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(elisp)File Local Variables

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File Local Variables
====================

   This section describes the functions and variables that affect
processing of local variables lists in files.

 - User Option: enable-local-variables
     This variable controls whether to process file local variables
     lists.  A value of `t' means process the local variables lists
     unconditionally; `nil' means ignore them; anything else means ask
     the user what to do for each file.  The default value is `t'.

 - Function: hack-local-variables &optional force
     This function parses, and binds or evaluates as appropriate, any
     local variables specified by the contents of the current buffer.
     The variable `enable-local-variables' has its effect here.

     The argument FORCE usually comes from the argument FIND-FILE given
     to `normal-mode'.

   If a file local variable list could specify the a function that will
be called later, or an expression that will be executed later, simply
visiting a file could take over your Emacs.  To prevent this, Emacs
takes care not to allow local variable lists to set such variables.

   For one thing, any variable whose name ends in `-function',
`-functions', `-hook', `-hooks', `-form', `-forms', `-program',
`-command' or `-predicate' cannot be set in a local variable list.  In
general, you should use such a name whenever it is appropriate for the
variable's meaning.

   In addition, any variable whose name has a non-`nil'
`risky-local-variable' property is also ignored.  So are all variables
listed in `ignored-local-variables':

 - Variable: ignored-local-variables
     This variable holds a list of variables that should not be set by
     a file's local variables list.  Any value specified for one of
     these variables is ignored.

   The `Eval:' "variable" is also a potential loophole, so Emacs
normally asks for confirmation before handling it.

 - User Option: enable-local-eval
     This variable controls processing of `Eval:' in local variables
     lists in files being visited.  A value of `t' means process them
     unconditionally; `nil' means ignore them; anything else means ask
     the user what to do for each file.  The default value is `maybe'.