The first line of a plain-text file reads:
# -*- eval: (auto-revert-tail-mode 1); -*-
Yet Emacs does not enable auto-revert-tail-mode after opening this file. What is wrong?
Take a look at the variables enable-local-eval and enable-local-variables. If you've changed one or both of these from their default values it could explain the behavior you are seeing.
For example if enable-local-eval is nil then that eval line in your file would be ignored.
text-mode,fundamental-mode, other?) – T. Verron Dec 9 '14 at 14:13emacs -Q, too; and it works there. My Emacs configuration must be messed up: there are many that don't work, besides this one. – Elena Dec 9 '14 at 14:17enable-local-variablesorenable-local-eval? – glucas Dec 9 '14 at 19:10custom-set-variableswas settingenable-local-evaltonil. I don't remember having set this option myself. I suppose that Customize did it when I was trying to stop Emacs from pestering me about whether to apply file-local variables or not. I will leave this variable asnil, though, and I will find another way to enableauto-revert-tail-modeon this file. If you convert your comment to an answer, I will select it. Thank you. – Elena Dec 10 '14 at 11:19