Hi all,

I want emacsclientw.exe to start up an emacs daemon with a custom --init-directory in case no server is running. For that case, I think, I need to explicitly set the value for the "--alternate-editor"-flag to something like:

-a "%UserProfile%\bin\emacs-29.3\bin\runemacs.exe --init-directory %APPDATA%\Dotfiles\emacs\.emacs.d\"

However, doing so results in the following error: "file name or argument required". This is also true when specifing a relative path (i.e. AppData\Dotfiles\emacs\.emacs.d\).

After some more trials with single and/or double qoutes (details see below), I got the impression that this behavior is unlikely intentional. And I am somewhat confident, that more then one oy my many attempts should've been successful. (Note that I raised this issue first here: https://emacs.stackexchange.com/a/82355/30098)

For completeness, the full comand ("Target") I am trying to run is:

%UserProfile%\bin\emacs-29.3\bin\emacsclientw.exe -a '%UserProfile%\bin\emacs-29.3\bin\runemacs.exe --init-directory "AppData\Dotfiles\emacs\.emacs.d\"' -n -c --server-file %APPDATA%\Dotfiles\emacs\.emacs.d\server\server

that command starts in

%UserProfile%

ATM, I have as a work around a shortcut to emacscleintw.exe without an -a flag. Before using it, I once have to run:

%UserProfile%\bin\emacs-29.3\bin\runemacs.exe --daemon ----init-directory %APPDATA%\Dotfiles\emacs\.emacs.d\

Obviously, I would rather have to have it all in one place.

And here are the Details, regarding the use of quotes with or without relative path for --init-directory:

For the several options using quotes, I got the following problems, depending on whether I put single or double quoutes for the whole argument or just the path:

Double quotes around the argmument and single quotes for the path, using the full path:

-a "%UserProfile%\bin\emacs-29.3\bin\runemacs.exe --init-directory '%APPDATA%\Dotfiles\emacs\.emacs.d\'"

--> Warning: "Warning (initialization): Unable to create `user-emacs-directory' (c:/Users/gross20/'C:/Users/gross20/AppData/Roaming/Dotfiles/emacs/.emacs.d/'/)."

Single quotes around the argmument and double quotes for the path, using the full path:

-a '%UserProfile%\bin\emacs-29.3\bin\runemacs.exe --init-directory "%APPDATA%\Dotfiles\emacs\.emacs.d\"'

--> Error: Try --help for more information

Double quotes around the argmument and single quotes for the path, using a relative path:

-a "%UserProfile%\bin\emacs-29.3\bin\runemacs.exe --init-directory 'AppData\Roaming\Dotfiles\emacs\.emacs.d\'"

--> Strarts without errors or warning, but the user-emacs-directory is "c:/Users/XXX/'AppData/Roaming/Dotfiles/emacs/.emacs.d/'/" (Note the single quote in the folder name for AppData)

Single quotes around the argmument and single quotes for the path, using a relative path:

-a '%UserProfile%\bin\emacs-29.3\bin\runemacs.exe --init-directory "AppData\Dotfiles\emacs\.emacs.d\"'

--> Error: Try --help for more information

And one additional observation: From my many attempts, related or not, I also got the impression, that I am closer to what I want ommiting the --daemon flag within the argument for the -a flag. However, I need it when linking to runemacs.exe directly.

This is my first bug report to this mailing list, hope it contributes a tiny tiny bit. (:

Best

Jonas

In GNU Emacs 29.3 (build 2, x86_64-w64-mingw32) of 2024-03-24 built on
 AVALON
Windowing system distributor 'Microsoft Corp.', version 10.0.19045
System Description: Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise (v10.0.2009.19045.4894)

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