GNU bug report logs - #45779
Once FFAP sniffs a URL, its taste buds no longer recognize filenames

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

From: 積丹尼 Dan Jacobson <jidanni <at> jidanni.org>
To: bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org
Subject: Once FFAP sniffs a URL, its taste buds no longer recognize filenames
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2021 19:35:48 +0800

$ echo http://example.com > /tmp/z
$ emacs -nw -q /tmp/z
Now do M-x ffap
Now delete the URL that it is prompting us with.
Now enter ~/.em<TAB>
Tab doesn't complete .emacs!!

You see, it "still has its brain convinced we are entering URLs".

Even though it prompts "Find file or URL:"!

And we already cleaned the URL completely from the minibuffer.

 ESC x ;; execute-extended-command
 f                      ;; self-insert-command
 f                      ;; self-insert-command
 a                      ;; self-insert-command
 p                      ;; self-insert-command
 RET                    ;; minibuffer-complete-and-exit
 DEL                    ;; delete-backward-char
 DEL                    ;; delete-backward-char
 DEL                    ;; delete-backward-char
 DEL                    ;; delete-backward-char
 DEL                    ;; delete-backward-char
 DEL                    ;; delete-backward-char
 DEL                    ;; delete-backward-char
 DEL                    ;; delete-backward-char
 DEL                    ;; delete-backward-char
 DEL                    ;; delete-backward-char
 DEL                    ;; delete-backward-char
 DEL                    ;; delete-backward-char
 DEL                    ;; delete-backward-char
 DEL                    ;; delete-backward-char
 DEL                    ;; delete-backward-char
 DEL                    ;; delete-backward-char
 DEL                    ;; delete-backward-char
 DEL                    ;; delete-backward-char
 ~                      ;; self-insert-command
 /                      ;; self-insert-command
 .                      ;; self-insert-command
 e                      ;; self-insert-command
 m                      ;; self-insert-command
 TAB                    ;; self-insert-command
 TAB                    ;; self-insert-command
 TAB                    ;; self-insert-command
 TAB                    ;; self-insert-command
 C-g                    ;; abort-recursive-edit
 C-h l                  ;; view-lossage

True, I didn't try "file:///" (but shouldn't have to.)
emacs-version "27.1"

Message #8 received at 45779 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org>
To: 積丹尼 Dan Jacobson <jidanni <at> jidanni.org>
Cc: 45779 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#45779: Once FFAP sniffs a URL, its taste buds no longer
 recognize filenames
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2021 16:29:15 +0100

積丹尼 Dan Jacobson <jidanni <at> jidanni.org> writes:

> $ echo http://example.com > /tmp/z
> $ emacs -nw -q /tmp/z
> Now do M-x ffap
> Now delete the URL that it is prompting us with.
> Now enter ~/.em<TAB>
> Tab doesn't complete .emacs!!

ffap is a guessing system, and it calls `read-string' when it guesses
that you want to enter an URL.  And even if you delete the URL, that
doesn't magically change back to calling `read-file-name'.

So I think the answer here is "don't do that, then"?

-- 
(domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
   bloggy blog: http://lars.ingebrigtsen.no

Message #13 received at 45779 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: 積丹尼 Dan Jacobson <jidanni <at> jidanni.org>
To: Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org>
Cc: 45779 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#45779: Once FFAP sniffs a URL, its taste buds no longer
 recognize filenames
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2021 06:32:25 +0800

>>>>> "LI" == Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org> writes:

LI> So I think the answer here is "don't do that, then"?

I was just making a reproducible case for you.

The usual case is: for FFAP users: Let's say the cursor is sitting on
top of a URL. Or say a file full of URLs.

Now there is no way to expand filenames!

Sure, one could remember to do C-u C-x C-f etc.

But that isn't natural.

What is natural is if we clean up the whole minibuffer, then FFAP should
reset its thinking.

Or, at least not prompt us with the "lie" of "File or URL..." when it is
already in "URL expansion only mode"...

Message #16 received at 45779 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org>
To: 積丹尼 Dan Jacobson <jidanni <at> jidanni.org>
Cc: 45779 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#45779: Once FFAP sniffs a URL, its taste buds no longer
 recognize filenames
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2021 23:39:04 +0100

積丹尼 Dan Jacobson <jidanni <at> jidanni.org> writes:

> The usual case is: for FFAP users: Let's say the cursor is sitting on
> top of a URL. Or say a file full of URLs.
>
> Now there is no way to expand filenames!

Indeed, because you've asked Emacs to guess based on what's under point.

> Sure, one could remember to do C-u C-x C-f etc.
>
> But that isn't natural.

Why not?

> What is natural is if we clean up the whole minibuffer, then FFAP should
> reset its thinking.

What if the user deleted the contents because they wanted to type in a
different URL?

> Or, at least not prompt us with the "lie" of "File or URL..." when it is
> already in "URL expansion only mode"...

You can type in a file name and it'll be opened.

I don't see anything to fix here; closing.

-- 
(domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
   bloggy blog: http://lars.ingebrigtsen.no

Message #23 received at 45779 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: 積丹尼 Dan Jacobson <jidanni <at> jidanni.org>
To: Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org>
Cc: 45779 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#45779: Once FFAP sniffs a URL, its taste buds no longer
 recognize filenames
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2021 06:53:45 +0800

>>>>> "LI" == Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi <at> gnus.org> writes:

>> Sure, one could remember to do C-u C-x C-f etc.
>> 
>> But that isn't natural.

LI> Why not?

Because the computer should be smarter than needing that. We have
cleaned up the minibuffer. So, just like the prompt (always) says, we
should be able to enter a filename (and have it expanded._

>> What is natural is if we clean up the whole minibuffer, then FFAP should
>> reset its thinking.

LI> What if the user deleted the contents because they wanted to type in a
LI> different URL?

They could just type in the URL fine in that case.

>> Or, at least not prompt us with the "lie" of "File or URL..." when it is
>> already in "URL expansion only mode"...

LI> You can type in a file name and it'll be opened.

Ah, but not TAB expanded. All of the sudden it's like (year) 1967 and MS-DOS.

LI> I don't see anything to fix here; closing.

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