How to execute emacs grep-find link in the same window? - emacs

Question

When I use grep-find it opens another window (area in the frame) with a list of results that I can select. When I select one it opens the target file in a different window than grep-find is in.
How can I get the target file to open in the same window as the grep results (replacing the grep results window with what I am actually looking for).
How can I keep grep-find from opening a separate window (have it so it opens in the current window). My goal is I look for something, I find it, I go to it, all within the same window. I would like to add this to my .emacs file.

Answer 1

It doesn't look like there is any way to configure the compile package to do what you're asking. And there's no easy way to use advice to tweak the behavior. I think you have to resort to editing the function which actually jumps to the error, which you can do with the following addition to your .emacs (tested in Emacs 23.1):
(eval-after-load "compile"
'(defun compilation-goto-locus (msg mk end-mk)
"Jump to an error corresponding to MSG at MK.
All arguments are markers. If END-MK is non-nil, mark is set there
and overlay is highlighted between MK and END-MK."
;; Show compilation buffer in other window, scrolled to this error.
(let* ((from-compilation-buffer (eq (window-buffer (selected-window))
(marker-buffer msg)))
;; Use an existing window if it is in a visible frame.
(pre-existing (get-buffer-window (marker-buffer msg) 0))
(w (if (and from-compilation-buffer pre-existing)
;; Calling display-buffer here may end up (partly) hiding
;; the error location if the two buffers are in two
;; different frames. So don't do it if it's not necessary.
pre-existing
(let ((display-buffer-reuse-frames t)
(pop-up-windows t))
;; Pop up a window.
(display-buffer (marker-buffer msg)))))
(highlight-regexp (with-current-buffer (marker-buffer msg)
;; also do this while we change buffer
(compilation-set-window w msg)
compilation-highlight-regexp)))
;; Ideally, the window-size should be passed to `display-buffer' (via
;; something like special-display-buffer) so it's only used when
;; creating a new window.
(unless pre-existing (compilation-set-window-height w))
(switch-to-buffer (marker-buffer mk))
;; was
;; (if from-compilation-buffer
;; ;; If the compilation buffer window was selected,
;; ;; keep the compilation buffer in this window;
;; ;; display the source in another window.
;; (let ((pop-up-windows t))
;; (pop-to-buffer (marker-buffer mk) 'other-window))
;; (if (window-dedicated-p (selected-window))
;; (pop-to-buffer (marker-buffer mk))
;; (switch-to-buffer (marker-buffer mk))))
;; If narrowing gets in the way of going to the right place, widen.
(unless (eq (goto-char mk) (point))
(widen)
(goto-char mk))
(if end-mk
(push-mark end-mk t)
(if mark-active (setq mark-active)))
;; If hideshow got in the way of
;; seeing the right place, open permanently.
(dolist (ov (overlays-at (point)))
(when (eq 'hs (overlay-get ov 'invisible))
(delete-overlay ov)
(goto-char mk)))
(when highlight-regexp
(if (timerp next-error-highlight-timer)
(cancel-timer next-error-highlight-timer))
(unless compilation-highlight-overlay
(setq compilation-highlight-overlay
(make-overlay (point-min) (point-min)))
(overlay-put compilation-highlight-overlay 'face 'next-error))
(with-current-buffer (marker-buffer mk)
(save-excursion
(if end-mk (goto-char end-mk) (end-of-line))
(let ((end (point)))
(if mk (goto-char mk) (beginning-of-line))
(if (and (stringp highlight-regexp)
(re-search-forward highlight-regexp end t))
(progn
(goto-char (match-beginning 0))
(move-overlay compilation-highlight-overlay
(match-beginning 0) (match-end 0)
(current-buffer)))
(move-overlay compilation-highlight-overlay
(point) end (current-buffer)))
(if (or (eq next-error-highlight t)
(numberp next-error-highlight))
;; We want highlighting: delete overlay on next input.
(add-hook 'pre-command-hook
'compilation-goto-locus-delete-o)
;; We don't want highlighting: delete overlay now.
(delete-overlay compilation-highlight-overlay))
;; We want highlighting for a limited time:
;; set up a timer to delete it.
(when (numberp next-error-highlight)
(setq next-error-highlight-timer
(run-at-time next-error-highlight nil
'compilation-goto-locus-delete-o)))))))
(when (and (eq next-error-highlight 'fringe-arrow))
;; We want a fringe arrow (instead of highlighting).
(setq next-error-overlay-arrow-position
(copy-marker (line-beginning-position)))))))
The eval-afer-load portion just ensures that you re-define it after Emacs defined it, so that your change takes hold.

Answer 2

You can add a binding (e.g. Alt-m) and do the following
(define-key grep-mode-map "\M-m" (lambda()
(interactive)
(compile-goto-error)
(delete-other-windows)
(kill-buffer "*grep*")))
I didn't find a way to replace the standard "Enter" / Mouse-click binding with a custom function

Answer 3

There is an another approach:
(defun eab/compile-goto-error ()
(interactive)
(let ((cwc (current-window-configuration)))
(funcall
`(lambda ()
(defun eab/compile-goto-error-internal ()
(let ((cb (current-buffer))
(p (point)))
(set-window-configuration ,cwc)
(switch-to-buffer cb)
(goto-char p ))))))
(compile-goto-error)
(run-with-timer 0.01 nil 'eab/compile-goto-error-internal))

Answer 4

I had the same question, and found this answer over at emacs.stackexchange https://emacs.stackexchange.com/a/33908/20000
(defun my-compile-goto-error-same-window ()
(interactive)
(let ((display-buffer-overriding-action
'((display-buffer-reuse-window
display-buffer-same-window)
(inhibit-same-window . nil))))
(call-interactively #'compile-goto-error)))
(defun my-compilation-mode-hook ()
(local-set-key (kbd "o") #'my-compile-goto-error-same-window))
(add-hook 'compilation-mode-hook #'my-compilation-mode-hook)
Pressing o in the *grep* buffer will open the location and file in the same frame.
I found this an elegant solution without deleting frames or too much lisp code and just hooking into compilation-mode-hook.