(jed.info)Backup and Autosave Files

---

Next: Status line and Windows Prev: File Types and Sizes Up: Top

---

Enter node , (file) or (file)node

Backup and Autosave Files
=========================

   On UNIX and MSDOS systems, JED creates backup files by appending a
`~' character to the filename.  The VMS operating system handles backup
files itself.  JED periodically autosaves its buffers.  On UNIX and
MSDOS, autosave files are prefixed with the pound sign `#'.  On VMS,
they are prefixed with `_$'.  The autosave interval may be changed by
setting the variable MAX_HITS to the desired value. The default is 300
"hits" on the buffer. A "hit" is defined as a key which MAY change the
state of the buffer. Cursor movement keys do not cause hits on the
buffer.

   Like many of JED's features, the names of autosave and backup files
can be controlled by the user.  The file `site.sl' defines two
functions, `make_backup_filename', and `make_autosave_filename' that
generate the file names described in the previous paragraph.  Like all
S-Lang functions, these functions may be overloaded and replaced with
different ones.  See also information about `find_file_hook' in the
section on hooks.

   On UNIX systems, JED catches most signals and tries to autosave its
buffers in the event of a crash or if the user accidently disconnects
from the system (`SIGHUP').

   If an autosave file exists and you is desire to recover data from the
autosave file, use the function `recover_file'.  Whenever JED finds a
file, it checks to see if an autosave file exists as well as the file's
date.  If the dates are such that the autosave file is more recent JED
will display a message in the minibuffer alerting the user of this fact
and that the function `recover_file' should be considered.