Re: changing comint-input-ring-file-name in process in shell

[Kevin Rodgers]

Seb wrote:
> Hi,
>
> A program that runs in shell mode uses a local history file.  Therefore,
> I'd like to set `comint-input-ring-file-name' to that file.  I use the
> program by doing "M-x shell", and then start the program in the shell
> buffer by typing its name and hitting ENTER.  The program's prompt
> replaces the shell's at this point.  I thought that subsequently
> evaluating the following in the shell buffer would allow me to cycle
> through the local history file:
>
> (setq comint-input-ring-file-name
>       "/path/to/local/.bash_history"))
>
> However, cycling with "M-p" or "M-n" cycles the input through the
> initial `comint-input-ring-file-name' set by the shell buffer, in my
> case ~/.bash_history since I'm using bash.  Doing "C-h v
> comint-input-ring-file-name" does show the new value
> ("/path/to/loca/.bash_history"), so I don't understand what is going
> on.  Any help would be appreciated.

The file is read once by shell-mode (not comint-mode), when you execute
`M-x shell'.  That is why the doc string for comint-input-ring-file-name
says "This variable is buffer-local, and is a good thing to set in mode hooks."

How about:

(let ((comint-input-ring-file-name "/path/to/local/.bash_history"))
  (shell))

--
Kevin Rodgers
Denver, Colorado, USA