Re: Export an org file from the command line in the background

[Nick Dokos <nicholas.dokos@hp.com>]

Viktor Rosenfeld <listuser36@googlemail.com> wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> Jambunathan K wrote:
> 
> > 
> > C-h v org-export-run-in-background
> 
> This only works for org-export, but not for org-export-as-XXX.
> 
> Additionally, it appears that setting org-confirm-babel-evaluate locally
> does not have an effect on background exports. Even setting it globally
> in a running Emacs instance won't work; the command has to be in a file
> that is loaded during Emacs startup.
> 
> The help contains the following text which I don't understand:
> 
>   This variable is safe as a file local variable if its value
>   satisfies the predicate which is byte-compiled expression.
> 
> Cheers,
> Viktor
> 
> > 
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > is it possible to export an org file from the command line, so that a
> > > currently running Emacs instance is not disturbed? I want to export the
> > > attached org file and run the included source blocks, so I have an
> > > activity report in the end. I use the shell script pasted below, but
> > > there are two problems:
> > >
> > > - my Emacs instance is blocked during the execution of the shell
> > >   scripts contained in the file
> > > - the script globally sets org-confirm-babel-evaluate to nil for my
> > >   Emacs instance
> > >
> > > The second problem could possibly be solved with a local file variable.
> > > But the first problem remains. If I use emacs instead of emacsclient, it
> > > complains about a running Emacs instance.
> > >
> > >   #!/bin/sh
> > >
> > >   emacsclient -c \
> > >   --eval "(progn
> > >     (find-file \"macports.org\"))
> > >     (setq org-confirm-babel-evaluate nil)
> > >     (org-export-as-html 3)
> > >     (kill-buffer)
> > >     (delete-frame))"
> > >
> > > I'm using Org-Mode 7.7.
> > >


The usual method is to run a separate emacs in batch mode: that will avoid any conflicts
with the running instance. But batch implies -q, so you will have to provide a minimal .emacs
file that sets up enough structure to enable you to do what you want:

     emacs --batch -l ~/minimal.emacs \
       --eval '(let ((org-confirm-babel-evaluate nil))
                    (find-file "macports.org")
		    (org-export-as-html 3))'

should do it.

minimal.emacs would just load org - modulo path differences, something like:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
;;; -*- mode: emacs-lisp -*-
;;; constant part
(add-to-list 'load-path (expand-file-name "~/src/emacs/org/org-mode/lisp"))
(add-to-list 'load-path (expand-file-name "~/src/emacs/org/org-mode/contrib/lisp"))
(add-to-list 'auto-mode-alist '("\\.\\(org\\|org_archive\\|txt\\)$" . org-mode))
(require 'org-install)
--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

Also note the let bind of org-confirm-babel-evaluate: that would alleviate the
second problem you mentioned above in the emacsclient case (and although it's
irrelevant in the emacs case, I still prefer the let bind over the explicit setq).

HTH,
Nick