Skip to content

Recover edits after a failed operation

Keep the live session while resolving an error. The echo distinguishes an unperformed operation from a published filesystem change whose completion or refresh failed. See Failure recovery for those outcomes.

A save did not publish

  1. Read the operation and path in the echo. For a missing or inaccessible parent, create/fix the intended directory outside the editor, or choose another existing writable parent with C-x C-w.
  2. Request a fresh save with C-x C-s or C-x C-w. Previous canceled path or close requests do not carry authority into this command.
  3. If the destination changed, inspect the external file before answering the new overwrite question. n or C-g retains both the live edits and external data.
  4. Verify Saved and a clean -- status before relying on the save for exit.

A save published but completion is unresolved

  1. Inspect the reported target on disk. The file may already contain the new bytes; the modified indicator also retains an unresolved-publication warning.
  2. Resolve the reported synchronization/observation problem and request a new save explicitly. Any changed or unobserved destination needs fresh consent.
  3. Use C-g to cancel a required close/exit flow while investigating. A later independent save does not automatically resume the canceled flow.

A tree action failed or removed an open path

  1. Read whether the echo reports Created, Renamed, Deleted or a possibly partial deletion. Do not assume that a later refresh error rolled disk back.
  2. Focus the tree with C-x t f and refresh with C-x t r after fixing access or path problems. Loaded branches retain a usable selection.
  3. Switch to the retained buffer with C-x b. A removed visited path keeps its text and history. Save explicitly to recreate its file in an existing parent, or use C-x C-w to preserve it elsewhere.

Input, syntax or geometry interrupted the task

Use C-g to cancel the focused prompt, search or decision. Resize retains text, history and pending input; enlarge the terminal to restore the normal panes. Syntax failure leaves editable text and saving available; a later accepted revision can recover highlighting. C-x u remains the terminal-reportable undo alternative when a terminal cannot distinguish punctuation Control chords.

Use Focused prompts, File tree and Scope and defaults for the retained-state rules.