Re-open *scratch* buffer

Question

If I accidentally closed the scratch buffer in Emacs, how do I create a new scratch buffer?

Answer 1

Just re-create the buffer by switching to it: C-x b *scratch* RET. Since Emacs 21.2, if you create a buffer called *scratch*, it's automatically put in Lisp Interaction mode.

Answer 2

It's arguably better to re-create the *scratch* buffer automatically whenever it gets deleted, and avoid having to retype its name.

(defun prepare-scratch-for-kill ()
  (save-excursion
    (set-buffer (get-buffer-create "*scratch*"))
    (add-hook 'kill-buffer-query-functions 'kill-scratch-buffer t)))

(defun kill-scratch-buffer ()
  (let (kill-buffer-query-functions)
    (kill-buffer (current-buffer)))
  ;; no way, *scratch* shall live
  (prepare-scratch-for-kill)
  ;; Since we "killed" it, don't let caller try too
  nil)

(prepare-scratch-for-kill)

Answer 3

GNU Emacs default bindings:

C-xb*scratch*

or, more verbosely

1. M-xswitch-to-buffer
2. Typing: *scratch*
3. And then hitting the RET key.

The *scratch* buffer is the buffer selected upon startup, and has the major mode Lisp Interaction. Note: the mode for the *scratch* buffer is controlled by the variable initial-major-mode.

---

In general you can create as many "scratch" buffers as you want, and name them however you choose.

C-x bNAME

switches to buffer NAME, creating it if it doesn't exist. A new buffer is not associated with a file on disk until you use C-xC-w (or M-xwrite-file) to choose a file where it should be saved.

---

M-xtext-mode changes the current buffer's major mode to Text mode.

To find all the modes available (that is, without requiring any new packages), you can get a list by typing:

1. M-xapropos-command
2. Then type: -mode$
3. And then press RET

Answer 4

I like to use scratch buffers for throw-away stuff. Having only one is somewhat limiting though, therefore I have scratch as an interactive command for opening a new scratch buffer (no matter how many exist already):

(defun scratch ()
  "create a new scratch buffer to work in. (could be *scratch* - *scratchX*)"
  (interactive)
  (let ((n 0)
        bufname)
    (while (progn
             (setq bufname (concat "*scratch"
                                   (if (= n 0) "" (int-to-string n))
                                   "*"))
             (setq n (1+ n))
             (get-buffer bufname)))
  (switch-to-buffer (get-buffer-create bufname))
  (if (= n 1) initial-major-mode))) ; 1, because n was incremented

adopted from: http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1038451

Answer 5

May I suggest to create an empty buffer? The interesting thing being that, you create the buffer first, and you save it after, if you really want to.

(defun my-empty-buffer () 
  "Open a new empty buffer."
  (interactive)
  (let ((buf (generate-new-buffer "untitled")))
    (switch-to-buffer buf)
    (funcall (and initial-major-mode))
    (setq buffer-offer-save t)))

You will have to set initial-major-mode to lisp in your init file and you should bind the my-empty-buffer to a shortcut like C-n.

Courtesy of ergoemacs