For some workflows that include keeping an eye on many open buffers, it is sometimes useful to rename buffers. This is where inbuilt function rename-buffer comes in, by default bound to C-x x r.
The vanilla rename-buffer function requires manual typing in minibuffer. If the renaming involves a string that is present in the buffer text, the process can be sped up.
The following code gives the buffer a new name based on the selection in the buffer text:
(defun autorename-buffer ()
"Give the current buffer a new name based on the selected string."
(interactive)
(let ((string
(buffer-substring-no-properties (region-beginning) (region-end))))
(rename-buffer string t)))
The following code has the same effect, except it also adds asterisks around the buffer name:
(defun autorename-buffer-1 ()
"Give the current buffer a new name based on the selected string,
with asterisks."
(interactive)
(let ((string (progn
(copy-region-as-kill (region-beginning) (region-end))
(with-temp-buffer (insert (current-kill 0))
(goto-char (point-min))
(insert "*")
(goto-char (point-max))
(insert "*")
(buffer-string)))))
(rename-buffer string t)
;; Clean up kill ring
(when kill-ring (setq kill-ring (cdr kill-ring)))))
Lastly another piece of code to name the buffer back to its original filename. If the buffer has no associated file, there will be an error message:
(defun autorename-buffer-2 ()
"Rename the buffer (back) to the filename associated with it.
If the buffer is not associated with a file, it is an error."
(interactive)
(if (eq buffer-file-name nil)
(error "No file associated with the buffer.")
(rename-buffer (file-name-nondirectory (buffer-file-name)) t)))
