Desired candidates are excluded from autocompletion list as I type them

[Ribonous]

Note: This question is also active in StackOverflow in this thread. I have a file in my home directory called .gitconfig. When I try to open this file with Emacs with helm-mode activated, as I type the filename, the filename is eventually unmatched. I have noticed the same problem repeatedly in other directories with other files, and after closing the shell, rebooting, restartin Emacs, etc.

Here's a particular example of this problem: In the minibuffer I start typing the path (C-x C-f), and I get:

Find file: /home/.g
 

and it shows me:

.gconf
.gitconfig
.gnome2-private

etc.

However, as soon I type i (i.e. typing /home/.gi to eventually type .gitconfig), Helm removes .gitconfig from the autocompletion list and leaves me with .gnome2-private

Why does this happen? How can I have Helm never exclude a file from the current directory where I am hoping to open a file?

The odd thing is that if I open Emacs helm using the shell script (./emacs-helm.sh)the problem goes away.

On a related note, if I run ./emacs-helm.sh, Emacs does not load my ./emacs file. Also, why does Helm provide two different ways of starting Emacs-Helm? i.e. through the Emacs binary and through the ./emacs-helm.sh? What is the difference?

[Thierry Volpiatto]

Hi Ribonous,

Ribonous <ribonu...@gmail.com> writes:

>
>
> Note: This question is also active in StackOverflow in this

> thread<http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12536774/emacs-helm-anything-desired-candidates-are-excluded-for-autocompletion-why>.

> I have a file in my home directory called .gitconfig. When I try to open
> this file with Emacs with helm-mode activated, as I type the filename, the

> filename is eventually *unmatched*. I have noticed the same problem

> repeatedly in other directories with other files, and after closing the
> shell, rebooting, restartin Emacs, etc.
>
> Here's a particular example of this problem: In the minibuffer I start
> typing the path (C-x C-f), and I get:
>
> Find file: /home/.g

Looks like you are using the emacs command `find-file' with `helm-mode'
enabled.
Try with C-x c C-x C-f (helm-find-files)

>
> and it shows me:
>
> .gconf
> .gitconfig
> .gnome2-private
>
> etc.
>
> However, as soon I type i (i.e. typing /home/.gi to eventually type

> .gitconfig), Helm *removes* .gitconfig from the autocompletion list and
> leaves me with .gnome2-private
This is not helm but something else.

> Why does this happen? How can I have Helm never exclude a file from the
> current directory where I am hoping to open a file?

This is a problem somewhere in your own configuration, probably some
package that exclude VCS config files or so, try to see if the same
thing happen with .hgrc files or similar.

> The odd thing is that if I open Emacs helm using the shell script (

> ./emacs-helm.sh)the problem *goes away*.
This mean that it is not a bug in helm.

> On a related note, if I run ./emacs-helm.sh, Emacs does not load my
> ./emacsfile.

As expected.


> Also, why does Helm provide *two different ways *of starting

> Emacs-Helm? i.e. through the Emacs binary and through the
> ./emacs-helm.sh? What is the difference?

./emacs-helm.sh is a way to start helm with no user configuration loaded
and with a minimal helm configuration, ideal for situations like yours
for debugging. (i.e it start with emacs -Q and load only a mini helm
config).

When you start with "emacs" and then require helm, you load also your
personal init file and many other things, this is where your problem
happen.

See man emacs for more info on command line options of emacs.

--
Thierry
Get my Gnupg key:
gpg --keyserver pgp.mit.edu --recv-keys 59F29997

[Ribonous]

Thanks a lot Thierry. Using helm-find-files fixed it.

[Thierry Volpiatto]

Ribonous <ribonu...@gmail.com> writes:

> Thanks a lot Thierry. Using helm-find-files fixed it.

It is not fixed, there is no reason that find-file ignore VCS
files/dirs, you should check your config file (.emacs or whatever) or
some external package.