
  (let ((n 0)
        bufname buffer)
    (catch 'done
      (while t
        (setq bufname (concat "*hello-world"
          (if (= n 0) "" (int-to-string n))
            "*"))
        (setq n (1+ n))
        (when (not (get-buffer bufname))
          (setq buffer (get-buffer-create bufname))
          (with-current-buffer buffer
            (org-mode))
          ;; When called non-interactively, the `t` targets the other window (if it exists).
          (throw 'done (display-buffer buffer t))) ))))

Answer 2

There's an extension called scratch, which allows creating mode-specific scratch buffers. It is available from MELPA, so you should be able to install it easily.

With this package installed, when you are in an org-mode buffer, you can run M-xscratch to get a scratch buffer in org-mode.

If you give a prefix argument, you get the opportunity to choose the mode (instead of selecting the currently active major mode).

Answer 3

I think one simple way to achieve it is simply to run M-x org-mode when you're in *snatch* buffer, and thus enabling org-mode directly. This can be applied to enabling any major mode.

Answer 4

Try this:

1. C-x b (type a name for your new scratch buffer, e.g. "asdf")
2. M-x org-mode (change "asdf" buffer's major mode)

When closing this buffer you won't get a query for saving its contents. I.e. you get a proper scratch buffer. And the *scratch* buffer remains intact.