Re: org-indent-mode corrupted most of a big org file

[Alexander Baier <lexi.baier@gmail.com>]

On 13-12-02 12:21 Rainer Stengele wrote:
> All,
>
> last week I played around with org-indent-mode in my biggest (37.000 lines) org file.
> 3 days later I detected that most of the file was corrupted.
> WHy so late? Using the agenda I only saw the todos and did not recognise the corrupted structures.
> Most "*" items had been placed at the beginning of the line and therefore now became headlines.
> I do not know how this happened. I am not sure if I myself was the reason somehow.
> Anyway I had to spend a fair amount of work to get the old file format from
> subversion and insert the changes since the corruption.
>
> This is just a warning to have backups at hand before changing to org-indent mode.
> Then immediately and check often the contents of the file until you are sure all is running well.
>
> Maybe someone has an idea.
>
> I will try to convert again later but then be much more careful.
>
> Rainer
>
>

FWIW, I have the following snippet in my init file, that uses emacs'
build-in backup machanism to save me from such things.  As emacs stuffs
them all in one central location, I do not have to worry about polluting
my filesystem.

#+begin_src emacs-lisp
  (setq make-backup-files t)
  (setq backup-directory-alist '(("/home/delexi/*" . "/home/delexi/.emacs.d/backup")))
  (setq backup-by-copying t      ; don't use symlinks
        delete-old-versions t    ; don't ask me about deleting backups
        kept-new-versions 20
        kept-old-versions 5
        version-control t)       ; use versioned backups
#+end_src

If you want to make backups from files under version control, you also
have to set the following:

#+begin_src emacs-lisp
  (setq vc-make-backup-files t)
#+end_src

This already saved me a couple of times.

Regards,
-- 
 Alexander Baier