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There are two ways that SXEmacs can make a backup file:
The first method, renaming, is the default.
The variable backup-by-copying
, if non-nil
, says to use
the second method, which is to copy the original file and overwrite it
with the new buffer contents. The variable file-precious-flag
,
if non-nil
, also has this effect (as a sideline of its main
significance). See Saving Buffers.
If this variable is non-nil
, SXEmacs always makes backup files by
copying.
The following two variables, when non-nil
, cause the second
method to be used in certain special cases. They have no effect on the
treatment of files that don’t fall into the special cases.
If this variable is non-nil
, SXEmacs makes backups by copying for
files with multiple names (hard links).
This variable is significant only if backup-by-copying
is
nil
, since copying is always used when that variable is
non-nil
.
If this variable is non-nil
, SXEmacs makes backups by copying in
cases where renaming would change either the owner or the group of the
file.
The value has no effect when renaming would not alter the owner or group of the file; that is, for files which are owned by the user and whose group matches the default for a new file created there by the user.
This variable is significant only if backup-by-copying
is
nil
, since copying is always used when that variable is
non-nil
.
Next: Numbered Backups, Previous: Making Backups, Up: Backup Files [Contents][Index]