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I need to test if the buffer has been modified even if (save-buffer) has been called after the changes.

I thought to use add-variable-watcher but I found that buffer-modified-p is a function, not a variable.

I thought something like (add-hook 'before-save-hook 'myfunction) where myfunction should set a custom-variable on t and remove the hook at the same time. In this case I could test (or (buffer-modified-p) custom-variable)

I mean something like

(defun myfunction (VAR)
  (setq VAR t)
  (remove-hook 'before-save-hook 'myfunction)

(defmacro mymacro
   `(let ((VAR nil))

      (add-hook 'before-save-hook 'myfunction)

      ,@body

      (if (or (buffer-modified-p) VAR) ...)))

(This is not a MWE but only an idea of code...)

How can I add a function with one argument (custom-variable) to 'before-save-hook? Is it a bad idea? I need to avoid lambda function because of the need to remove it from the hook.

I'm open to other ideas.

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  • Please clarify. You talk about variable watchers as if you were wanting to react to changes when they happen, but then also talk about before-save-hook as if you're not concerned about changes unless you're about to save the buffer to a file. What is it that you want to do? Describe the behaviour you're trying to achieve.
    – phils
    May 10, 2022 at 0:45
  • You could use write-region instead of save-buffer, if that is an option for you. It would 'save' your buffer without setting it 'unmodified'.
    – dalanicolai
    May 10, 2022 at 1:12
  • @phils the reaction to the changes would be setting VAR on t. I'm just looking for a way to check if the buffer has been modified at the end of ,@body even if user (interactively) or functions saved the buffer.
    – Gabriele Nicolardi
    May 10, 2022 at 6:08
  • @dalanicolai write-region is not an option, thanks.
    – Gabriele Nicolardi
    May 10, 2022 at 6:09
  • @GabrieleNicolardi You call (buffer-modified-p) to check if the buffer has been modified. But I believe you already know that, and knew before you asked the question, so I still don't understand what the question is, or how hooks or variable watchers come into it.
    – phils
    May 10, 2022 at 7:23

1 Answer 1

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1

I think you just want:

(let ((modified (buffer-modified-p)))
  ...do things...
  (when modified
    ...do more things...))
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