How can I create an empty file from emacs, ideally from within a dired buffer?
For example, I've just opened a Python module in dired mode, created a new directory, opened that in dired, and now need to add an empty __init__.py file in the directory.
If I use C-x C-f __init__.py RET C-x C-s then emacs doesn't create the file because no changes have been made to it. I would have to type in the file, save it, delete my typing and then save it again for that to work.
Thanks
Emacs won't allow you to save a buffer unless it thinks the contents have changed. The quickest, though possibly not cleanest is to open the file using C-x C-f, then press (say) space and backspace, then you should be able to save a file with no contents.
There are other ways of changing the "buffer has been modified" flag, but I don't think there's any easier.
If you want emacs to treat all new files as modified, you can auomate the solution like this:
(add-hook 'find-file-hooks 'assume-new-is-modified)
(defun assume-new-is-modified ()
(when (not (file-exists-p (buffer-file-name)))
(set-buffer-modified-p t)))
The following works:
C-x b __init__.py RET C-x C-w RET
If you're in a dired buffer the file will be saved in the directory show here.
The trick is to first create an empty buffer by switching to a name that doesn't exist. Then write out the file.