org-capture windows

[Max Nikulin <manikulin@gmail.com>]

On 15/11/2021 16:57, Eric S Fraga wrote:
> 
> I agree completely.  One of my bug-bears is org-capture which I often
> use during meetings to take notes or create TODO items.  Typically, the
> org capture window covers my Teams buffer (I use exwm as my window
> manager...) which is rather annoying.

It seems, your workflow is inconsistent with original org-capture idea. 
It was created at the time when screens were smaller and video meetings 
were not usual activity. It is only my guess however. Some event 
requiring capture interrupts current activity. It should be postponed 
till capture completion, so all other windows are removed to not 
distract you. As soon as capture finished you can resume the earlier 
activity, so previous window layout and positions in buffers are restored.

It is not bad approach per se but it is designed for frames with one or 
two buffers and incompatible with Emacs as window manager approach. I do 
not mind that such behavior should not be mandatory.

I have another example when current behavior is confusing. Browser and 
an Emacs frame are placed side by side. A group of related pages should 
be captured. Initial buffer and position is arbitrary. During capture of 
first page I jump to particular heading to cross-reference new note with 
some older topic. It is necessary to add a bit more to the same topic 
for a next web page but on capture completion buffer position is reset 
to previous value despite I was going to continue capture process.

Another problem is capture started through org-protocol without explicit 
template when template selection for previous capture was already 
active. Such kind of multi-tasking should not be a problem but it is 
since template key should be typed into minibuffer. I do not know what 
can be a proper solution. Maybe it can be a special mode with custom 
keymap for *Org Select* windows, so several such buffers may co-exist 
with no conflict due to minibuffer.

> I did play with display-buffer-alist but it seemed to not be able to
> take control of some of org's windows.  Everything else I do in Emacs is
> nicely managed through that alist.

A couple of months ago `display-buffer-alist' was overridden by 
`org-no-popups'. Currently you can put "\\*Org 
Select\\*\\|CAPTURE-.*\.org" buffers to e.g. side window. Unfortunately 
other windows are still wiped till capture completion.