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When I want to do something in another buffer and then restore the original, I currently do this:
(let ((this-buffer (current-buffer)))
(switch-to-buffer (other-buffer))
(insert "I was here!")
(switch-to-buffer this-buffer))
Is there a less verbose way to this, something like:
(save-buffer-and-switch (other-buffer)
(insert "I was here!"))
You want with-current-buffer:
(with-current-buffer (other-buffer)
(insert "I was here!"))
There is also save-current-buffer, which is a simpler mechanism used to implement the with-current-buffer macro:
(save-current-buffer
(set-buffer (other-buffer))
(insert "I was here!"))
The combination of save-current-buffer and set-buffer mostly seems to show up in older code. Most of the time, with-current-buffer is clearer, IMO.
with-buffer in helm-apropos, but missed it (HA lists all commands before functions, so it was far down in the list).
Oct 21, 2015 at 19:20
C-o to switch sources in helm. You can also use C-h v look up function/macro's docstring, don't forget to turn on helm-mode since it provides a very handy persistent-action.
Oct 21, 2015 at 19:44
C-h f (describe-function)? C-h v is bound to describe-variable in my Emacs. But maybe this is different under Helm, I don't know.
switch-to-bufferis just plain wrong here: it changes which buffer is displayed in the currently selected window, whereas you just want to change the currently selected buffer. IOW instead ofswitch-to-bufferyou would wantset-buffer. SeeC-h f switch-to-buffer RET.