Open a frame for the first time (using `emacsclient -c`) showing other buffer than *scratch*

Question

I have emacs configured to start org-agenda automatically and show it instead of *scratch*. Like this:

(add-hook (quote after-init-hook)
              (lambda ()
              ;; ...
              (org-agenda-list 1)
              (delete-other-windows)))

However, the same trick don't works with emacsclient, the org-agenda buffer is there in the buffer list, but the *scratch* buffer is shown instead.

Answer 1

Check the manual for initial-buffer-choice

If non-nil, this variable is a string that specifies a file or directory for Emacs to display after starting up, instead of the startup screen. If its value is a function, Emacs calls that function which must return a buffer which is then displayed. If its value is t, Emacs displays the *scratch* buffer.

The web manual may not say it, but C-h v for me clarifies that this also affects emacsclient use with no target file.

So you can just set this to a function that returns the org agenda buffer.

(setq initial-buffer-choice '(lambda () (get-buffer org-agenda-buffer-name)))

Notice that, with this solution, you don't need the after-init-hook. Just call org-agenda-list sometime in your init file to ensure the buffer is available for the initial choice.

Answer 2

The simple solution I have, is calling emacsclient plus some lisp evaluation. For example: emacsclient -c -e '(switch-to-buffer "init.el")'

You'll have to replace init.el by the buffer you want to open. That one suppose the init.el buffer was already launched and exists with the emacs server.

EDIT

Now, if using emacsclient, you want to launch the org-agenda-list function: emacsclient -c -e '(org-agenda-list)'

Answer 3

Try adding a function to the after-make-frame-functions variable.

after-make-frame-functions is a variable defined in `frame.el'.

Documentation:
Functions to run after a frame is created.
The functions are run with one arg, the newly created frame.