hamacs/ha-capturing-notes.org

#+TITLE:  Capturing Notes with Org
#+AUTHOR: Howard X. Abrams
#+EMAIL:  howard.abrams@gmail.com
#+DATE:   2020-09-18
#+FILETAGS: :emacs:

A literate programming file for configuring org for capturing notes.

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp :exports none
;;; capturing-notes.el --- A literate programming file for configuring org for capturing notes. -*- lexical-binding: t; -*-
;;
;; Copyright (C) 2020 Howard X. Abrams
;;
;; Author: Howard X. Abrams <http://gitlab.com/howardabrams>
;; Maintainer: Howard X. Abrams <howard.abrams@gmail.com>
;; Created: September 18, 2020
;;
;; This file is not part of GNU Emacs.
;;
;; *NB:* Do not edit this file. Instead, edit the original literate file at:
;;            /home/howard/other/hamacs/ha-capturing-notes.org
;;       And tangle the file to recreate this one.
;;
;;; Code:
#+END_SRC
* Introduction
Capturing (or collecting) notes from files, browsers, and meetings, is a great way to get organized.

I even have external commands that kick-off the capturing process, and without a command this is what gets called:

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
(setq org-capture-default-template "c")
#+END_SRC

Let's now define my templates.
* Templates
Just make sure we can execute this code anytime, let's just define the variable that will hold all the templates:

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
(defvar org-capture-templates (list))
#+END_SRC

Some templates put the information /in front/ of other information (as opposed to the default of appending), so I define a helper function:

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
(defun ha-first-header ()
  (goto-char (point-min))
  (search-forward-regexp "^\* ")
  (beginning-of-line 1)
  (point))
#+END_SRC
** General Notes
Capturing text into the =org-default-notes-file= is something I don't do much:

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
    (add-to-list 'org-capture-templates
                 '("n" "Thought or Note"  entry
                   (file org-default-notes-file)
                   "* %?\n\n  %i\n\n  See: %a" :empty-lines 1))
    (add-to-list 'org-capture-templates
                 '("w" "Website Announcement" entry
                   (file+function "~/website/index.org" ha-first-header)
                   (file "~/.spacemacs.d/templates/website-announcement.org")
                   :empty-lines 1))
#+END_SRC
Before we go too far, we should create a publishing file for the website announcement, and something for the journal.
** Clock in Tasks
Org has one task at a time that can be /clocked in/ keeping a timer. I use that as a /destination/ for collecting notes. For instance, capturing with a =c= allows me to just enter stuff in under that task without switching to it:

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
(add-to-list 'org-capture-templates
             '("c" "Currently clocked in task"))
#+END_SRC

Let's put a bullet item under that task:
#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
(add-to-list 'org-capture-templates
             `("cc" "Item to Current Clocked Task" item
               (clock)
               "%i%?" :empty-lines 1))
#+END_SRC

We can select a /region/ and copy that using =c r=:
#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
(add-to-list 'org-capture-templates
             `("cr" "Contents to Current Clocked Task" plain
               (clock)
               "%i" :immediate-finish t :empty-lines 1))
#+END_SRC

If we have copied anything into the clipboard, that information can be add to the current task using =c k=:

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
(add-to-list 'org-capture-templates
             `("ck" "Kill-ring to Current Clocked Task" plain
               (clock)
               "%c" :immediate-finish t :empty-lines 1))
#+END_SRC

Instead, if I am looking at some code, I can copy some code from a region, but use a helper function to create a /link/ to the original source code using =c f=:

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
(add-to-list 'org-capture-templates
             `("cf" "Code Reference with Comments to Current Task"
               plain (clock)
               "%(ha-org-capture-code-snippet \"%F\")\n\n   %?"
               :empty-lines 1))
#+END_SRC

If I want a reference to the code, without any comments, I call ~c l~:

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
(add-to-list 'org-capture-templates
             `("cl" "Link to Code Reference to Current Task"
               plain (clock)
               "%(ha-org-capture-code-snippet \"%F\")"
               :empty-lines 1 :immediate-finish t))
#+END_SRC

** Capture Helper Functions

In order to have a capture back-ref to a function and its code, we need to use this:

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
(require 'which-func)
#+END_SRC

This helper function given a code /type/ and the /function/, analyzes the current buffer in order to collects data about the source code file.  It then creates a nice-looking template:

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
(defun ha-org-capture-fileref-snippet (f type headers func-name)
  (let* ((code-snippet
          (buffer-substring-no-properties (mark) (- (point) 1)))
         (file-name   (buffer-file-name))
         (file-base   (file-name-nondirectory file-name))
         (line-number (line-number-at-pos (region-beginning)))
         (initial-txt (if (null func-name)
                          (format "From [[file:%s::%s][%s]]:"
                                  file-name line-number file-base)
                        (format "From ~%s~ (in [[file:%s::%s][%s]]):"
                                func-name file-name line-number
                                file-base))))
    (format "
   %s

   #+BEGIN_%s %s
%s
   #+END_%s" initial-txt type headers code-snippet type)))
#+END_SRC

For typical code references, we can get the label for Org's =SRC= block by taking the =major-mode= and removing the =-mode= part. We can then call the formatter we previously defined:

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
(defun ha-org-capture-code-snippet (f)
  "Given a file, F, this captures the currently selected text
within an Org SRC block with a language based on the current mode
and a backlink to the function and the file."
  (with-current-buffer (find-buffer-visiting f)
    (let ((org-src-mode (replace-regexp-in-string "-mode" "" (format "%s" major-mode)))
          (func-name (which-function)))
      (ha-org-capture-fileref-snippet f "SRC" org-src-mode func-name))))
#+END_SRC

Let's assume that we want to copy some text from a file, but it isn't source code, then this function makes an =EXAMPLE= of it.

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
(defun ha-org-capture-clip-snippet (f)
  "Given a file, F, this captures the currently selected text
within an Org EXAMPLE block and a backlink to the file."
  (with-current-buffer (find-buffer-visiting f)
    (ha-org-capture-fileref-snippet f "EXAMPLE" "" nil)))
#+END_SRC

** Code Capturing Functions

In order to easily call a capture for code, let's make two interactive functions, one just copies the stuff, and the other pulls up a capturing window for comments:

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
(defun ha-code-to-clock (&optional start end)
  "Send the currently selected code to the currently clocked-in org-mode task."
  (interactive)
  (org-capture nil "F"))

(defun ha-code-comment-to-clock (&optional start end)
  "Send the currently selected code (with comments) to the
currently clocked-in org-mode task."
  (interactive)
  (org-capture nil "f"))
#+END_SRC

* External Interface
** Emacs Server Control
Sure the Emacs application will almost always have the =server-start= going, however, I need to control it just a bit (because I often have two instances running on some of my machines). What /defines/ the Emacs instance for work changes ... often:

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
(defun ha-emacs-for-work? ()
  "Return non-nil when the Emacs application's location matches as one for work.
Currently, this is the `emacs-plus' app that I have built with
the native-comp model, but I reserve the right to change this."
  (->> Info-default-directory-list
    (first)
    (s-split "/")
    (--filter (s-starts-with? "emacs-plus" it))
    (first)))
#+END_SRC

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
(if (ha-emacs-for-work?)
    (setq server-name "work")
  (setq server-name "personal"))

(server-start)
#+END_SRC
* External Capturing
:LOGBOOK:
CLOCK: [2021-05-25 Tue 13:35]--[2021-05-25 Tue 14:05] =>  0:30
:END:
If we put something on the clipboard using =xclip= or something, and then
perhaps =emacsclient= could call this function to put those contents into clocked in task.

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
(defun ha-external-capture-to-org ()
  "Calls `org-capture-string' on the contents of the Apple clipboard."
  (interactive)
  (org-capture-string (ha-org-clipboard) "ck")
  (ignore-errors
    (delete-frame)))
#+END_SRC

The =en= script is used as the last pipe entry on the command line, this displays the output, and then copies the contents into the Emacs-based engineering notebook at the currently clocked in task.

#+BEGIN_SRC shell :shebang "#!/bin/bash" :tangle ~/bin/en
  #  Interface to my Engineering Notebook.
  #
  #  Used as the last pipe entry on the command line, this displays the output,
  #  and then copies the contents into the Emacs-based engineering notebook at the
  #  currently clocked in task.
  #
  #  And parameters to the script are added at the end of a list entry.

  function usage {
      echo "$(basename $0) [ -t header-title ] [ -n notes ] [ -f format ] command arguments"
      exit 1
  }

  while getopts "t:n:f:" o
  do  case "$o" in
          t)  TITLE="$OPTARG";;
          n)  NOTE="$OPTARG";;
          f)  FORMAT="$OPTARG";;
          [?]) usage;;
      esac
  done
  shift $(expr $OPTIND - 1)

  COMMAND=$*
  FILE=$(mktemp)

  function process_output {
      cat -v $1 | sed 's/\^\[\[[0-9][0-9]*\(;[0-9][0-9]*\)*m//g'
  }

  # The script can either take a command specified as arguments (in
  # which case, it will run that), or it will assume all data is coming
  # from standard in...

  if [ -z "$COMMAND" ]
  then
      # All data should be coming from standard in, so capture it:
      tee $FILE
  else
      # Otherwise, we need to run the command:
      ${COMMAND} | tee $FILE
  fi

  # Either way, let's process the results stored in the file:
  RESULTS=$(process_output $FILE)

  function output {
      if [ -n "$TITLE" ]
      then
          echo "*** ${TITLE}"
      fi
      if [ -n "$NOTE" ]
      then
          echo "${NOTE}"
      fi
      if [ -n "$COMMAND" ]
      then
          echo "#+BEGIN_SRC sh"
          echo "${COMMAND}"
          echo "#+END_SRC"
          echo
          echo "#+RESULTS:"
      fi
      if [ -n "$FORMAT" ]
      then
          echo "#+BEGIN_SRC ${FORMAT}"
          echo "${RESULTS}"
          echo "#+END_SRC"
      else
          echo "#+BEGIN_EXAMPLE"
          echo "${RESULTS}"
          echo "#+END_EXAMPLE"
      fi
  }

  if which pbcopy 2>&1 >/dev/null
  then
      output | pbcopy
  else
      output | xclip
  fi

  # Now that the results are on the clipboard, the `c k` capture
  # sequence calls my "grab from the clipboard" capture template:
  emacsclient -s work -e '(org-capture-string "" "ck")'

  rm -f $FILE
#+END_SRC
* Keybindings
Along with kicking off the org-capture, I want to be able to clock-in and out:
#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
    (general-evil-define-key 'normal org-mode-map
      :prefix "SPC m"
        "X" 'org-capture
        "c"  '(:ignore t :which-key "clocks")
        "c i" '("clock in" . org-clock-in)
        "c l" '("clock in last" . org-clock-in-last)
        "c o" '("clock out" . org-clock-out)
        "c c" '("cancel" . org-clock-cancel)
        "c d" '("mark default task" . org-clock-mark-default-task)
        "c e" '("modify effort" . org-clock-modify-effort-estimate)
        "c E" '("set effort" . org-set-effort)
        "c g" '("goto clock" . org-clock-goto)
        "c r" '("resolve clocks" . org-resolve-clocks)
        "c R" '("clock report" . org-clock-report)
        "c t" '("eval range" . org-evaluate-time-range)
        "c =" '("timestamp up" . org-clock-timestamps-up)
        "c -" '("timestamp down" . org-clock-timestamps-down))
#+END_SRC

* Technical Artifacts                                :noexport:

Let's provide a name so we can =require= this file.
#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp :exports none
(provide 'ha-capturing-notes)
;;; ha-capturing-notes.el ends here
#+END_SRC

Before you can build this on a new system, make sure that you put the cursor over any of these properties, and hit: ~C-c C-c~

#+DESCRIPTION: A literate programming file for configuring org for capturing notes.

#+PROPERTY:    header-args:sh :tangle no
#+PROPERTY:    header-args:emacs-lisp :tangle yes
#+PROPERTY:    header-args    :results none :eval no-export :comments no mkdirp yes

#+OPTIONS:     num:nil toc:nil todo:nil tasks:nil tags:nil date:nil
#+OPTIONS:     skip:nil author:nil email:nil creator:nil timestamp:nil
#+INFOJS_OPT:  view:nil toc:nil ltoc:t mouse:underline buttons:0 path:http://orgmode.org/org-info.js