GNU bug report logs - #14605
Problem with export an .org file to .pdf does not open pdf file

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Petr Hracek <phracek <at> redhat.com>
To: bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org
Subject: Problem with export an .org file to .pdf does not open pdf file
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:28:50 +0200

Hi folks,

I would like to export some .org file into .pdf file.
This should also open PDF after export is done but it does not.

This is done by command C-c C-e d.
In some case emacs freezes.

Could you please help me?

-- 
Best regards / S pozdravem
Petr Hracek

Message #8 received at 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Petr Hracek <phracek <at> redhat.com>
To: 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#14605: Problem with export an .org file to .pdf does not
 open pdf file
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 13:07:11 +0200

On 06/13/2013 03:28 PM, Petr Hracek wrote:
> Hi folks,
>
> I would like to export some .org file into .pdf file.
> This should also open PDF after export is done but it does not.
>
> This is done by command C-c C-e d.
> In some case emacs freezes.
>
> Could you please help me?
>
Hi

I have find out that if file org/org.el where are defined variables like 
org-file-apps
is mentioned
("\\.pdf\\'" . default)

When I changed them to e.g xpdf then pdf file is openned properly.

-- 
Best regards / S pozdravem
Petr Hracek

Message #11 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Petr Hracek <phracek <at> redhat.com>
To: bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#14605: Problem with export an .org file to .pdf does not
 open pdf file
Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 15:14:19 +0200

Hi,

I have browsed the lisp code of org.el
where  is mentioned:
"External applications for opening `file:path' items in a document.
Org-mode uses system defaults for different file types, but
you can use this variable to set the application for a given file
extension.  The entries in this list are cons cells where the car identifies
files and the cdr the corresponding command.  Possible values for the
file identifier are
 \"string\"    A string as a file identifier can be interpreted in 
different
               ways, depending on its contents:

               - Alphanumeric characters only:
                 Match links with this file extension.
                 Example: (\"pdf\" . \"evince %s\")
                          to open PDFs with evince.

What does it mean system defaults?
What command is used for getting default programs?
xdg-mine or another?
Thank you in advance

greetings
Petr

On 06/25/2013 01:07 PM, Petr Hracek wrote:
> On 06/13/2013 03:28 PM, Petr Hracek wrote:
>> Hi folks,
>>
>> I would like to export some .org file into .pdf file.
>> This should also open PDF after export is done but it does not.
>>
>> This is done by command C-c C-e d.
>> In some case emacs freezes.
>>
>> Could you please help me?
>>
> Hi
>
> I have find out that if file org/org.el where are defined variables 
> like org-file-apps
> is mentioned
> ("\\.pdf\\'" . default)
>
> When I changed them to e.g xpdf then pdf file is openned properly.
>


-- 
Best regards / S pozdravem
Petr Hracek

Message #16 received at 14605-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Bastien <bzg <at> gnu.org>
To: Petr Hracek <phracek <at> redhat.com>
Cc: 14605-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#14605: Problem with export an .org file to .pdf does not open
 pdf file
Date: Sat, 17 Aug 2013 14:31:45 +0200

Hi Petr,

Petr Hracek <phracek <at> redhat.com> writes:

> "External applications for opening `file:path' items in a document.
> Org-mode uses system defaults for different file types, but
> you can use this variable to set the application for a given file
> extension.  The entries in this list are cons cells where the car identifies
> files and the cdr the corresponding command.  Possible values for the
> file identifier are
>  \"string\"    A string as a file identifier can be interpreted in
> different
>                ways, depending on its contents:
>
>                - Alphanumeric characters only:
>                  Match links with this file extension.
>                  Example: (\"pdf\" . \"evince %s\")
>                           to open PDFs with evince.
>
> What does it mean system defaults?

It means mailcap.  Org relies on mailcap.el behind the scene.

> What command is used for getting default programs?
> xdg-mine or another?

Nope, mailcap.

> Thank you in advance

Best,

-- 
 Bastien

Message #19 received at 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Carsten Dominik <carsten.dominik <at> gmail.com>
To: Petr Hracek <phracek <at> redhat.com>
Cc: 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: [O] bug#14605: Problem with export an .org file to .pdf does not
 open pdf file
Date: Mon, 2 Sep 2013 07:35:40 +0200

On 13.8.2013, at 15:14, Petr Hracek <phracek <at> redhat.com> wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> I have browsed the lisp code of org.el
> where  is mentioned:
> "External applications for opening `file:path' items in a document.
> Org-mode uses system defaults for different file types, but
> you can use this variable to set the application for a given file
> extension.  The entries in this list are cons cells where the car identifies
> files and the cdr the corresponding command.  Possible values for the
> file identifier are
> \"string\"    A string as a file identifier can be interpreted in different
>               ways, depending on its contents:
> 
>               - Alphanumeric characters only:
>                 Match links with this file extension.
>                 Example: (\"pdf\" . \"evince %s\")
>                          to open PDFs with evince.
> 
> What does it mean system defaults?
> What command is used for getting default programs?
> xdg-mine or another?
> Thank you in advance

Hi Petr,

these defaults come from

`org-file-apps-defaults-macosx'
`org-file-apps-defaults-windowsnt'
`org-file-apps-defaults-gnu'

They are basically the "open" commands for MacOS X and Windows, and mailcap for Unix/Linux.

Hope this helps

- Carsten

> 
> greetings
> Petr
> 
> On 06/25/2013 01:07 PM, Petr Hracek wrote:
>> On 06/13/2013 03:28 PM, Petr Hracek wrote:
>>> Hi folks,
>>> 
>>> I would like to export some .org file into .pdf file.
>>> This should also open PDF after export is done but it does not.
>>> 
>>> This is done by command C-c C-e d.
>>> In some case emacs freezes.
>>> 
>>> Could you please help me?
>>> 
>> Hi
>> 
>> I have find out that if file org/org.el where are defined variables like org-file-apps
>> is mentioned
>> ("\\.pdf\\'" . default)
>> 
>> When I changed them to e.g xpdf then pdf file is openned properly.
>> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Best regards / S pozdravem
> Petr Hracek
> 
> 
> 
> 

Message #22 received at 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Jambunathan K <kjambunathan <at> gmail.com>
To: Carsten Dominik <carsten.dominik <at> gmail.com>
Cc: Petr Hracek <phracek <at> redhat.com>, 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#14605: [O] bug#14605: Problem with export an .org file to
 .pdf does not open pdf file
Date: Mon, 02 Sep 2013 14:04:14 +0530

Carsten Dominik <carsten.dominik <at> gmail.com> writes:

> They are basically the "open" commands for MacOS X and Windows, and
> mailcap for Unix/Linux.

The suggestion below is met with some approval in the Orgmode mailist
earlier.  

http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-orgmode/2013-07/msg00407.html

Here I go.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Turn `org-file-apps-defaults-gnu' (which is now a defconst) in to
defcustom and make xdg-open the default (or make a drop down list with
gnome-open, kde-open for people who don't have xdg-utils insalled) .

    (defconst org-file-apps-defaults-gnu
      '((remote . emacs)
        (system . mailcap)
        (t . mailcap))
      "Default file applications on a UNIX or GNU/Linux system.
    See `org-file-apps'.")


    (custom-set-variables
     '(org-file-apps
       (quote
        ((auto-mode . emacs)
         ("\\.mm\\'" . default)
         ("\\.x?html?\\'" . default)
         ("\\.pdf\\'" . default))))
     '(org-file-apps-defaults-gnu
       (quote
        ((remote . emacs)
         (system . "xdg-open %s")
         (t . mailcap))) t))

----------------------------------------------------------------

Anyways, opening a file outside of Emacs is not specific to Org.  Other
applications can open facility, if available right within Emacs core.

For some discussion surrounging - `open-file' - see
http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=14110

Message #25 received at 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Carsten Dominik <carsten.dominik <at> gmail.com>
To: Jambunathan K <kjambunathan <at> gmail.com>
Cc: Petr Hracek <phracek <at> redhat.com>, 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#14605: [O] bug#14605: Problem with export an .org file to
 .pdf does not open pdf file
Date: Mon, 2 Sep 2013 10:44:39 +0200

On Sep 2, 2013, at 10:34 AM, Jambunathan K <kjambunathan <at> gmail.com> wrote:

> Carsten Dominik <carsten.dominik <at> gmail.com> writes:
> 
>> They are basically the "open" commands for MacOS X and Windows, and
>> mailcap for Unix/Linux.
> 
> The suggestion below is met with some approval in the Orgmode mailist
> earlier.  
> 
> http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-orgmode/2013-07/msg00407.html
> 
> Here I go.
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Turn `org-file-apps-defaults-gnu' (which is now a defconst) in to
> defcustom and make xdg-open the default (or make a drop down list with
> gnome-open, kde-open for people who don't have xdg-utils insalled) .
> 
>    (defconst org-file-apps-defaults-gnu
>      '((remote . emacs)
>        (system . mailcap)
>        (t . mailcap))
>      "Default file applications on a UNIX or GNU/Linux system.
>    See `org-file-apps'.")
> 
> 
>    (custom-set-variables
>     '(org-file-apps
>       (quote
>        ((auto-mode . emacs)
>         ("\\.mm\\'" . default)
>         ("\\.x?html?\\'" . default)
>         ("\\.pdf\\'" . default))))
>     '(org-file-apps-defaults-gnu
>       (quote
>        ((remote . emacs)
>         (system . "xdg-open %s")
>         (t . mailcap))) t))
> 


I have not followed the discussion earlier.  The problem I see is that I do not know how widely available these commands are on Linux.  Maybe we can built the default value using executable-find or something like this?

- Carsten

> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Anyways, opening a file outside of Emacs is not specific to Org.  Other
> applications can open facility, if available right within Emacs core.
> 
> For some discussion surrounging - `open-file' - see
> http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=14110

Message #28 received at 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Jambunathan K <kjambunathan <at> gmail.com>
To: Carsten Dominik <carsten.dominik <at> gmail.com>
Cc: 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#14605: [O] bug#14605: Problem with export an .org file to
 .pdf does not open pdf file
Date: Mon, 02 Sep 2013 15:10:59 +0530

Carsten Dominik <carsten.dominik <at> gmail.com> writes:

>>    (defconst org-file-apps-defaults-gnu
       ^^^^^^^^

That's a real issue.  As for what defaults to use, their availability
and installability that is a secondary issue altogether.

If I were you, I will plug in xdg-open there, issue user-error and force
the user to remedy the situation.  You will hear if things don't work.

Anyways what ever is done, we will be doing no worse (but only better
than) the current defaults.
  

Message #31 received at 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Suvayu Ali <fatkasuvayu+linux <at> gmail.com>
To: emacs-orgmode <at> gnu.org, 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: [O] bug#14605: bug#14605: Problem with export an .org file to
 .pdf does not open pdf file
Date: Mon, 2 Sep 2013 11:47:01 +0200

Hi Carsten,

On Mon, Sep 02, 2013 at 10:44:39AM +0200, Carsten Dominik wrote:
> 
> On Sep 2, 2013, at 10:34 AM, Jambunathan K <kjambunathan <at> gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> >     '(org-file-apps-defaults-gnu
> >       (quote
> >        ((remote . emacs)
> >         (system . "xdg-open %s")
> >         (t . mailcap))) t))
> > 
> 
> 
> I have not followed the discussion earlier.  The problem I see is that
> I do not know how widely available these commands are on Linux.  Maybe
> we can built the default value using executable-find or something like
> this?

I think I can shed some light on the availability of xdg-open.  It is
provided by xdg-utils, part of the freedesktop specification.  It is
expected to be present in most desktop systems (almost anything with a
GUI installed).  It is a direct dependency for kde-libs, gnome-libs, and
many desktop applications.

The introduction in this Archlinux wiki page gives a very succint
summary: <https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xdg-open>

Hope this helps,

-- 
Suvayu

Open source is the future. It sets us free.

Message #34 received at 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Carsten Dominik <carsten.dominik <at> gmail.com>
To: Suvayu Ali <fatkasuvayu+linux <at> gmail.com>
Cc: 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: [O] bug#14605: bug#14605: bug#14605: Problem with export an .org
 file to .pdf does not open pdf file
Date: Mon, 2 Sep 2013 11:55:33 +0200

On Sep 2, 2013, at 11:47 AM, Suvayu Ali <fatkasuvayu+linux <at> gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Carsten,
> 
> On Mon, Sep 02, 2013 at 10:44:39AM +0200, Carsten Dominik wrote:
>> 
>> On Sep 2, 2013, at 10:34 AM, Jambunathan K <kjambunathan <at> gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>>    '(org-file-apps-defaults-gnu
>>>      (quote
>>>       ((remote . emacs)
>>>        (system . "xdg-open %s")
>>>        (t . mailcap))) t))
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I have not followed the discussion earlier.  The problem I see is that
>> I do not know how widely available these commands are on Linux.  Maybe
>> we can built the default value using executable-find or something like
>> this?
> 
> I think I can shed some light on the availability of xdg-open.  It is
> provided by xdg-utils, part of the freedesktop specification.  It is
> expected to be present in most desktop systems (almost anything with a
> GUI installed).  It is a direct dependency for kde-libs, gnome-libs, and
> many desktop applications.

I just love it when someone give such a concrete and useful answer.  Thank you!

- Carsten

> 
> The introduction in this Archlinux wiki page gives a very succint
> summary: <https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xdg-open>
> 
> Hope this helps,
> 
> -- 
> Suvayu
> 
> Open source is the future. It sets us free.
> 
> 
> 

Message #37 received at 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Carsten Dominik <carsten.dominik <at> gmail.com>
To: Suvayu Ali <fatkasuvayu+linux <at> gmail.com>
Cc: 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: [O] bug#14605: bug#14605: bug#14605: Problem with export an .org
 file to .pdf does not open pdf file
Date: Mon, 2 Sep 2013 12:08:16 +0200

Hi everyone,

OK, we now use xdg-open when available on a Linux system.

Thanks to everyone for the input.

- Carsten

On Sep 2, 2013, at 11:47 AM, Suvayu Ali <fatkasuvayu+linux <at> gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Carsten,
> 
> On Mon, Sep 02, 2013 at 10:44:39AM +0200, Carsten Dominik wrote:
>> 
>> On Sep 2, 2013, at 10:34 AM, Jambunathan K <kjambunathan <at> gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>>    '(org-file-apps-defaults-gnu
>>>      (quote
>>>       ((remote . emacs)
>>>        (system . "xdg-open %s")
>>>        (t . mailcap))) t))
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I have not followed the discussion earlier.  The problem I see is that
>> I do not know how widely available these commands are on Linux.  Maybe
>> we can built the default value using executable-find or something like
>> this?
> 
> I think I can shed some light on the availability of xdg-open.  It is
> provided by xdg-utils, part of the freedesktop specification.  It is
> expected to be present in most desktop systems (almost anything with a
> GUI installed).  It is a direct dependency for kde-libs, gnome-libs, and
> many desktop applications.
> 
> The introduction in this Archlinux wiki page gives a very succint
> summary: <https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xdg-open>
> 
> Hope this helps,
> 
> -- 
> Suvayu
> 
> Open source is the future. It sets us free.
> 
> 
> 

Message #40 received at 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Jambunathan K <kjambunathan <at> gmail.com>
To: emacs-orgmode <at> gnu.org
Cc: 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#14605: [O] bug#14605: bug#14605: Problem with export an .org
 file to .pdf does not open pdf file
Date: Mon, 02 Sep 2013 15:42:23 +0530

Suvayu Ali <fatkasuvayu+linux <at> gmail.com> writes:

> It is expected to be present in most desktop systems (almost anything
> with a GUI installed).

I use Debian 6.05 (Squeeze) + XFCE.  I had to install `xdg-open' by
hand.  (i.e., It is not installed during default installation).

xdg-open is just a shell script and tries lots of different things based
on Desktop Environment.  Why should Org re-implement the wheel?

When the variable is configurable, why hesitate pluggin in *better*
default, even if it be not-installed.

Can Org really do all this?

----------------
- kde-open "$1"   
- kfmclient openURL "$1"
- kfmclient exec "$1"
----------------
- gvfs-open "$1"
- gnome-open "$1"
----------------
- exo-open "$1"
----------------
- Whatever is registered with xdg-mime registry
----------------
- run-mailcap --action=view "$file"
- mimeopen -n "$file"
- sensible-browser
----------------

Message #43 received at 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Jambunathan K <kjambunathan <at> gmail.com>
To: Carsten Dominik <carsten.dominik <at> gmail.com>
Cc: 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, Suvayu Ali <fatkasuvayu+linux <at> gmail.com>
Subject: Re: bug#14605: [O] bug#14605: bug#14605: bug#14605: Problem with
 export an .org file to .pdf does not open pdf file
Date: Mon, 02 Sep 2013 15:50:04 +0530

Carsten Dominik <carsten.dominik <at> gmail.com> writes:

> OK, we now use xdg-open when available on a Linux system.

The variable MUST be a defcustom.

Message #46 received at 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Torsten Wagner <torsten.wagner <at> gmail.com>
To: Carsten Dominik <carsten.dominik <at> gmail.com>
Cc: 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, Suvayu Ali <fatkasuvayu+linux <at> gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [O] bug#14605: bug#14605: bug#14605: bug#14605: Problem with
 export an .org file to .pdf does not open pdf file
Date: Mon, 2 Sep 2013 18:22:09 +0200

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

Hi Carsten,
just by chance I read this thread.

It might be a good idea to announce this somehow for package maintainers on
a prominent place in the change-log of the next official release. Some
Linux package systems do allow recommendation on packages.
As I understood the xdg-utils package is not mandatory for using org-mode,
because it would work without xdg-open too. However, we could ask the
package maintainers to make a recommendation to install xdg-util whenever,
org-mode gets installed. Just a nice customer service ;)

BTW: Emacs itself does *not* require xdg-utils or refer to it as optional.
That would have made it even easier to assume it is already on all Linux
systems.

All the best

Torsten



On 2 September 2013 12:08, Carsten Dominik <carsten.dominik <at> gmail.com>wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> OK, we now use xdg-open when available on a Linux system.
>
> Thanks to everyone for the input.
>
> - Carsten
>
> On Sep 2, 2013, at 11:47 AM, Suvayu Ali <fatkasuvayu+linux <at> gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Hi Carsten,
> >
> > On Mon, Sep 02, 2013 at 10:44:39AM +0200, Carsten Dominik wrote:
> >>
> >> On Sep 2, 2013, at 10:34 AM, Jambunathan K <kjambunathan <at> gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>
> >>>    '(org-file-apps-defaults-gnu
> >>>      (quote
> >>>       ((remote . emacs)
> >>>        (system . "xdg-open %s")
> >>>        (t . mailcap))) t))
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >> I have not followed the discussion earlier.  The problem I see is that
> >> I do not know how widely available these commands are on Linux.  Maybe
> >> we can built the default value using executable-find or something like
> >> this?
> >
> > I think I can shed some light on the availability of xdg-open.  It is
> > provided by xdg-utils, part of the freedesktop specification.  It is
> > expected to be present in most desktop systems (almost anything with a
> > GUI installed).  It is a direct dependency for kde-libs, gnome-libs, and
> > many desktop applications.
> >
> > The introduction in this Archlinux wiki page gives a very succint
> > summary: <https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xdg-open>
> >
> > Hope this helps,
> >
> > --
> > Suvayu
> >
> > Open source is the future. It sets us free.
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>

[Message part 2 (text/html, inline)]

Message #49 received at 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Jambunathan K <kjambunathan <at> gmail.com>
To: Carsten Dominik <carsten.dominik <at> gmail.com>
Cc: 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, Suvayu Ali <fatkasuvayu+linux <at> gmail.com>
Subject: Re: bug#14605: Problem with export an .org file to .pdf does not open
 pdf file
Date: Tue, 03 Sep 2013 10:29:16 +0530

Carsten Dominik <carsten.dominik <at> gmail.com> writes:

> OK, we now use xdg-open when available on a Linux system.

Just realized that you have reverted the commit (a bit too early).

Emacs goes through a long pre-test cycle for a reason.  There is a
plenty of room to test the waters on how useful or problematic xdg-open
is.

Anyways...

Message #52 received at 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Suvayu Ali <fatkasuvayu+linux <at> gmail.com>
To: emacs-orgmode <at> gnu.org, 14605 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: [O] bug#14605: bug#14605: bug#14605: Problem with export an .org
 file to .pdf does not open pdf file
Date: Tue, 3 Sep 2013 15:35:59 +0200

On Mon, Sep 02, 2013 at 03:42:23PM +0530, Jambunathan K wrote:
> Suvayu Ali <fatkasuvayu+linux <at> gmail.com> writes:
> 
> > It is expected to be present in most desktop systems (almost anything
> > with a GUI installed).
> 
> I use Debian 6.05 (Squeeze) + XFCE.  I had to install `xdg-open' by
> hand.  (i.e., It is not installed during default installation).

XFCE (and LXDE) uses exo-open.  Although it does not require xdg-open,
it is compliant.  Meaning, if xdg-utils is installed, xdg-open will
work.  Gnome, KDE, on the other hand require it on most distributions
(Fedora is an example).

> xdg-open is just a shell script and tries lots of different things based
> on Desktop Environment.  Why should Org re-implement the wheel?

Exactly!  Since you look for the executable before calling, there is
nothing to lose.  If xdg-open is present, it will work if there is a
GUI.

Cheers,

PS: I'm an XFCE (with xdg-utils) and emacs -nw user on Fedora.

-- 
Suvayu

Open source is the future. It sets us free.

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