Thanks for the response, Eric. :)

On Fri, Mar 6, 2020 at 1:51 AM Fraga, Eric <e.fraga@ucl.ac.uk> wrote:

> On Thursday,  5 Mar 2020 at 10:28, Tim Visher wrote:
> > I _am_ able to get it to work by adding a file local variable like
> >
> > ```
> > # Local Variables:
> > # org-attach-id-dir: "~/.foo/data"
> > # End:
> > ```
> >
> > but then whenever I open the file it tells me it's possibly not safe to
> set
> > that.
>
> You've already received a more org-ish response but I'll give you an
> Emacs response to this part of your post: Emacs is simply making sure
> you are aware that a variable is being set when visiting a file.
>

Yep. That's fully understood. I'm less clear on why certain variables are
considered safe and some are not but that doesn't seem relevant. I've done
enough with file local and directory local variables in the past that I
have a pretty clear understanding of what they do.

My question was more around why I had to do it at all since based on my
reading of the manual it seems like I should've been able to do this with
some kind of file-wide property. Specifically, I've never been able to wrap
my head around `(info "(org) Property Syntax")`.

"Properties are key–value pairs. When they are associated with a single
entry or with a tree…," for instance, seems to imply by "When they are
associated with a single entry…" that they can be associated with all the
entries (or a particular tree or node).

Anyway, I think between you and Gustav I finally have this sorted.

   1. To set properties at the top level of a file you need to use the
   `#+PROPERTY: <PROPERTY_NAME> <PROPERTY_VALUE>` syntax. I've been trying to
   figure out how I misinterpreted that in the past and I _think_ it was
   because I assumed that the `#+PROPERTY` was actually `#+<PROPERTY>` as in
   `#+DIR` rather than `#+PROPERTY: DIR`. It looks like to set a file local
   property in an org file you _must_ (at least on 9.3 or earlier) use the
   `#+PROPERTY: <PROPERTY_NAME> <PROPERTY_VALUE>` syntax.

   2. Even then by default org-attach property inheritance is set to
   `'selective` and `org-use-property-inheritance` is set to off. I've now
   customized `org-use-property-inheritance` to `'("DIR")` which I believe
   says that I consider the `DIR` property to be a possible candidate for
   inheritance and no others. I'm a little concerned about performance
   implications as the manual gives me all kinds of scary warnings but we'll
   see about that.

Anyway this appears to work as I expect it to. I don't have to set a
file-local variable to anything. I'm using org properties. And
`org-attach-dir` now returns the proper directory for this file.

Thanks all! If you think I'm still misunderstanding something please
correct me. :)

--

In Christ,

Timmy V.

https://blog.twonegatives.com
https://five.sentenc.es